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Freedom
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Freedom Image
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 24 Ratings

  • Summary: The first release in 17 years for the Swedish punk band features production from Michael Ilbert, Nick Launay, and Shellback.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 21
  3. Negative: 1 out of 21
  1. Kerrang!
    Jun 24, 2015
    100
    Thrilling, challenging, life-affirming rollercoaster of a record. [27 Jun 2015, p.50]
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  2. Consequence
    Jun 24, 2015
    83
    All of this is more fun than a politically charged hardcore album has any right to be.
  3. AllMusic
    Jun 30, 2015
    80
    Freedom sounds as furiously principled as this group has ever been, and it's a liberating, hard-hitting exercise in punk for smart people.
  4. Sputnikmusic
    Jun 30, 2015
    60
    Although Freedom isn’t the return fans were hoping for, there’s enough experimentation here to at least remind old fans of what made them adore the band in the first place.
  5. Mojo
    Jul 28, 2015
    60
    A leaner, more radio-friendly effort. [Sep 2015, p.86]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. Pitchfork
    Jun 25, 2015
    54
    It's unclear from this album what they came back to accomplish.
  7. Under The Radar
    Jun 26, 2015
    30
    After a fierce opener that sounds like they've never been away ("nothing has changed", screams Dennis Lyxzén over raging instrumentation), things then, regrettably, go downhill.

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User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. Alltorn-N56
    Dec 6, 2020
    8
    Sensational fresh and with interesting vocals and solid percussion work it feels new but keeps the punk spirit.
  2. QuiLL88
    Jan 13, 2021
    8
    Sensational fresh and with interesting vocals and solid percussion work it feels new but keeps the punk spirit.
  4. boofaloben
    Jul 3, 2015
    6
    I am a giant fan of all of Refused previous work, That being said this album is a giant disappointment. The magic that they were able toI am a giant fan of all of Refused previous work, That being said this album is a giant disappointment. The magic that they were able to capture with Shape of Punk to Come is replaced with mostly over produced alt rock hip hop spoken word noise. At least 3/4 of this album is nearly un-listenable. With that being said the stand out tracks that actually sound like the refused on this album are Dawkins Christ and Destroy the man. Over all severely lacking...… Expand
  5. thesupremekai
    Jul 4, 2015
    1
    The Refused are **** dead. They did their former guitarist Jon Brännström a favor by firing him. This album is embarrassingly bad. There areThe Refused are **** dead. They did their former guitarist Jon Brännström a favor by firing him. This album is embarrassingly bad. There are no screams. It's 100% clean vocals. They sold out and went from the Hardcore Punk to Indie Alternative Pop. Refused have always changed their sound with every album. However they always stayed within the Hardcore genre. Freedom is the first album to leave the Hardcore genre and join the Radio Friendly Alt Rock Scene.

    They even changed their image to conform to the popular Indie Hipster look. The drummer now wears a fedora and those ridiculous hipster glasses. All the members wear vintage clothing, that is popular with hipsters and tight pants. Two of the members even grew untrimmed hipster beards. They look ridiculous. A bunch of guys in their 40s trying to dress like college hipsters.

    Freedom is produced by pop producer Shellback who previously worked with Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, and Pink. He even co wrote 2 of the songs. This is the first time Refused has used outside song writers. In the past, Refused wrote ALL of their songs. A band that doesn't write their own songs is a joke. It seems Refused lost their passion for music and just wrote this album for the $$$. They sold out. They changed their image and music to conform to the current music trends.

    If you are one of those loser hipsters that hangs out at Starbucks all day, you will love this album. If not, you'll hate this album. Jon Brännström dodged a bullet by getting fired. He must be feeling relieved that he wasn't a part of this disaster.    … Expand