Last month, Stockholm’s Speedway announced their debut album A Life’s Refrain, set for release April 11th through Revelation Records.

Recorded in Örebro 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), the album is a thrilling explosion of untamed energy. Having shared the melodic yet fast-paced ‘Permission To Dream’, featuring Ekulu’s Chris Wilson, Speedway now unleash ‘Passion Play’. The guitar-driven single emerges as one of the album’s standout tracks, seamlessly blending the intensity of hardcore with a touch of ’70s rock and tambourines. Shout along lyrics yearn to be piled along to while shifting bass lines and an electrifying guitar solo bring an exhilarating dynamic. The tracks on LP 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, album embodies everything band 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”. 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.

This April, Speedway will support Shelter on an eleven date European tour. Group will celebrate their record release in Stockholm at Alive and Well Festival the weekend of May 2nd and 3rd. Full dates below.

Speedway is Anton Larsson – Vocals, Emil Ulvede – Guitar, Adam Hagerum – Guitar, Jens Karlsson – Bass and Gabriel Bhatia – Drums.

‘A Life’s Refrain’ Tracklist:

1. Thin Air

2. Day By Day ft Ned Russin

3. Sanctified

4. Permission To Dream ft Chris Wilson

5. Passion Play

6. Walls Of Ire

7. In Shadows Deep

8. Ascension

9. Touch

10. Solitaire ft Sebastian Murphy

11. Another Life

12. Tomorrow Once More

Tour Dates:
w/ 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

02-03.05.25 Stockholm (SE) – Alive and Well Fest

Photo Credit: Alva Nylander