Refused announce new album 'Freedom'
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 29 via Epitaph. Listen to the first new song "Elektra" at Pitchfork now: http://pitchfork.com/news/57401-refused-are-back-new-album-freedom-out-this-summer-new-track-elektra-streaming-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.
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.
About Refused:
Released in 1998, 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.
'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 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
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