One-hit wonder. The label is dreaded by any musician, and any labelled as such are often seen as poor composers who got lucky once. Is it fair? Not really, but it's how some people interpret the term. Oftentimes, however, this could not be further from the truth. Take the case of Europe, for instance. Most well known for The Final Countdown and Carrie, very few people are able to name any other songs by the group. Does this make them a one-hit (well, two-hit) wonder? Probably. But on the other hand, does it make them incompetent? Wings of Tomorrow proves that this is definitely not the case.
From the first moments of the opening track,
Stormwind, you can tell that this album is going to dig into your mind. The riffs and leads are undeniably infectious, and while they are decidedly simple, they're still packed with energy and serve their purpose effectively. Joey Tempest's voice is soaring and passionate, sounding genuinely emotional, effectively spearheading the charge of the band. While the bass and drums don't truly get a chance to shine, they are still played competently, and this does not deter from the album on the whole.
Europe knows not to push their boundaries outside of where they are comfortable. The tracks on this album are short but sweet, with only the aforementioned Stormwind passing the mark of four and a half minutes. While this implies that Europe is not capable of holding interest in their music for a longer song, it ultimately proves that the band knows where they are comfortable. They manage to stay within their comfort zone while still being enjoyable to listen to.
Ultimately, Europe is a band which is mainly recognized for tracks which are not their strongest. Searching through their entire discography reveals that there is more to the band than the simple but catchy pop-metal found in their biggest hit, and they are genuinely capable of writing enthralling material which does not overstay its welcome.
Highlights:
Scream of Anger
Aphasia
Wasted Time
