After nine years, Swedish hard rockers Europe return with Come This Madness, their twelfth studio album and their most powerful, uncompromising statement to date. Come This Madness is set for release on September 25th through Silver Lining Music/Hell & Back Recordings.
Europe have seen it all. Pushed forward. Never stood still. And still, they rise again, continuing to defy expectations, evolving, adapting, and pushing forward without compromise.
Across songs like One On One, The Cult Of Ignorance and the title track, Come This Madness, the band channels tension, truth, and raw energy into a record that feels both deeply personal and globally resonant.
The first single, One On One, is out today, marking a powerful reintroduction to a band that has never sounded more focused. Built around a driving bass riff and layered with soaring melodies, the track blends Europe‘s classic sound with a fresh, modern energy. Opening with an orchestral-led intro before moving into a riff-driven core, it builds into a high-impact, arena-ready hard rock moment. Written during a time of global stillness but developed over years, the song reflects both persistence and evolution — a track the band refused to let go of, ultimately shaping it into a defining moment on Come This Madness.
“One On One is definitely one of my favorite tracks from the album,” says Europe‘s founding member and frontman Joey Tempest. “The power and feel is fresh, but some of the melodies bring me back to where it all began. Lyrically, it’s perhaps not filled with as much escapism as early Europe. These lyrics automatically ended up being more of a reflection of the times we live in today. Ever since One On One was just a demo, we’ve stayed with it… never gave up on it, and elevated it to a place where it belongs: a high-flying, classic hard rock track.”
The new single is accompanied by a striking and unconventional music video, marking a bold new visual chapter for the band. Set in a stark, cinematic environment, the video centers on a single character — battered, broken and emotionally exposed — brought to life in a powerful and deeply human performance by acclaimed actor Peter Stormare (Fargo, The Big Lebowski, Minority Report, 8MM, Armageddon).
“We always knew Peter loved rock music, and when his name came up it just felt right,” continues Tempest. “We wanted to approach this from a different angle — something more stripped back and unexpected.”
The One On One video, which was directed by Patric Ullaeus, can be seen below.
Come This Madness was recorded at RMV Studio, the Stockholm-based recording facility founded by Benny Andersson and Ludvig Andersson. The album features special guest appearances from Tobias Forge (Ghost) and Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opted) and was produced by acclaimed producer Tom Dalgety (Ghost, Rammstein, Pixies, The Cult, Opted),who became a true creative force throughout the process, deeply embedded in the band’s writing and recording, shaping the album’s sound from the ground up. To bring the project to its final stage and complete their vision, the band turned to one of rock’s most respected recording legends Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Van Halen, Metallica, The Cult, Loverboy) to mix the record.
Tempest concludes, “It was a true pleasure working with Tom. He’s creative, musical and incredibly intuitive — he really became a sixth member of the band during the writing and recording of this album. We even invited him to co-write on some of the songs.”
With Come This Madness, Europe deliver a landmark record that finds them fully realized and present, confronting the world as it is and not only are they gearing up for its release, the band will also embark on an extensive run of live dates, including numerous festival appearances and a major tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Final Countdown. Beginning in Glasgow on September 30th, The Final Countdown 40th Anniversary Tour promises to unite the legacy that defined them with the renewed energy, driving them forward today.
Come This Madness track listing:
1. One On One
2. The Cult Of Ignorance
3. Come This Madness
4. This Time Of Year
5. In A Different World
6. Scandinavian Eyes
7. Takin’ It Back
8. In The Absence Of Grace
9. The Angels Must Have Flown
10. The Devil’s Back
11. Nothing Can Follow This
“Come This Madness” will be available on vinyl, CD and digital formats.
Europe is:
Joey Tempest – Lead Vocals
John Norum – Guitars
John Levén – Bass
Mic Michaeli – Keyboards
Ian Haugland – Drums
One Response
Why announce this essentially 5 months in advance? 5 weeks would be more appropriate. Why isn’t the 2023 single on the album? Oh, probably so they can release a deluxe edition six months later with it as a bonus track. I love Europe, but these announcements so far in advance are stupid. It isn’t like booking a vacation, it’s an album release.