It’s been 40 years since the guys from Europe made their worldwide breakthrough with ‘The Final Countdown.’ It was both a curse and a blessing, because to many the band was seen as a sort of one-hit wonder, but the truth is far from that. Even before the famous 1986 album was released, the band had already laid a solid foundation for what was to come with their debut album ‘Europe’ and ‘Wings of Tomorrow’.
Their first run in the 1980s yielded two more excellent albums: ‘Out of This World’ and ‘Prisoners in Paradise.’ After that, things went quiet around Europe for a few years, but in 2003, a new chapter in the band’s history began. ‘Start From The Dark’ (2004) marked the beginning of Europe’s second life. The original lineup of the band—which had made its big breakthrough in 1986—reunited and remains active to this day, touring and releasing new albums. And to be honest, musically speaking, I appreciate this second phase of the band even more than their run in the ’80s. Not that there was anything wrong with that, but the band’s musical sound seems more mature and refined than it did back then. The quality is like Swiss clockwork—meticulous down to the last detail and executed with the utmost precision.
the next chapter
And on September 25, 2026, the band’s 12th full-length album, ‘Come This Madness’, will be released—and to get right to the point, this is yet another album that meets the high standard the band has set for itself across the board. It’s classic Europe, featuring Joey Tempest’s recognizable vocals, John Norum’s guitar sound, Mic Michaeli’s keyboard melodies, John Levén’s driving bass, and Ian Haugland’s pumping drums.
If you’re familiar with Europe’s work since 2004, this album won’t surprise you in terms of breaking new ground. “Come This Madness” was recorded at RMV Studio, the Stockholm-based recording facility founded by Benny Andersson and Ludvig Andersson. It’s still remarkable, however, how these guys manage to conjure up such wonderfully melodic songs and record them with such freshness and enthusiasm.
legendary
Norum’s guitar playing is once again out of this world. This guy has the same talent that someone like Gary Moore had. Instantly recognizable, incredibly good, hard-hitting when it counts, and at times incredibly melodic and understated. To the extent that we can still speak of guitar legends in 2026, Norum definitely belongs among them with his hard-hitting and bluesy guitar style.
Songs like “Scandinavian Eyes,” the album opener “One On One,” or the super-catchy “The Cult Of Ignorance” are just a few of the gems this album has to offer. But honestly, it’s best to listen to the whole album in one sitting and then put it on repeat.
a gem of an album
With ‘Come This Madness,’ Europe has once again delivered a gem of an album, though that in itself isn’t all that remarkable if you have followed the bands journey so far. What is remarkable, however, is the fact that the band sounds perhaps even better live than on their records. Europe has built a reputation for putting on incredibly awesome shows and consistently delivering top-notch performances. Starting in late September, the band will kick off their The Final Countdown 40th Anniversary Tour, which will take them all over Europe. They’ll also be visiting the Netherlands on October 5 in Arnhem. That show has been sold out for months, which certainly says something about just how popular this band still is in 2026.
‘Come This Madness’ is a must-listen for Europe fans, and lovers of good, melodic hard rock definitely shouldn’t miss it either.
Report by Raymond Helebrand
