Refused

Refused was a Swedish hardcore punk and post-hardcore band formed in January 1992 in Umeå. Founded by Dennis Lyxzén and David Sandström, the group emerged from the band Step Forward. The ensemble released its first demo in 1992 and its debut album, This Just Might Be… the Truth, in 1994. After signing with Burning Heart Records, the group released Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent (1996), which featured the single “Rather Be Dead”. In 1998, the band released The Shape of Punk to Come, which incorporated metal, classical, and jazz influences and included the single “New Noise”. The group disbanded in October 1998 following a tour of the United States. Refused resumed activity in 2012 and released the album Freedom (2015), which reached number 2 on the Swedish albums chart, followed by War Music (2019). After receiving induction into the Swedish Music Hall of Fame in 2024, the band performed its final concert on December 21, 2025.