With their debut LP, A Life’s Refrain, Stockholm’s Speedway unleashes a thrilling and unpredictable explosion of untamed energy. Bursting with lightning-fast guitar riffs, captivating songwriting, and a stroke of melancholy, this album is poised to become a landmark in Swedish hardcore and beyond. Set for release on April 11th through the legendary Revelation Records, A Life’s Refrain was recorded in Sweden at Fascination Street Studio, co-produced by the band alongside Title Fight’s Ned and Ben Russin, with mixing and mastering by Arthur Rizk (Fucked Up, Power Trip, Show Me The Body).
Single “Permission To Dream,” out now, is laced with a nostalgic, melodic undertone, without sacrificing speed or aggression. Guest vocals from Ekulu’s Chris Wilson add an emotionally rugged addition to vocalist Anton Larsson fast-fire delivery.
On the track, Larsson shares:
"Permission to Dream pretty much summarizes all the building blocks that made Speedway the band it is. Grand, introspective and powerful without lacking an ounce of the shear force and aggression of the classic records that inspired us. This track, along with the rest of the songs on A Life's Refrain is what we hope will shed some well deserved light onto what the Stockholm hardcore scene has to offer in 2025."
The tracks on A Life’s Refrain are rooted in the spirit of 80s youth crew, yet refuse to be confined by its boundaries, evolving into a distinctive hybrid that evokes everything from Youth Of Today, Victim In Pain-era Agnostic Front, to Iron Maiden’s Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son. In addition to Ekulu’s Chris Wilson, Viagra Boys’ Sebastian Murphy features on “Solitaire” with Title Fight and Glitterer’s Ned Russin lending his pipes to “Day By Day.” Following two EPs, a live cassette, tours and gigs across Europe, A Life’s Refrain embodies everything SPEEDWAY has accomplished up to this point, only better, more focused, and imbued with a sense of rebirth that resonates from the first riff to Larsson’s closing lyrics: “Sought courage in despair. In songs that pierce the midnight air”.
Speedway is Anton Larsson - Vocals, Emil Ulvede - Guitar, Adam Hagerum - Guitar, Jens Karlsson - Bass, and Gabriel Bhatia - Drums.