Five European melodic hardcore bands that are way better than Refused

Refused (photo: Getty Images/David Wolff-Patrick)

By Jason Schreurs

Okay, let’s start by saying that we here at Rice and Bread have nothing against Swedish hardcore maestros Refused, who recently announced they’ll be releasing a new album entitled Freedom next month. Yes, Refused are trailblazing hardcore band with impeccable style and amazing hooks, and we can be found windmilling to “New Noise” just as much as the next online publication, but… are they overrated? Probably. Are there a bunch of other European hardcore bands that are just as good, but rarely get the recognition they deserve? Definitely yes.

Here are five European melodic hardcore bands that are way better than Refused:

Razor Crusade
Let’s start with these Dutchies, who are sadly defunct as of 2005. Before they disbanded, however, the Netherlands’ Razor Crusade released one of the best screamy, melodic hardcore albums, well, ever in 2004’s Infinite Water (Deathwish Inc.), which is every bit as good, if not better, musically than Refused’s The Shape of Punk to Come, a lot less pretentious and features the song, “This Is Not You, Holland” which, when played on headphones, might just make you weep openly. When was the last time a Refused song made you cry? Really.

Das Oath
Another band from the Netherlands, who later transplanted to New York and added American members before calling it quits in 2007, Das Oath were a lot more screamy and spastic than Refused, and because of their complete disarray and lack of preconception, a far superior band. Sure, in some ways this is like comparing apples to oranges, but if the underlying chaos of Refused is what stokes you up the most, Das Oath bring that annihilation right out to the front, where it belongs.

Burst
Again, a bit of appling and oranging here, but if the heavier, groove-based hardcore of earlier Refused was your thing, fellow Swedes Burst took it one step heavier and groovier on their five albums, before breaking up in 2009. The five-piece did become a bit more progressive in their later releases, but that sweet spot that they occupied in the early 2000s was way more goosebumps-inducing than anything Refused ever put out.

Jr. Ewing
Probably the best melodic hardcore band to ever come out Norway (well, unless you count Wolves Like Us, who featured some of the same people), JR Ewing’s early material was way more screamier than their melodic emotional material pre-break up in 2006. Andreas Tylden’s vocals were always a lot more dynamic than Dennis Lyxzen’s, and he was never afraid to embrace his lisp, whereas Lyxzen has always had an annoying habit of trying to hide his sensitivity behind a scream and a bellow. Also, the bass sound on a JR Ewing album is to die for.

Raised Fist
Last but certainly not least, when it comes to Swedish melodic hardcore there is no better band than Raised Fist. Sure, Refused have better fashion sense and some slick jazz training, and most definitely a less-jarring vocalist than Alle Hagman (who is awesome, but definitely an acquired taste), but Raised Fist kick so much ass it’s hard to even compare the two bands. Raised Fist are like a runaway hardcore train. Again, we like Refused just fine, but “Killing It” packs so much more punch than anything Refused ever recorded. Let’s face it.