Although we knew we’d be seeing Refused playing shows this summer, the Swedish hardcore band have now announced they will be releasing their first album since 1998’s highly influential ‘The Shape of Punk to Come’.The album is called ‘Freedom’ and will be released on June 30th via Epitaph. It sees the band working with producer Nick Launay (Arcade Fire, Kate Bush, Nick Cave).
Frontman Dennis Lyxzén told Pitchfork the following:
“It’s not a reunion anymore. This is one of the most radical things we’ve ever done, both musically and lyrically.”
01 Elektra
02 Old Friends / New War
03 Dawkins Christ
04 Françafrique
05 Thought Is Blood
06 War on the Palaces
07 Destroy the Man
08 366
09 Servants of Death
10 Useless Europeans
The opening track, ‘Elektra’ has also been released and can be heard below. It sees the band collaborating with Shellback, the Swedish pop “superproducer” who has worked on songs by the likes Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, and Pink.
Refused will kick off their summer this weekend at Groezrock in Belgium and will end it by appearing at the Reading and Leeds Festival.
May
02 Groezrock, Meerhout, Belgium
22 Ruhrpott Rodeo Open Air Festival, Hünxe, Germany
June
27 Provinssi, Seinäjoki, Finland
July
02 Open’er Festival, Gdynia, Poland
11 Rock am Ring, Collalbo, Italy
16 Resurrection Fest, Viveiro, Spain
17 Slottsfjell, Tønsberg, Norway
18 Bukta Tromso Open Air Festival, Tromso, Norway
August
28 Leeds Festival, England
29 Pure & Crafted Festival, Gräfenhainichen, Germany
30 Reading Festival, England