Europe have released “The Cult Of Ignorance”, the second single from their upcoming album Come This Madness, which arrives on September 25 through Silver Lining Music.
Built around a strong hook and an arena-ready chorus, “The Cult Of Ignorance” pairs a catchy hard rock approach with lyrics that reflect modern society while maintaining an upbeat feel.
The song arrives with a video featuring several well-known guests alongside Europe, including actress Malin Åkerman, former world No. 1 tennis player Stefan Edberg, astronaut Christer Fuglesang, Howling Pelle of The Hives, Mikael Åkerfeldt and Fredrik Åkesson of Opeth, E-Type, and a range of personalities from the worlds of music, film, sports, fashion, and science.
Frontman Joey Tempest said: “I love this track! It’s a straightforward rock anthem with lyrics reflecting the times we live in, written slightly tongue in cheek. Mic [Michaeli, 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.”
More than four decades into their career, Europe continue to move forward while staying connected to the sound that made them one of Sweden’s most successful hard rock exports. The new album explores themes found throughout songs such as “One On One”, “The Cult Of Ignorance”, and the title track, “Come This Madness”.
The first single, “One On One”, was released in April and served as the first preview of the band’s latest studio effort. Built around a driving bass line, layered melodies, and a powerful chorus, the track blends classic Europe elements with a modern production style.
Come This Madness was recorded at RMV Studio in Stockholm and features guest appearances from Tobias Forge of Ghost and Mikael Åkerfeldt of Opeth. Production duties were handled by Tom Dalgety, known for his work with Ghost, Rammstein, Pixies, The Cult, and Opeth. The album was mixed by Mike Fraser, whose résumé includes AC/DC, Van Halen, Metallica, The Cult, and Loverboy.
Speaking about Dalgety‘s involvement, Tempest said: “It was a true pleasure working with Tom. He’s creative, musical, and incredibly intuitive — he really became a sixth member of the band during the writing and recording of this album. We even invited him to co-write on some of the songs.”
In addition to the album release, Europe are preparing for an extensive touring schedule that includes festival appearances and The Final Countdown 40th-anniversary tour. The trek begins in Glasgow on September 30 and will celebrate one of the band’s most recognizable records while showcasing material from Come This Madness.
The artwork for Come This Madness was created by Storm Studios, whose previous work includes projects for Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Muse.
