helterskelter.ca

EUROPE
1984 - Wings Of Tomorrow.
1986 - The Final Countdown.
1988 - Out Of This World.
way more Helter Skelter.

February 24, 1984 - 2024: 40 years of: Wings Of Tomorrow.

Spread them wings !

Competition winners and rock-generators, Sweden's EUROPE aims high. Slick riffing, arenarock hooks and NWOBHM-rooted ...this on the loose rock is out of this world.

Nature awakens as "Stormwind" wipes Europe with loud rock and cool tricks. More giga-watts are shouted on the speed-freak "Scream Of Anger" and the skull-crackin' title-track "Wings Of Tomorrow".

Raw power takes the crowd hostage, as they are "Treated Bad Again", a heavymetal thumping cut and diametrically, the fast-paced "Wasted Time" displays the band's precise means of control. The powerballad legacy starts here, with the gather-along "Dreamer" adjacent to "Open Your Heart"s initial love draft. The seed is sown.

Putting aside the too obvious JUDAS PRIEST Screaming For Vengeance LP inspired cover-artwork, the boys did push adrenaline into the exciting Eurometal explosion of the era. The last lap for the Old Continent, as Sunset Strip would highjack the genre during this very calendar-year.

With full Force, EUROPE were now aiming to the top. The next chapter would hatch one of the 80s hardrockiest corner-stone: 1986's The Final Countdown LP.

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Wings Of Tomorrow = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FJe2yijNAk&list=OLAK5uy_nVUjG7akhjpP6m84RCi9caUYO01O_EQfw
Live Stockholm TV in 1984
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WGeVTj92xY

May 30, 1986 - 2026: 40 years of: The Final Countdown.

Sweden brings forth: big hair & big hits !

Mid 80s hardrock is rolling in overdrive. Seminal arenarock explosions from head-to-toe and now, the game would head to the Old Continent. West-Hollywood was red hot, but now it was Scandinavia's time to shine ...with EUROPE.

The stage is raised and the keyboards sets the pace as time is ticking down. As the light gleams bright and the drums crashes, an anthem rages and swallow the globe. Heading for Venus, this is "The Final Countdown". An arena vibe with power-chords, a burning lead-guitar work and the commanding voice of a new generation. The countdown is over, this is one of the first icons for glamrock's domination.

In turbo-mode, with adrenaline we "Rock The Night", through "Danger On The Track". Metalized guitars and poprock hooks, burns along the "Cherokee" tribe as the forever rebels of "Love Chaser" freely roams. Diametrically at candlelight, the piano-driven "Carrie" powerballad it's way into the USA airwaves.

They walk the Earth.

1986, the beginning of Hard Rock's Golden Age and eventually RIAA-certified 3x Platinum ...America was now EUROPE crazy. The Red, White & Blue got their asses hand-delivered on a silver-platter and for a little while, EUROPE was on top of the rocknroll food-chain. Yet on tour, some major changes, as guitarist John Norum would feel alienated and leave the unit ...until the band's much later 2003 reunion.

1986, a calendar-year blessed by hardrock-bombs from East-Coasters BON JOVI, CINDERELLA and POISON. The Final Countdown LP, an immortal rock hard Stonehenge. The Swedes would pen more slick arenarock, starting with 1988's Out Of This World LP.

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The Final Countdown = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jK-NcRmVcw
Carrie = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmWE9UBFwtY
Cherokee = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzmJrVSA3Mg
Rock The Night = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELtpTBf-pMU
The Final Countdown = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNiTxUEnmKI&list=OLAK5uy_lvsuHNVSRMEN1_s3Ks-actVFUYxwxHFsM
Interview in Germany in 1986
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdpQSuTD7UA
Live in Sweden in 1986
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsxgW03i5ko

August 5, 1988 - 2023: 35 years of: Out Of This World.

Keep on rockin' that road !

Following the universal success of 1986's The Final Countdown LP, the arenas were now fully assaulted by ...arenarock. Attacked from both sides of the Atlantic, the loud-rock was real. The lovely race for mega tunes fuelled by mega attitude ...and Sweden's EUROPE was a top runner.

The opening-cut "Superstitious" keeps the flame burning bright. Keyboards and heavenly back-vocals, the signature is imminent and strong. More suave hardrock pierce from "Just The Beginning" and the crunch of "Lights And Shadows".

Raw-rock rear it's ugly head on "Let The Good Times Rock" and the headbangin' "Ready Or Not", while another high-quality powerballad rocks, in the form of the sincere re-vamped FM-cut "Open Your Heart". The best of US and UK melodic loud-rock in one accessible package: EUROPE is that band.

Major line-up change, as key-guitarist and founding-member John Norum had left during the last tour, we now welcome Kee Marcello in front of the Marshalls stacks.

RIAA-certified Platinum, the band would later make a turn in the new decade, with 1991's party-rock Prisoners In Paradise CD ...sadly released the same day as some Nevermind titled CD.

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Superstitous = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gU5Vg2JokU
Open Your Heart = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX4LC1HBmag
Let The Good Times Rock = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FckTNOTwEk
Out Of This World = full LP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvUqntgGHMs&list=OLAK5uy_ljzx7JOqKfHS_7nB1Lg8EqXOEuAavMfCs
Interview in 1988
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvZn5JmFb-U
Live in Tokyo in 1988
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf0Dt7y6H8w