Europe- Come This Madness

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

(Silver Lining Music)

Nine years is a long time between albums, even for a band with more than four decades of history behind them. But Europe returns from that lengthy silence, sounding less like a group resting on its reputation and more like one with something left to prove.

Come This Madness is their 12th studio album, and while the name Europe will forever conjure memories of The Final Countdown, there is precious little here that feels like an attempt to recreate the mid-80s. Instead, the Swedes have produced a muscular, darker and surprisingly adventurous collection that looks forward while keeping one foot firmly planted in classic hard rock.

From the opening sweep of One on One, the intention is clear. Joey Tempest’s unmistakable vocals sit comfortably above a heavyweight rhythm section, while John Norum gets plenty of room to remind us why his guitar playing has always been such a crucial part of the Europe sound. The track builds patiently before bursting into life, setting the tone for an album that is as interested in atmosphere as it is in volume.

The Cult of Ignorance turns up the heat, combining chunky riffs, keyboards and a huge chorus. It is catchy without becoming lightweight, a trick Europe has perfected over the years. The title track pushes things further, with a darker groove and a sense of urgency that gives the album its identity. Rather than looking backwards, Europe sound as if they are taking stock of the world around them.

That sense of unease runs through much of the record. Scandinavian Eyes is suitably grand, marrying dramatic keyboards with heavy guitar work, while Takin’ It Back has an almost defiant energy. There is anger here, but it is controlled rather than chaotic, with Tempest delivering the material with the conviction of someone who has seen enough of the world to know that easy answers rarely exist.

Then comes This Time of Year, which changes the temperature completely. A more reflective, melodic number, it provides welcome breathing space without sounding like an obligatory power ballad. Norum’s guitar work is particularly effective, adding emotion rather than simply another opportunity to demonstrate his technique.

Across the album, the five-piece – Tempest, Norum, Mic Michaeli, John Levén and Ian Haugland – sound remarkably cohesive. Michaeli’s keyboards are especially important, adding colour and scale without dragging the band back into 1980s nostalgia. Meanwhile, Levén and Haugland provide the solid foundation that allows Norum to roam.

The production from Tom Dalgety gives everything considerable weight, while Mike Fraser’s mix brings clarity to the guitars, keyboards and rhythm section. The result is a record that sounds modern without sacrificing the organic character that makes classic hard rock so enjoyable.

If there were any major influence here, it would undoubtedly be Deep Purple yet Come This Madness remains the sound of a veteran band taking everything it has learned and putting it to work in the present.

The countdown may have started four decades ago, but Europe clearly isn't finished yet, as they prove on this fine return.