Formed in Umeå, Sweden in 1991, hardcore-punk legends Refused are one of the most influential rock bands of the early ‘00s. Artists as diverse as Linkin Park, Frank Turner, Steve Aoki, Duff McKagan and Paramore have been heavily cited crediting the 1998 album The Shape Of Punk To Come as being a fundamental influence on their musical styles. The album has become a cultural touchstone for the entire post-hardcore generation as the origination of stylistic genre-bending – including electronics, jazz and slick production for the first time – tent-poled by politically progressive lyrical intent.

After a 14-year pause, the band reunited in 2012 to play some huge shows and issue Freedom in 2015. It’s long awaited follow-up War Music serves as the group’s fifth full length effort overall. First single “Blood Red” is a straight forward declaration of the band’s unwavering political and musical philosophy. “We still believe that capitalism is cancer and we still believe it can be cured,” notes the band. “We still believe that the patriarchy is cancer and we still believe it too can be cured. We still believe in the power of art to transform and expand the mind. And last but by no means least: We still believe in the total violent obliteration of the one percent.”