Photo: Press
Refused are not only embarking on a world tour, but they have also just announced that they will be releasing a new album - their first in 17 years - along with a brand new track called 'Elektra', which you can stream below.
The Swedish hardcore act broke up after releasing their 1998 album The Shape Of Punk To Come, but they then reunited for a tour in 2012. They've been quiet since, but the band surprised fans by announcing a world tour. Now, they've unleashed an even bigger surprise, revealing that a new album, titled Freedom, will be out on June 30 via Epitaph Records.
The LP was produced by Nick Launay (Arcade Fire, Gang Of Four, Kate Bush, Nick Cave), while Shellback (a Swedish producer who has previously written for acts including Britney Spears, Taylor Swift and Pink) helped out on tracks ‘Elektra’ and ‘366’.
Listen to 'Elektra' by Refused:
"It’s not a reunion anymore," frontman Dennis Lyxzén said in a press release. "This is one of the most radical things we’ve ever done, both musically and lyrically."
"Nobody wanted us to fuck with the image of the band who makes a great album and splits up," drummer David Sandström added. "Nobody wanted us to dilute it. That actually provoked us."
The tracklisting for Freedom is:
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 will be playing the following shows:
May 2 – Meerhout, Belgium, Grozerock
May 22 – Hünxe, Germany, Ruhrpott Roden Open Air Festival
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
June 1 – Boston, MA, The Sinclair
June 3 – New York, NY, Bowery Ballroom
June 4 – Brooklyn, NY, Music Hall of Williamsburg
June 5 – Washington, DC, Rock & Roll Hotel
June 20 – Montebello, QC, Canada, Amnesia Rock Fest
June 27 – Seinäjoki, Finland, Provinssi
July 2 – Gdynia, Poland, Open'er Festival
July 11 – Collalbo, Italy, Rock im Ring Festival
July 16 – Viveiro, Spain, Resurrection Fest
July 17 – Tonsberg, Norway, Slottsfjell
July 18 – Tromso, Norway, Bukta Tromso Open Air Festival
July 30 – Atlanta, GA, Masquerade Music Park *
July 31 – Raleigh, NC, Red Hat Amphitheater *
August 1 – Philadelphia, PA, Mann Center *
August 2 – Columbia, MA, Merriweather Post Pavilion *
August 4 – Boston, MA, Blue Hills Bank Pavilion *
August 5 – New York, NY, Madison Square Garden *
August 7 – Toronto, ON, Ricoh Coliseum *
August 28 – Bramham, UK, Leeds Festival
August 29 – Gräfenhainichen, Germany, Pure & Crafted Festival
August 30 – Reading, UK, Reading Festival
* with Faith No More
