In early February, we named Makthaverskan’s single “Witness” one of the 5 Best Songs of the week, and commented on the Swedish band’s ability to craft a kind of effortlessly epic sound that towers over you, refusing to be ignored. Makthaverskan’s overpowering gloom is the kind of sound that you have to resign yourself to, and their sister band Westkust shares the same dominating ability despite their definitively brighter patina. “Swirl” is the second single off of the band’s forthcoming debut full-length, Last Forever, which will be released in the US by Run For Cover later this year, and will follow up to 2013’s Summer 3D/Weekends 7″ and 2012’s Junk EP. Gustav Anderson (who also plays in Makthaverskan alongside Westkust’s bassist Hugo Randulv) annunciates each of the song’s syllables with the kind of punctual precision that recalls R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe. Accompanied by Julia Bjernelind, Anderson’s vocal performance pushes back against the song’s combative wall-of-sound to create the kind of capacious pop that would sound at home in a castle or a cave. Listen below.

Last Forever is out 4/22 in Scandinavia via Luxury and early summer in the US via Run For Cover.