Freedom (Refused album) explained

Freedom
Type:	studio
Artist:	Refused
Cover:	RefusedFreedom.jpg
Recorded:	October 2014 – February 2015
Studio:	Seedy Underbelly, Los Angeles Decibel Studios/mxm Studios, Stockholm
Length:	43:04
Label:	Epitaph
Producer:	Nick Launay, Shellback, Michael Ilbert
Prev Title:	The Shape of Punk to Come
Prev Year:	1998
Next Title:	War Music
Next Year:	2019

Freedom is the fourth studio album by Swedish hardcore punk band Refused, released via Epitaph Records on 29 June 2015. It is the first album released by the band since 1998's The Shape of Punk to Come, as well as the first album to feature bassist Magnus Flagge as a full-time member since Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent (1996) and first to not feature guitarist Jon F. Brännström since This Just Might Be... the Truth (1994).

Background

After the band's successful 2012 reunion tour, Refused entered a hiatus for the next two years. However, rumours of a return to touring resurfaced after Jon Brännström posted on the group's Facebook page that he was fired some time in 2013. The band announced later in November 2014 that they would perform in a string of festival dates^[1] and tour dates in North America supporting Faith No More. Already two weeks before rumours began to surface of a new album, after ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead's Autrey Fulbright II posted a photo on Instagram claiming that Lyxzén had been in the studio recording vocals for the album.^[2] The post in question was quickly deleted, however in April 2015 the group announced that they would be releasing a new album in June. The album was produced by Nick Launay, who was known for his work with bands such as Public Image Ltd, Killing Joke and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, with two tracks co-written and produced by former Blinded Colony frontman and prolific pop producer Shellback, including lead single "Elektra".^[3] Other co-writing credits include "Old Friends / New War" with lyrics inspired by Osip Mandelstam and "Destroy the Man" co-written with Anders Lind.

The band released the track "Elektra" on a "pay what you want" offer, along with pre-orders of the album for donations of over $25, in conjunction with charity Save the Children after the April 2015 Nepal earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.^[4] This was followed by the release of "Françafrique" on 26 May,^[5] and "Dawkins Christ" by BBC Radio One as the "Hottest Record in the World" on 11 June 2015.

Reception

The album was included at number 33 on Rock Sounds top 50 releases of 2015 list.^[6]

Personnel

Refused

• Dennis Lyxzén – lead vocals
• David Sandström – drums
• Kristofer Steen – guitars
• Magnus Flagge – bass guitar

The Françafrique Children's Choir

• Rosie Ford
• Grace Darces-Mannings
• Elisa-Jane Pasfield
• Jack Holman-Brown
• Bianca Fonti
• Hugo Roles

Additional musicians

• Church – additional vocals (tracks 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9)
• Jennifer Goodridge – additional vocals (tracks 3 and 10)
• Brian Grover – additional vocals (tracks 3 and 10)
• Adam "Atom" Greenspan – keyboards, programming (tracks 2 and 9)
• Robert Columbus – percussion (tracks 3 and 4)
• Rasmus Lindelöw – keyboards (tracks 5 and 6)
• Dan Regan – horns (tracks 4 and 6)
• John Christianson – horns (tracks 4 and 6)
• Matt Appleton – horns (tracks 4 and 6)
• Per Nordmark – tambourine (track 7)

Production^[7]

• Nick Launay – production, mixing
• Adam "Atom" Greenspan – assistant producer, engineering
• Bernie Grundman – mastering
• Shellback – production (tracks 1 and 8)
• Michael Ilbert – production, engineering, mixing (tracks 1 and 8)
• Nanni Johansson – assistant engineering (tracks 1 and 8)
• Tom Coyne – mastering (tracks 1 and 8)
• Gustav Lindelöw – additional recording
• Jonathon Baker – assistant engineer (The Françafrique Children's Choir)
• Christoffer Berg – additional sound design (tracks 3 and 5)
• Fredrik Söderberg – paintings
• Daniel Andersson – art design

References

Sources

• Bird. Ryan. Top 50 Releases of the Year. Rock Sound. January 2016. 208. Freeway Press Inc.. London. 1465-0185.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Refused Are Unfucking Dead, Again . propertyofzack.com . 25 November 2014 . 25 November 2014.
2. http://www.metalinjection.net/latest-news/rumors/more-evidence-that-refused-are-working-on-a-new-album More Evidence That REFUSED Are Working On A New Album
3. Web site: Refused Are Back: New Album Freedom Out This Summer, New Track "Elektra" Streaming Now . Pitchfork Media. 27 April 2015. 27 April 2015.
4. https://genero.us/EpitaphRecords/refused-elektra-nepal-relief Download new Refused song to Help Nepal Quake Victims
5. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/may/26/refused-francafrique-new-track-listen Listen to Refused's new track Françafrique
6. Bird, ed. 2016, p. 24
7. https://refused.bandcamp.com/ Album Credits
8. Web site: Refused Chart History (Billboard 200). https://web.archive.org/web/20211117222033/https://www.billboard.com/artist/refused/chart-history/tlp/. Billboard. 17 November 2021. 23 August 2024.
9. Web site: Refused Chart History (Top Alternative Albums). https://web.archive.org/web/20211118020908/https://www.billboard.com/artist/refused/chart-history/alt/. Billboard. 18 November 2021. 23 August 2024.
10. Web site: Refused Chart History (Independent Albums). https://web.archive.org/web/20211117222031/https://www.billboard.com/artist/refused/chart-history/ind/. Billboard. 17 November 2021. 23 August 2024.
11. Web site: Refused Chart History (Top Rock Albums). https://web.archive.org/web/20211118022816/https://www.billboard.com/artist/refused/chart-history/rck/. Billboard. 18 November 2021. 23 August 2024.
12. Web site: Refused Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums). https://web.archive.org/web/20211117222116/https://www.billboard.com/artist/refused/chart-history/tas/. Billboard. 17 November 2021. 23 August 2024.