Refused are fucking alive. There’s no escape. The Iconic Swedish hardcore band are releasing Freedom, their first new album in 17 years on June 30 via Epitaph. Listen to the first new song “Elektra” now:
Pre-orders for Freedom, including a limited edition exclusive CD package that includes a 28 page hardbound book, exclusive artwork with gold foil stamping, and a double sided poster is available at refusedstore.com.
In 1998 Refused released their iconic album The Shape of Punk to Come. It was also the year that the band broke up and declared “Refused Are Fucking Dead“. Fourteen years later, the band reignited in 2012 for a Coachella performance. The group started contemplating new music within the first four months of the reunion tour, a process greatly aided by the fact that drummer David Sandström, guitarist Kristofer Steen, and bassist Magnus Flagge had already been writing together informally for several years under the auspices of a new, vocal-less band.
The Shape of Punk to Come has become one of the most influential albums in decades, fusing punk, metal, hardcore, techno, jazz, emo, and hip-hop into a meld of intricate, politically charged punk that has graced ‘best of’ lists since its release. Refused’s most critically acclaimed album exploded on the scene with the jaw-dropping hardcore anthem “New Noise,” which helped change the game forever by influencing a range of genres to this day.
Frontman Dennis Lyxzén states, “It’s not a reunion anymore. “This is one of the most radical things we’ve ever done, both musically and lyrically.”
Drummer David Sandström adds, “Nobody wanted us to fuck with the image of the band who makes a great album and splits up. Nobody wanted us to dilute it. That actually provoked us.”
Freedom explodes out of the speakers with opening track “Elektra,” as Lyxzén throat-shredding declaration that “nothing has changed” catapults Refused into the 21st century. Production for Freedom was overseen by Nick Launay (Gang Of Four, Public Image Ltd., Nick Cave, and Arcade Fire. “Elektra” and “366” were produced and co-written by fellow Swede and longtime Refused fan Shellback, who has scored eight No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with artists such as Taylor Swift and Pink.
Refused returns to the US with a performance at the Punk Rock Bowling festival in Las Vegas on May 24, followed by a sold out small club tour this spring. Additionally Refused will tour with Faith No More this summer. Full tour dates are below.
‘FREEDOM’ TRACK LIST:
- Elektra
- Old Friends / New War
- Dawkins Christ
- Françafrique
- Thought Is Blood
- War On The Palaces
- Destroy The Man
- 366
- Servants Of Death
- Useless Europeans
REFUSED SHOW DATES:
May 24 – Jun 05 Refused US club tour
Jul 30 – Aug 7 with Faith No More
May 02 Grozerock, Meerhout, Belgium
May 22 Ruhrpott Roden Open Air Festival, Hünxe, Germany
May 24 Las Vegas, NV – Punk Rock Bowling festival
May 25 Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
May 26 West Hollywood, CA – The Roxy Theatre
May 28 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
May 29 Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
May 30 Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
May 31 Chicago, IL – Double Door
Jun 01 Boston, MA – The Sinclair
Jul 02 Gdynia, Poland, Opener Festival
Jun 03 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
Jun 04 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
Jun 05 Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel
Jun 20 Amnesia Rock Fest, Montebello, QC, Canada
Jun 27 Provinssi, Seinäjoki, Finland
Jul 02 Gdynia, Poland, Opener Festival
Jul 11 Rock im Ring Festival, Collalbo, Italy
Jul 16 Resurrection Fest, Viveiro, Spain
Jul 17 Slottsfjell, Tonsberg, Norway
Jul 18 Bukta Tromso Open Air Festival, Tromso, Norway
Jul 30 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade Music Park
Jul 31 Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
Aug 01 Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center
Aug 02 Columbia, MA – Merriweather Post Pavilion
Aug 04 Boston, MA – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
Aug 05 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
Aug 07 Toronto, ON – Ricoh Coliseum
Aug 28 Leeds Festival, UK
Aug 29 Pure & Crafted Festival, Gräfenhainichen, Germany
Aug 30 Reading Festival, UK
