Refused

Refused was a hardcore punk band originating from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1991. The band's final lineup comprised its founding members, vocalist Dennis Lyxzén and drummer David Sandström, as well as bassist Kristofer Steen and guitarist Jon Brännström. Their lyrics came from a left-wing revolutionary perspective, and dealt with the subjects of classism and bourgeois morality, authoritarian repression, homophobia, animal rights, the press, and the futility of 'representative democracy.' To date, the band released five EPs and three albums, before splitting up in 1998. Kerrang! placed The Shape of Punk to Come at #13 on their 50 Most Important Albums Of All Time list. The album has also been named by some critics as the greatest hardcore album of all time. Several months of heavy touring and internal stress culminated the band's dissolution, after their final show in the United States was dismantled by police. Following the band split, Lyxzén went on to front the political garage rock band The (International) Noise Conspiracy. In March 2010, Epitaph Records put up the old Refused website online with the words 'Coming Soon'.[3][4] Rumors spread across the internet about what the new website could indicate, including speculation of a reunion.[5] Citing an anonymous source "close to the situation," Punknews.org unofficially announced that the band would perform at European music festivals in 2010.[6] Dennis Lyxzén has denied claims of a Refused reformation as he and David Sandström are busy with AC4.[5][7] The new band website was later announced to be a promotional site for a reissue of Refused's final album, The Shape of Punk to Come.[5] The reissue, to be released on June 8, 2010, will be a three-disc set with an unreleased live album recorded in 1998 and the Refused Are Fucking Dead DVD documentary in addition to the full original album.[8]