There are few rock bands out there so defined by a single song and as songs go ‘The Final Countdown’ was huge, so huge that 31 years on the title is not only instantly recognisable to Rock fans but pretty much anyone that was around at the time or since who has a passing interest in commercially attuned Hard Rock. Let’s face it if it sells then keep on plugging away…
Over the last few years, a lot of bands have made the decision to play an album in its entirety but in NOVEMBER 2016, EUROPE went one better and played two complete albums back to back. I must admit that this one surprised me more than any other. Yes, it is their big breakthrough album and yes it contains THAT song but since they came back after their break from 1992 until their official reunion in 2003, they have a much more mature sound and could almost be a different animal.
We could be pedantic and say that the running order of the other album (and latest release) WAR OF KINGS has been altered so is not technically correct, but this is nit-picking.
First up is the hugely impressive WAR OF KINGS album. Originally issued in 2015. With the crowd going mad, they open up with HOLE IN MY POCKET. It’s a heavier song than you associate them with. It cracks along at a frantic pace. THE SECOND DAY has a fantastic surging chorus to it. PRAISE YOU begins with an intro that will make your speakers shake before morphing into a thing of pure beauty. JOEY TEMPEST’S voice has only gotten better over the years. A bluesy feel in places and some wonderful guitar work. NOTHING TO YA is another one that fair thunders along.
A very DEEP PURPLE like organ intro is joined by a beefy guitar riff build into a very laid back track but everyone plays their part into making it a memorable one. ANGELS(WITH BROKEN HEARTS) is the first real ballad on show here.The guitar gives is a blues feel and the vocals really shine. Showing that Joey’s vocals have gotten better with age. The instantly recognisable especially if you listen to PLANET ROCK) DAYS OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL brings the tempo back up with another fantastic riff and more brilliant guitar work. CHILDREN OF THE MIND features more crunching guitar work (a feature of the whole album) A very Middle-Eastern intro heralds RAINBOW BRIDGE which was the most interesting track on the WAR OF KINGS album when it was first released and nothing changes on disc one.
JOEY’S vocals get a rest when VASASTAN rears its head with some more beautiful guitar work. LIGHT IT UP gives the drums a chance to shine giving the song a great feel to it. The title track (of the original album) is the closer and is the heaviest track on offer here. Brooding and full of menace with some astral & trippy keyboards gives it a very interesting twist….
Which brings us to the main event. The crowd go mental, a spoken countdown and then THAT SONG. The intro that we have all heard a million (and then some) times before. Not surprisingly the crowd belt out every word. The hits just keep on coming. ROCK THE NIGHT involves an even bigger crowd singalong It’s interesting to hear them play an album 30 years old because when they reformed, they adopted a more mature, bluesier and darker sound.
So hearing play this again makes for great listening. CARRIE is a typical 80’s hair metal ballad but still a stonking song and CHEROKEE has been given a bigger drum and guitar sound. Sadly after the hits have gone, things go a bit off. The synthesizer overkills on the remaining tracks and they all have the whiff of filler about them. THE FINAL COUNTDOWN wasn’t their worst album by any means but too much of it is ho-hum. Ending with a reprise of THAT SONG gets things going again as they finish with a roar.
This is almost like two different bands playing here. The modern EUROPE first followed by the keyboard laden 80’s version. My favourite is definitely the modern band. Disc two will get you up and jumping to all the songs you know but for me disc one is the class but each to their own.
Make sure you get the CD & DVD package.
3/5
Disc: 1 1. Hole in My Pocket (Live) 2. The Second Day (Live) 3. Praise You (Live) 4. Nothin to Ya (Live)
5. California 405 (Live) 6. Angels (With Broken Hearts) [Live] 7. Days of Rock ‘N’ Roll (Live)
8. Children of the Mind (Live) 9. Rainbow Bridge (Live) 10. Vasastan (Live) 11. Light it Up (Live)
12. War of Kings (Live)
Disc: 2 1. The Final Countdown (Live) 2. Rock the Night (Live) 3. Carrie (Live) 4. Danger on the Track (Live)
5. Ninja (Live) 6. Cherokee (Live) 7. Time Has Come (Live) 8. Heart of Stone (Live) 9. On the Loose (Live)
10. Love Chaser (Live) 11. The Final Countdown (Reprise) [Live]
