- Rock Metal Machine
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
EUROPE ARE BACK WITH THEIR BIGGEST SOUND YET
‘Scandinavian Eyes’ blends rock power with orchestral depth.
Published: 4 Sep 2026 • Author: Rock Metal Machine • Reading Time: 5 mins
Europe unveil ‘Scandinavian Eyes’, another powerful taste of their forthcoming album Come This Madness. Driven by a huge riff, soaring vocals and an instantly memorable chorus, the anthemic track blends arena-ready rock with orchestral grandeur, setting the stage for the album’s September 25 release.
RELEASE DETAILS
Artist:
Europe
Album:
Come This Madness
Release Date:
25 September 2026
Record Label:
Silver Lining Music Pre Order:
Link Formats:
CD • Vinyl • Digital
PR Label:
Europe return with another striking glimpse of their forthcoming studio album Come This Madness, unveiling the anthemic new single ‘Scandinavian Eyes’, which arrives with a melody that gets under your skin almost immediately. Come This Madness is set for release on September 25th via Silver Lining Music. Pre-orders are available now.
Built around a driving riff, an unmistakable chorus, soaring vocal lines and arrangements, ‘Scandinavian Eyes’ is the kind of song that feels like a symphony built for the stage. There is an expansive quality to the track, with Europe combining the power and immediacy of rock with the depth of orchestral music.
🔥 FIREWORKS INSIGHT
Europe aren’t simply revisiting the sound that made them famous — they’re proving there is still plenty of fire in the tank. Four decades after The Final Countdown put Swedish hard rock on the global map, the band have repeatedly challenged expectations by leaning into heavier, more muscular territory. ‘Scandinavian Eyes’ taps directly into that evolution, combining a driving riff and huge chorus with the orchestral ambition Europe have increasingly embraced. For fans who followed the band beyond their eighties breakthrough, this is the more interesting story: Europe still have something to prove, and Come This Madness could show just how far their second act has developed.
“This driving riff, orchestral magic, vocal and guitar melodies make this one of my favourite Europe songs in a long time! says Europe’s founding member and frontman Joey Tempest. “A lyric about crossing the line between good and ‘not so good’…. We’re very proud of this track and can’t wait to perform it live!”
────── ✦ ──────
▶ WATCH THE NEW SINGLE
Want to hear the first taste of Come This Madness for yourself? Watch the official video below.
────── ✦ ──────
The accompanying performance video, directed by Patric Ullaeus, captures Europe firing on all cylinders and showcasing the full force of their live presence. It puts their chemistry, musicianship and sheer energy front and centre, allowing the intensity of ‘Scandinavian Eyes’ to speak for itself.
Europe’s new studio album Come This Madness signals a powerful new chapter for one of rock’s most enduring acts. Across songs like ‘One on One’, ‘The Cult of Ignorance’, and the title track ‘Come This Madness’, the band channel tension, truth, and raw energy into a record that feels both deeply personal and globally resonant.
This driving riff, orchestral magic, vocal and guitar melodies make this one of my favourite Europe songs in a long time!
Joey Tempest
Come This Madness was recorded at RMV Studio, the Stockholm-based recording facility founded by Benny Andersson and Ludvig Andersson. The album features special guests Tobias Forge (Ghost) and Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) on backing vocals and was produced by acclaimed producer Tom Dalgety (Ghost, Rammstein, Pixies, The Cult, Opeth), 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.
With Come This Madness, Europe deliver a landmark record that finds them fully realised and present, confronting the realities of the modern world with conviction and creativity. Building on the momentum surrounding the album's release, the band will also embark on an extensive tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Final Countdown. Kicking off 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:
One on One
The Cult of Ignorance
Come This Madness
This Time of Year
In a Different World
Scandinavian Eyes
Takin’ It Back
In the Absence of Grace
The Angels Must Have Flown
The Devil’s Back
Nothing Can Follow This
Come This Madness will be available on vinyl, CD and digital formats. Pre-orders can be placed here
────── ✦ ──────
Fans are urged to book quickly to avoid disappointment, as many dates are already sold out and only a very limited number of tickets remain for some other shows. For a full list of dates and ticket information, please visit: www.europetheband.com
2026 Dates:
30 Sep - SEC Armadillo, Glasgow (GB)*
2 Oct - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton (GB)* - SOLD OUT
3 Oct - Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, London (GB)* - VERY LOW TICKETS
5 Oct - Musis Arnhem, Arnhem (NL)* - SOLD OUT
6 Oct - Olympia, Paris (FR)* - SOLD OUT
8 Oct - Poble Espanyol, Barcelona (ES)*
9 Oct - Bilbao Arena Mirabilla, Bilbao (ES)*
10 Oct - La Cubierta, Madrid (ES)* - VERY LOW TICKETS
12 Oct - Salle Métropole, Lausanne (CH)*
13 Oct - Volkshaus, Zürich (CH)*
14 Oct - Alcatraz, Milan (IT)*
16 Oct - Liederhalle, Stuttgart (DE)* - SOLD OUT
17 Oct - Gasometer, Wien (AT)* - SOLD OUT
19 Oct - Admiralspalast Theater, Berlin (DE)* - SOLD OUT
20 Oct - COS Torwar, Warszawa (PL)*
22 Oct - Falkoner, Frederiksberg (DK)* - VERY LOW TICKETS
23 Oct - Film Studios, Gothenburg (SE)* - SOLD OUT
24 Oct - B-K, Stockholm (SE)* - SOLD OUT
26 Oct - Sentrum Scene, Oslo (NO)* - SOLD OUT
15 Nov - Malta Metal Weekend, St. Julians (MT)*
21 Nov - Ostravar Aréna, Ostrava (CZ)*
25 Nov - Aalto Hall @ House of Culture, Helsinki (FI)*
27 Nov - John Smith Rock Frozen Paviljonki, Jyväskylä (FI)*
28 Nov - Unholy Winter Festival Joensuu Areena, Joensuu (FI)*
2027 Dates:
13 Jan - NHK Hall, Tokyo (JP)*
14 Jan - Shi Kokaido, Nagoya (JP)*
15 Jan - Grand Cube, Osaka (JP)*
*The Final Countdown 40th Anniversary Tour
────── ✦ ──────
EUROPE are: Joey Tempest - Lead Vocals
John Norum - Guitars
John Levén - Bass
Mic Michaeli - Keyboards
Ian Haugland - Drums
────── ✦ ──────
Images courtesy of Andy Ford / Duff Press
────── ✦ ──────
────── ✦ ──────
Excited for the new record? The mag's where we go deeper than a news post ever could.
News like this stays online. The magazine itself is where the interviews, reviews and features live, 164 pages an issue, more than any other music magazine, delivered to your inbox before it hits the shops.
"Still the best value for money music magazine out there." — Gary U, subscriber
Issue 116, pre-order your copy today
Comments