You knew Refused were up to something. Yesterday, the enigmatic Swedish band posted a cryptic message—a six-second video saying only “THERE’S NO ESCAPE.” Today, there’s an explanation, sort of. They’ve just announced a new album, Freedom, their first in 17 years. It will be released via Epitaph on June 30.
The Swedes reunited three years ago at Coachella to the delight of some longtime diehard fans and the chagrin of others who criticized the uncharacteristically commercial move, a divisive reception that seemed to prompt the band to challenge themselves to outdo their 1998 classic The Shape of Punk to Come. “It’s not a reunion anymore,” explains frontman Dennis Lyxzén of the new album. “This is one of the most radical things we’ve ever done, both musically and lyrically.”
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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.”
Listen to Freedom’s first track “Elektra” and pre-order the album here. Additionally Refused will head out on the road this summer. Dates below.
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
(May 24 to June 05 Refused US club tour
July 30 to August 7 with Faith No More)
