The band Europe has released new single, “The Cult of Ignorance,” the second track from their forthcoming studio album, Come This Madness, set for release on September 25, 2026, via Silver Lining Music.
“The Cult of Ignorance” is described as having “a message that resonates in today’s fast-moving world.”
As well as featuring Europe, the accompanying video showcases cameos from friends of the band, including actress Malin Åkerman, former World No. 1 and multiple Grand Slam champion tennis player Stefan Edberg, astronaut Christer Fuglesang, Howling Pelle (The Hives), Mikael Åkerfeldt and Fredrik Åkesson (Opeth) and E-Type, alongside many other personalities from the world of music, film, fashion, sports and science. The video is by Patric Ullaeus.
Europe’s founding member and frontman Joey Tempest says of the song:
I love this track! It’s a straightforward rock anthem with lyrics reflecting the times we live in, written slightly tongue in cheek. Mic (keyboards) came to me with this song idea while on tour in South America – I thought it was crazy good! We finished it together and it’s become a real banger! The title was inspired by a phrase coined by author and biochemist Isaac Asimov. It reflects some of the negative tendencies emerging in our world today, though it is written in a slightly light-hearted tone.
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 Tom Dalgety (Ghost, Rammstein, Pixies, The Cult, Opeth), who was “deeply embedded in the band’s writing and recording.” Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Van Halen, Metallica, The Cult, Loverboy) mixed the record.
The band will also embark on an extensive run of live dates, including numerous festival appearances and a tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Final Countdown which kicks off in Glasgow on September 30, called “The Final Countdown 40th Anniversary Tour”.
2026 Dates:
6 Jun – North Festival, Maia (PT)
21 Jun – Graspop Metal Meeting, Dessel (BE)
25 Jun – Rock Pod Kameňom Festival, Bela Nad Cirochou (SK)
28 Jun – Retro Trop C, Tilloloy (FR)
5 Jul – Summer Festival Piazza Castello, Marostica (IT)
7 Jul – Cavea-Auditorium Parco della Musica, Roma (IT)
8 Jul – Arena Campo Marte, Brescia (IT)
9 Jul – Villa Bertelli, Forte Dei Marmi (IT)
25 Jul – Son Do Mar Festival, Meaño, Pontevedra (ES)
30 Jul – Wacken Open Air, Wacken (DE)
29 Aug – Stonedead Festival, Newark (GB)
30 Sep – SEC Armadillo, Glasgow (GB)*
2 Oct – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton (GB)*
3 Oct – Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, London (GB)*
5 Oct – Musis Arnhem, Arnhem (NL)*
6 Oct – Olympia, Paris (FR)*
8 Oct – Poble Espanyol, Barcelona (ES)*
9 Oct – Bilbao Arena Mirabilla, Bilbao (ES)*
10 Oct – La Cubierta, Madrid (ES)*
12 Oct – Salle Métropole, Lausanne (CH)*
13 Oct – Volkshaus, Zürich (CH)*
14 Oct – Alcatraz, Milan (IT)*
16 Oct – Liederhalle, Stuttgart (DE)*
17 Oct – Gasometer, Wien (AT)*
19 Oct – Admiralspalast Theater, Berlin (DE)*
20 Oct – COS Torwar, Warszawa (PL)*
22 Oct – Falkoner, Frederiksberg (DK)*
23 Oct – Film Studios, Gothenburg (SE)*
24 Oct – B-K, Stockholm (SE)*
26 Oct – Sentrum Scene, Oslo (NO)*
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)*
*The Final Countdown 40th Anniversary Tour
