Europe: Live from the Dark

Oh, great: now I've got that damn synth intro stuck in my head again. You know the one, from Swedish arena-rock quintet Europe's one and only American hit, “The Final Countdown.” I thought I'd gotten rid of it in the mid-80s, but now the reformed Europe are back and counting again, captured here on the last stop of their 2004 tour at London's legendary Hammersmith Theatre. For many Americans, “The Final Countdown” is the only Europe song they're familiar with, but the band was big in, well, Europe. Appearing in their “classic” lineup, the band is squarely in the Deep Purple/Thin Lizzy tradition, but with enough of their own sound that they're not just aping the genre's big boys, and the vocals (by Spinal Tap-worthy-named Joey Tempest) and musicianship on this 18-song set are excellent. Presented in a two-disc package with Dolby Digital 5.1, DVD extras include interviews, a behind-the-scenes tour documentary, bonus tracks, and music videos. A solid release for anyone looking to fatten up the ‘80s arena rock section of their music DVD collections, this is recommended. Aud: P. (M. Moore)