Album of the Week
Come This Madness
Europe
Released Sep 25, 2026 • Silver Lining
Powerful, melodic, and fiercely modern Europe unleashed.
⭐
9/10
Hard Rock
55
starting results
0
Tracklist
- 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
Editor's Picks
For Fans Of:
Rainbow, Thin Lizzy, Deep Purple
⭐ Standout Tracks:
"The Cult Of Ignorance", "Come This Madness", "The Devil's Back"
THE REVIEW
Europe have never been a band content to repeat themselves. Since reforming in 2003, they have steadily moved away from the glossy hard rock of their eighties heyday, embracing heavier, more contemporary and increasingly seventies-influenced territory. Come This Madness, their twelfth studio album, finds them looking back without simply retracing their steps. Released after a nine-year gap, it was recorded at Stockholm’s RMV Studio and produced by Tom Dalgety.
There’s an immediate sense that this is a livelier Europe. The melodies are more direct, the keyboards have greater prominence and John Norum’s guitar frequently shares the spotlight with Mic Michaeli. The result is heavier than their classic-era material in places, but also more openly melodic.
‘One On One’ starts things in familiar mid-tempo fashion, before ‘The Cult Of Ignorance’ raises the pulse. The title track, ‘Scandinavian Eyes’, ‘Takin’ It Back’ and ‘The Devil’s Back’ bring considerably more momentum, while ‘This Time Of Year’ provides a beautifully restrained contrast.
THE SONGS
The album’s 11 tracks move between muscular hard rock, melodic anthems and more atmospheric passages.
‘The Cult Of Ignorance’ is an early standout, balancing keyboards, guitar and a highly memorable chorus. ‘Come This Madness’ adds a darker edge, while ‘In A Different World’ keeps the melodic thread alive.
‘Scandinavian Eyes’ arrives with an orchestral opening before settling into a powerful riff, with Norum supplying some particularly expressive guitar work. ‘Takin’ It Back’ has a tougher, more urgent character, while the brief ‘In The Absence Of Grace’ acts as an atmospheric breather.
‘The Angels Must Have Flown’ returns to full-scale Europe bombast, before ‘The Devil’s Back’ brings another burst of energy. Closing track ‘Nothing Can Follow This’ provides an expansive finale, leaving the album on a suitably grand note.
THE VERDICT
Come This Madness sounds like Europe reconnecting with some of the melodic instincts that made their early work so memorable, while retaining the weight and maturity developed since their return. It is not Prisoners In Paradise Part 2, nor does it need to be.
Instead, this is a confident meeting point between classic Europe, seventies Classic Rock influences and the harder-edged band they have become. For listeners who enjoy melody, keyboards, expressive guitar work and a band willing to evolve without abandoning its identity, there is plenty to discover here.
