THEY SAID THEY WERE FUCKING DEAD.

Refused have officially released their new album Freedom and if you’re like us you may have had a little problem coming to terms with this fact. It is fundamentally confusing, like your parents getting back together after a traumatising and turbulent divorce. You’re kind of happy for them, but you were kind of comfortable with the way things were.

If you’re like us you may have slept soundly at night knowing that Refused were dead. The band that came out of nowhere to dish out of the most influential albums of all time before disbanding was one of the only bands in the world not attempting to reform and possibly undo their enduring legacy. Even throughout all the inevitable reunions, the Soundgardens, The Pixies, and At The Gates, we never thought Refused would put their name at risk. Not least because, you know, their final release was rather finitely titled Refused Are Fucking Dead.

BUT here they are, throwing their broad brimmed Mumford hats in the ring and putting it all on the line. They are back, and there are three key reasons we should be thankful for this.

1. It really is a truly repugnant thing to deny someone their creative outlet. To refuse them a reformation. The legacy is- afterall- theirs to tarnish if they so wish. Given all that they have achieved and the incredible music they have provided us with, we owe it to them to give them another go. Thought message boards the world over will enjoy imparting their musical wisdom on those four scandalous Swedes, carving out a creative career for oneself is a bastard of a job. Not only do you need to juggle the struggles that a traditional career bestows upon you, you need to negotiate daily with your art, that intangible, indistinguishable beast that will define and devour your reputation for the rest of your life.
2. They still deliver as a live band. Anyone who was lucky enough to witness them during their Australian tour a couple of years ago can attest to their cohesion and commitment to the cause. Lyxzen’s vocal chords are just as strong and stretchy as his glutes, and they have lost precisely NONE of the passion of their former years.
3. Freedom is a really strong album. You can tell that the band are trying very, very hard to satisfy everyone and although there are many flaws to be found in this approach, it is ultimately an admirable move. Many of the tracks are fantastic reprisals of their former sound; Elektra is immediately invigorating. Some others, while not immediately digestible  are bold attempts to again redefine the genre. You’ll remember that the band were mostly disregarded during their first incarnation and their innovation only really recognised in retrospect. Who’s to say this won’t happen again?

Check out the recently released video for Dawkins Christ or stream the whole album over at Pandora here.

Refused’s Freedom was released on Friday June 26.