Originally a progressive rock group, Europe didn't achieve any success until they reworked their sound into a bombastic yet melodic pop-metal. In their first incarnation, the Swedish band was called Force. The band -- featuring core members Joey Tempest (vocals), John Norum (guitar), Tony Reno (drums), and John Leven (bass) -- won a national talent contest in the early '80s, which led to a record contract. After changing their name to Europe and releasing two albums in Sweden (Europe and Wings of Tomorrow), the band landed an international deal with Epic Records. By this time, Norum and Reno had left the group and was replaced by Kee Marcello; drummer Ian Haugland and keyboardist Mic Michaeli also joined the lineup.
In 1986, Europe released The Final Countdown. On the album, Michaeli's keyboards took a prominent role (they provide the main riff in the hit title track), which nicely complemented the band's smoother pop melodies. The change in style proved successful, as the record became a Top Ten hit in the U.S. and U.K.; both "The Final Countdown" and "Carrie" became Top Ten singles as well. Delivered two years later, Out of This World continued the formula of the previous record. It also was a success, although its numbers didn't match those of The Final Countdown. Two years later, Europe released their fifth studio album, Prisoners of Paradise, which featured the hit title track, as well as the midtempo ballad “I’ll Cry for You,” before calling it quits the following year. The band reunited for a single New Year's Eve performance in Stockholm in 1999, resulting in the announcement of an official reunion three years later. The band’s sixth album, Start from the Dark, arrived in 2004, followed by Secret Society (2006) and Last Look at Eden (2009), the latter of which debuted at number one on the Swedish album chart. 2012's Bag of Bones had a blues-rock feel, while 2014's War of Kings was a heavy, doomy, faintly psychedelic affair strongly inspired by their childhood heroes Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
AllMusic.com
