Europe’s Out of This World: Could They Top The Final Countdown?
Europe had an almost impossible task in 1988: follow up one of the biggest rock albums of the decade, The Final Countdown.
On this Hair Metal Guru roundtable, we take a deep dive into Europe’s Out of This World and discuss whether the band was able to deliver a worthy follow-up to their massive 1986 breakthrough.
Joined by special guest Rob Wylde of Midnite City, we talk about our history with Europe, what we remember about Out of This World Coming Out, the enormous expectations Europe faced after The Final Countdown, and what we think of the album now. While the album didn’t come close to matching the commercial success of its predecessor, does Out of This World deserve more credit than it received?
Was it an impossible follow-up—or did Europe actually deliver another great album?
Let us know what YOU think in the comments!
#Europe #OutOfThisWorld #TheFinalCountdown #HairMetal #HairMetalGuru #RobWylde #MidniteCity
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@art_r976
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
Europe ROCKS!!! I'm hoping they tour the US again! It's been a long time!
@danielhudson5186
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
Hair Metal sucks ass
@Ratsnake71
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
I got this back in high school, listen to it a few times, put it in my cassette rack and never listened to it again. I thought it was weak. After watching the video I checked it out again. Since most of you guys sang its praises, I thought I may have judged it too harshly when I was a kid. Nope. I was right. It blows.
@ThirstyEye
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
Hell yeah, Guru- Carrie and Cherokee were pretty lame.
@tonymartinez8170
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
No matter which way you look at it, this album is a masterpiece. The OOTW tour was massive, even bigger than the TFC tour, they did some shows with Def Leppard, there is some rare footage is Laguna Hills US, then, as Rob mentioned went to Mumbai to like 90k crowd, think it was a charity event. Loved the tour , the more refined look. Nostalgia plays a part of course, but this is exactly why the album is a classic and thanks to it we have Midnight City to listen to today!. Great video guys!.
@VampireJack10
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
Still to listen to the newest album, but I expect it to be great.
EUROPE, for me anyway, probably have the best run of fantastic albums from the hair metal genre. GREAT back catalogue.
@RichardCorriveau-w9u
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
Love EUROPE. Out of this World is one amazing album from the first song to the end song. The Final Countdown is a great album as well. Prisoners in Paradise is amazing as well. All these albums r so underrated. Great job guys on Europe. Rob is one of my all time favorite singers. So underrated musician. Great episode to all u guys!🤘
@rhoadnarrows
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
I have the same story as Stone, but it was with Sirius by Alan Parsons Project. My friend was creaming his jeans over da Bulls entry music before a game, and I got to tell him that wasn't da Bull's music. 😂
@mickward7769
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
Minority I know but I liked The Final Countdown album cuts better than the title-track which can appreciate now but meh… But Out Of This World was a classic and is essential Europe. SO many great songs and hard to pick faves but if forced, Superstitious, More Than Meets The Eye, Sign Of The Times, Ready Or Not and Open Your Heart and Just The Beginning gets my Honorable… Loved Prisoners and Wings too but OOTW is choice Europe. Thoroughly enjoyed this episode thanks🤘
@peck_wood
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
Mmmmmeh
@catbravo994
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
Europe is awesome. I have always liked them and feel they deserved better. People loved hating on them like they did Nickelback.
@TheKongZilla
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
I LOVE this album. I do like it more than The Final Countdown. I’ve been a fan since Wings of Tomorrow. Wings was one of those cassettes that I somehow bought back in the day without ever hearing the band. Out of This World was uplifting and fun. Just The Beginning is my fav too. It’s funny. I always thought I was the only person in America who loves it lol even all my close rocker friends were never into Europe.
@robcolaiacovo8897
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
Always have and always will love Out of this World. And yes, Patrick, it's the nostalgia that i just can't let go of. Too many memories!!!!!
@stevenrobertson3010
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
I was very young when final countdown came out. I was just a kid. Wasn't into music much but my daughter tells me in like 2010 that she loves that song so Guess what Dad loves that song! I went through their whole catalog. They're a great band
@ciaranmeeks9431
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
I've always been a huge Europe fan. Started with The Final Countdown like most people, picked up Out Of This World soon after and loved it, and then discovered the debut self-titled Europe which is honestly probably my favourite. That first album was a true masterpiece – almost like an Yngwie or early Stryper record, with a decidedly Nordic, galloping Trad-Metal flavour. Later got into Prisoners In Paradise, and have devoured all of the post-2000 catalogue too. If anything, Europe have evolved into a thoroughly modernized take on the classic Rainbow/Deep Purple sound and I think it suits them. I hope they carry on for years and keep pumping out the kind of quality Metal they've come to be known for.
@peteadams9604
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
My favorite Europe album! Next up…do 'Prisoners In Paradise' !! 😁
@0U812FU
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
Great video gentleman!! Always fantastic to have Rob on! He's always got a great take on music and fantastic one on this album! While I think a lot of the stuff they've been putting out for the past 20 years is better than the older stuff, this album is probably my favorite going back to their '80s days. Ready or not is a classic kick-ass song with that awesome Kee riff in it! Other standouts for me are . let the good times Rock and More than meets the eye..
@anthonylanni9804
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
1988 was the year i started buying music. Def leppard, poison, gnr, and europe. Let the good times rock is so nostalgic. I only really liked the singles on this album. I thought the other tracks just all sounded familiar.
@inmyhouse11
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
Perfect 10 album for me. Love it much better than The Final Countdown
@iedamaria6788
November 8, 2026 at 6:06 am
Não superou porque essa música é insuperável,( Pela mensagem que transmite e por todo trabalho artístico) más no momento estão com um álbum muito bom. Rock mais pesado, riffs e letras interessantes. As minhas preferidas do álbum são: The Angels Must Have Flown, Takin In back, Nothing Can Follow This. A música One On One é absolutamente diferente de tudo. É um clássico que as pessoas deveriam ouvir. Como muitas das músicas da banda ela fica bem cantada por vozes masculinas e femininas. 🎸🎸🤘🤘❤❤