Yeah - Parptastic!!!
Sorry, The final countdown as an album is pretty damn poor. It was the final countdown at the age of 11, which tuned be into rock music, SAXON followed.
Its all well and good to slate them for that album, there are probably only 3 decent songs on it.
But if you go further back, you have stuff like "In the future to come; Seven Doors Hotel; Boyazont" from the first album.... from the 2nd "Stormwind; Scream of Anger; Aphastasia; Wings of Tomorrow" - It's actually Metal and NIL keyboard.
I know the production wasn't there at the time, but Scream of Anger and Wings of Tomorrow had de-tuned guitars, and if you crossed the riffs and slowed it down slightly you have a sound similar to Travellers in Time and Metalhead.
The Final Countdown as an album is full of keyboards, Out of this World (4th Album) gets even worse. But the 5th album Prisoners In Paradise has a heavier sound.
It's laden with keyboards, but with some heavy riffs. All or nothing has a cracking riff to start off with but decends into formulaic chorus orientated rock. Best of the album is "Mind in the Gutter" which has a sleazy blues riff and a vocals to match.
John Norum - However, is a fantastic guitarist - but not a songwriter. Some of his work though is stunningly good.
The jury is not out for me..... Welcome Back Europe!!!
....Beats the hell out of AOR like Def Leopold and Bon Jiovarni any day.
