This first Europe album is something of a lost classic, and if you thought they were just about 'The Final Countdown' and all the cheeseball ballads they released when they got big, then this will prove to be a satisfying learning curve.
This was recorded in 1983, long before they went over the commercial parapet into big hair stardom (indeed the band photos here show much smaller hair). Its probably their heaviest record, with not a ballad in sight.
The quality is high from the beginning, kicking off with the frantic 'In The Future To Come', and running through mini epics such as 'Seven Doors Hotel', 'The King Will Return', 'Children Of This Time' and 'Memories'. As with the follow up album 'Wings Of Tomorrow', the middle of the album contains a short but thunderous instrumental called 'Boyazont'.
'Europe' dosent have the prominent keyboards of subsequent releases, which gives it a harder feel, the production is still quite polished but this dosent detract from the heaviness. If you only buy one Europe album, get their masterpiece 'Wings Of Tomorrow'. If you buy two, get this because its almost as good, and will show you a new (less cheesy) side to a classic band.
For fans of Maiden, Priest, Gillan, White Spirit, Gamma Ray and Helloween.