With their inclusion on my 12 Newer Hardcore Bands to Check Out list back in 2021, it's suffice to say that I'm a big fan of Speedway.
The Stockholm-based outfit has been flying the flag for Swedish Hardcore for over 5 years now, releasing a pair of EPs and singles along the way. Speeway's sound brings together elements of everything from '90s-style emotive hardcore to Youth Crew to the kind of stuff you'd hear on New Age Records during the label's heydey.
Teaming up with Revelation Records, Speedway will finally be releasing their debut album next month. Produced by brothers Ned and Ben Russin (Title Fight), A Life's Refrain was well worth the wait. I've been listening to the advance stream of the LP for a few weeks and can't get enough of its tasty balance of melody and grit.
Speedway vocalist Anton Larsson, drummer Gabriel Bhatia, and guitarist Adam Hagerum were kind enough to spend some time with me to talk about the album and collaborating with the Russins in the studio.
It's been 5 years since the first Speedway release, so you've taken your time putting together a proper full-length album. Was that by design? How would you say that stylistic direction has evolved from the earliest days, if it all?
(Anton Larsson, vocals): It really wasn’t. Had it been up to us, the record would probably have been out for over a year at this point [laughs]. But we’re all thrilled with the outcome, which is what matters and makes it all worth it in the end.
I would say that A Life’s Refrain is us in our most refined state to date. The things we enjoyed most about the old material have been brought forward and elevated in an attempt to really cement our musical identity.
How did Ned and Ben Russin come to be involved with A Life's Refrain? You've truly taken your time developing Speedway so I'm sure bringing other people into the creative process wasn't something you took lightly. Do you have a long-standing relationship with them from your other bands?
(Anton): Bringing outsiders into the process was a scary thought at first, considering how it might have been frowned upon by a certain breed of hardcore purist, but we couldn’t be more happy with our decision.
We actually got to know Ben when playing the Can’t Keep Us Down fest in Barcelona, Spain in early 2023, where Ben partly lives and plays with the band Verdugo. Since Ben has a very strong musical track record he immediately came to mind once we started discussing having other people involved in making the record. He initially suggested that his brother Ned would be a better fit for the job, so we simply invited them both to come hang out in the studio with us, the rest is history.
How involved was Revelation Records behind the scenes while you were making the album? Are they hands on about things or let you do your thing in that regard?
(Gabriel Bhatia, drums): Like Anton said, bringing outsiders into our process has never been a thing for Speedway. I feel like Rev has been super patient with us on this record. Mostly because i’ve personally been really impatient during this whole process - but also because i feel like the label has respected our boundaries while still trying to encourage us.
I think that we’re a band which needs the occasional deadline to deliver. There has been lot’s of Zoom calls, brainstorming and demos sent over these last couple of years.
READ MORE: 6 Swedish Underrated ‘90s Hardcore Bands
What are some of the themes you touch upon in the lyrics on the album?
(Anton): It’s mostly me reflecting on the state of existing in a world that has seemingly endless expectations on who you’re supposed to be, and what you’re supposed to be doing in life. It’s about trying to stay afloat amidst the chaos of adulthood while simultaneously trying to push yourself forward and be the best possible version of yourself.
From my perspective, Speedway is a band that falls into a certain introspective and—dare I say it—mature, side of hardcore music. With so many "tough" bands, and all that posturing, it feels great listening to what you've been doing throughout the years. What's your take on that?
(Adam Hagerum, guitars): I can definitely see why people see us like that. We have a certain sound that instantly make you think that way. And that’s cool. I’ve always seen us as an energetic band with a lot of power, but that hasn’t really been displayed on the previous recordings of us. It has mostly been a live thing, but with the new record we tried to get more of the live energy into the actual recording.
I like all kinds of styles in hardcore and all of us in Speedway are into the heavier types of bands. I think that we can fit into a lot of different lineups. And we’ve done shows where we’ve been the “soft band” among other heavier bands. And I love that we can do those types of shows even though we don’t play that style. But to me, you don’t have to choose a side, you can like it all! I really hope that we can keep on doing those kinds of shows.
You're going out with Shelter for a run of dates next month. What's your favorite record by them? I am partial to Mantra myself.
Mantra is a top pick for us as well. Solid record! We’re really happy to be part of the celebration of the album.
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A Life's Refrain will be out on April 11th via Revelation Records (pre-order).
Tour dates with Shelter:
07.04.2025 Gothenburg (SE) - Fängelset
08.04.25 Essen (DE) - Zeche Carl
09.04.25 Berlin (DE) - So36
10.04.25 Schweinfurt (DE) - Alter Schlachthof
11.04.25 Leipzig (DE) - Selsenkeller
12.04.25 Wien (AU) - Szene
13.04.25 Budapest (HU) - A38 Ship Shop
14.04.2025 München (DE) - Backstage
15.04.25 Köln (DE) - Luxor
16.04.25 Amsterdam (NL) - Melkweg OZ
17.04.25 Kortrijk (BE) Wilde Westen
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