Everlasting

Despite some personal problems and a general sense of chaos surrounding the band, Refused successfully managed to put together this seven-song EP of classic Swedish hardcore in 1994. Originally released in Europe on Startrec Records, Everlasting eventually hit stores in America on the Equal Vision imprint in 1997. More metallic than earlier releases, this disc has a progressive hardcore sound that bested the band's full-length debut, This Just Might Be the Truth. If the music changed a little, the group's staunch left-wing political outspokenness remained intact as just about every track rails against all things Western, especially cold corporate might and cultural imperialism. Standout tracks like "Burn It" and "The Real" stand up to the best American hardcore with their punchy riffs and highly charged, yet intelligent vocals. While much more raw than Refused's most recognized and accomplished effort, 1998's The Shape of Punk to Come, Everlasting is perhaps the group's second-best offering, demonstrating their significant mid-career development. ~ Vincent Jeffries