Europe is the band who brought "The Final Countdown" to the record buying public; a massive worldwide hit of the poodle rock heyday. The single sold over eight million copies and hit the top of the charts in over 20 countries. But the band was originally conceived as a progressive rock vehicle and their eponymous debut, released in 1983, revealed a little of their early roots.
Their multi-platinum third album, The Final Countdown, broke Europe across the world, but by then they had shrugged off their past and were firmly entrenched in the commercialised rock style of the mid-80s. The follow-up Out of This World (1988), failed to match the sales of The Final Countdown though it shifted a respectable three million copies. When Prisoners in Paradise (1991) was released, grunge had captured popular attention and Europe did not fit the tastes of the day. At the end of their 1991 tour, the band took a lengthy break.
The reformation of the band finally took place in 2003, although they had played the occasional concert prior to that time. Start From the Dark (2004) was their first post break-up offering and though the style was harder than the Europe of old, it was met with cautious reviews. Secret Society was released two years later and performed similarly.
