AOR/melodic rock giants Europe are on the verge of returning to the studio to record a new album.

The band are aiming to start recording new material for what will be their ninth studio album in October 2011.  Although few details are known at this time, the band expect the album to be completed in time for an April 2012 release.

Production duties on the new tracks are to be handled by Kevin Shirley, whose previous credits include Aerosmith, Baby Animals, Our Lady Peace, SOiL, Dream Theater, Rush & Joe Bonamassa.  Earlier in 2011, Shirley produced the second release by Bonamassa’s all-star band Black Country Communion.

Before commencing work on the new album, Europe are to complete the rest of their current tour.

Next month also sees the release of a live Europe DVD recorded at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire.  A deluxe version of ‘Live Look at Eden’ will also include a CD soundtrack of the live show, plus a copy of Europe’s last studio work, ‘Last Look At Eden’.  This is bound in a 140 page coffee-table book of photographs taken by Dennis O’Regan.

Europe’s 2009 release – ‘Last Look At Eden, released by Frontiers Records – was a huge hit in Sweden, reaching the number one spot in the album chart and also became a top 40 success in Germany, Italy and Switzerland.