Refused - Press 2015 - Photo by Dustin Rabin

Photo by Dustin Rabin

Context?

REFUSED are back! Not dead but freakin’ alive! And they even got a new album coming up. Their first one in 17 years! Okay, we weren’t really sure after the 2012 reunion and various problems following it. But since they reformed for more shows in late 2014 we just … attention … refused to believe that the Swedish punk heroes were gone for good. Still, this comes as a really lovely surprise.

Why Should I Watch This?

Because REFUSED are back! Seriously, we don’t really care about in which form. Okay, the video for their new single Elektra isn’t that spectacular. It’s a nice collage of visuals but the soundtrack that accompanies them remains the most important aspect. Elektra is as powerful as we remembered the gang around singer Dennis Lyxzén. A punch in your guts, a fresh dose of adrenaline and all the passionate anger we loved from the Swedes.

Anything Else?

Did we already mention that REFUSED are f**ing back? For God’s sake… Freedom is the name of their first album since 1998 and it will be released on June the 30th via Epitaph Records. ‘It’s not a reunion anymore,’ explains Mr. Lyxzén. ‘This is one of the most radical things we’ve ever done, both musically and lyrically.’ He’s damn right, isn’t he?

REFUSED