The single-word version of any review of the new Sekunderna LP is right there in the title: Hits. It really is that simple—yet surprisingly so for a band of smart people who casually sneak in literary references (including Swedish Nobel laureate Eyvind Johnson).

Of course, for non-Swedish listeners, it’s easy to miss the power of Sekunderna’s lyrics and simply get swept up in their delivery—always evoking a sense of melancholy and longing. Honestly, is there any punk rock band right now that matches melody with urgency as delightfully as Sekunderna?

Maybe the title Hits also points to how this is Sekunderna at their catchiest yet. The band continues to channel their Jeff Burke worship into something unmistakably their own—now with even more fervor, variety, and harmony, as in the stellar Kedjorna Faller. On Hits, Sekunderna prove that growth can make a great thing even better. They no longer rely solely on pace to sound energetic—they can drop an unironic pa-pa-pa without having to apologize for it.

Throw in garage pop-punk instant favorites like Vad Har Du Gjort and you’ve got a no-brainer purchase.

Sekunderna, now with added pop. I love it.

LP out now through Fika Recordings (UK), Ord (SE), and Bloated Kat (USA).

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp