Since effectively re-forming and returning from the "f**king dead" seven years ago, Swedish Punk/Post-Hardcore band Refused were awarded The Special Prize for Music Exports by the Swedish Ministry of Trade in 2013, have released a new album, Freedom (2015,) an EP entitled Servants of Death, and most recently, "Chippin' In" as SAMURAI from upcoming video game, Cyberpunk 2077. Last month, frontman Dennis Lyxzén (@dennislyxzen) hinted at new Refused material within an Instagram post: "Oh. In between recording @refused and @invsn records there's also this..." making reference to SAMURAI's "Chippin' In." Now, Refused have returned with "Blood Red," the first proper single from their upcoming fifth studio album, WAR MUSIC. It was accompanied by a "Blood Red"-tinted music video directed by Daniel Gray with live footage filmed by Eric Richter, which features present-day Refused artfully juxtaposed against their 90's Shape of Punk to Come-era counterparts. Refused have, once more, single-handedly managed to re-shape the sound of Punk to come with "Blood Red;" amidst its dueling display of pummeling electric/acoustic guitar riffs accompanied by a politically-charged message, which is now, unfortunately, more poignant than ever! Below, you can read a full press statement from Refused's own Dennis Lyxzén, David Sandström, Kristofer Steen, Magnus Flagge & Mattias Bärjed on "Blood Red" & WAR MUSIC. Refused plan to unleash WAR MUSIC upon the terribly unsuspecting masses on Friday, October 18, 2019 through Spinefarm/Search & Destroy Records.

"We didn't play a single show during the making-of the last album. It was a long time to be away after the addictive chaos of our reunion shows in 2012. Playing to houses packed with maniacs losing their minds right in front of you is a narcotic to rival actual narcotics we'd venture; not our field of expertise, but Keith Richards definitely seems to feel that way, and he's an expert on both. So, as we went out on tour in the summer of 2015, we were getting pretty high on our own supply (of songs, that is.) It was amazing, simply put.

But it was, also, obvious that Freedom was, for the most part, a "studio" record. A great record, to us, but there was something missing, as we started playing it live—something visceral, direct, relentless. At a soundcheck somewhere on the road (Austin?) Kristofer [Steen] started playing this riff and we all got into it (jamming, as it were.) After a while, we noticed that our crew had stopped working and that the people working at the venue were standing around watching us play. Now, people at venues usually hardly notice you, they've seen a thousand bands more famous than you fool around with their precious ditties, as they're re-stocking the bar or setting up barricades.

So, as we were settling into the riff proper and it started rolling and bouncing the way you're hearing it today, whatever we felt had been missing, it was clear that we had begun to fill that gap. The riff turned into "Blood Red," the first song we finished for the new record and the first song we played live off of it. It's fitting that it's now the first song you're gonna hear from the new record because it was truly inspired by you, our live audience, the old and the new, who come out and help us turn every venue into a boiling hot mess. This one's for you. If I fall, you'll help me up, OK? Welcome to WAR MUSIC. We'll see you in the pit."

// Refused (@Refused)