Refused, the best band that ever was or will be, is very apparently working on a new album.
The first sign that something other than nothing was cooking in Sweden was Jon Brännström’s announcement that he’d been fired from the group. While not an “original” member, Brännström was a key element of the “classic” lineup, so this was sad news to say the least. Yet obviously that suggests that the band was getting ready for either a tour or recording, as there’s no point in a lineup change if the band’s dormant.
Jon Brännström expresses gratitude but announces he’s been fired from Refused. That’s a bummer. https://t.co/uD9ChseKUD
— Antiquiet (@antiquiet) October 31, 2014
Now, via ThePRP comes a big new cat who has escaped from its bag. Autry Fulbright II, bassist of …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, recently Instagrammed (and quickly deleted) a photo of himself with Refused frontman Dennis Lyxzén, with the following caption (emphasis ours):
in austria tonight for the ahoi pop festival weekend along with st. vincent and this guy’s band invsn which he’s doing between finishing vocals for the new refused album that’s coming out next year
There’s not too many ways to take that. Release dates and plans may change of course, but there’s quite clearly new material in the works, unless Fulbright is extraordinarily mixed up. Even if the “album” is just an EP, to be “finishing vocals” suggests there are new songs done.
The obvious question: Should we dare hope for something as good as The Shape Of Punk To Come? Well, I was uneasy about the reunion shows, but Refused 2012 lived up to the legacy of Refused 1998. I have faith in this band to deliver until they are fully fucking dead.
