Refused – “Elektra” [YouTube Song Stream]

The Skinny: 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 30 via Epitaph. Listen to the first new song “Elektra” via the YouTube player just below.

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 are available at www.refusedstore.com.

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.

Freedom Track Listing:

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

Tour Dates:

05/02 – Grozerock, Meerhout, Belgium
05/22 – Ruhrpott Roden Open Air Festival, Hünxe, Germany
05/24 – Las Vegas, NV – Punk Rock Bowling festival
05/25 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
05/26 – West Hollywood, CA – The Roxy Theatre
05/28 – San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
05/29 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
05/30 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
05/31 – Chicago, IL – Double Door
06/01 – Boston, MA – The Sinclair
06/02 – Gdynia, Poland, Opener Festival
06/03 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
06/04 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
06/05 – Washington, DC – Rock & Roll Hotel
06/20 – Amnesia Rock Fest, Montebello, QC, Canada
06/27 – Provinssi, Seinäjoki, Finland
07/02 – Gdynia, Poland, Opener Festival
07/11 – Rock im Ring Festival, Collalbo, Italy
07/16 – Resurrection Fest, Viveiro, Spain
07/17 – Slottsfjell, Tonsberg, Norway
07/18 – Bukta Tromso Open Air Festival, Tromso, Norway
07/30 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade Music Park
07/31 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater
08/01 – Philadelphia, PA – Mann Center
08/02 – Columbia, MA – Merriweather Post Pavilion
08/04 – Boston, MA – Blue Hills Bank Pavilion
08/05 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
08/07 – Toronto, ON – Ricoh Coliseum
08/28 – Leeds Festival, UK
08/29 – Pure & Crafted Festival, Gräfenhainichen, Germany
08/30 – Reading Festival, UK

05/24-06/05 – Refused US club tour
07/30-09/07 – with Faith No More