The 3Olympia was the site of a joyous, cathartic, and politically charged farewell as Swedish post-hardcore pioneers Refused made their final Irish stop on the “Refused Are F**king Dead (and This Time They Really Mean It) UK/EU Tour.” For a band whose legacy is steeped in fiery rhetoric and dramatic disbandments, this show was less a mournful eulogy and more a triumphant exorcism of their nearly 35-year existence.
Kicking off the night were Strong Boys, a blast of raw, unfiltered energy. I arrived towards the end of their set (they started really early at 7:15!) but their conviction was infectious, and I could see it raising the temperature in the venue. While the sheer density of their sound sometimes swallowed their message, their passionate delivery and punk rock fire were undeniable, providing an intense and necessary opening salvo.
New York post-hardcore legends Quicksand followed, and they were nothing short of electric. Frontman Walter Schreifels, ever the veteran, led the band through a masterclass of muscular groove and melodic heft. Their performance was a reminder of their vital influence on the genre, delivering a set so tight and impactful that, by rights, they could have easily headlined. The crowd was fully engaged, receiving a performance of rock-solid, influential post-hardcore that paved the way perfectly for the headliners.
Refused: A Purposeful Demise
When Refused finally took the stage, the atmosphere was a perfect storm of anticipation and fierce energy. Frontman Dennis Lyxzén, defying his 52 years, delivered an exhausting, mesmerizing performance, dancing, flailing, and screaming with the abandon of a man half his age.
The setlist was a celebration of their entire, uncompromising career, heavily featuring classics from their seminal 1998 album, The Shape of Punk to Come, alongside later, equally furious tracks. The set opened with the intense seven-minute epic “Poetry Written in Gasoline,” immediately showcasing the band’s technical prowess and political fury.
Between the relentless sonic assault, Lyxzén spoke with candour and conviction, pausing the ferocity to discuss what has always defined Refused: their politics. He railed against the rise of right-wing populism, reminding the audience that “the culture war is 80% so we forget about the class war.” These moments provided a raw, moving connection, underscoring the empathy at the core of their often-savage sound.
The night’s climax arrived with the detonation of “New Noise,” which felt less like a greatest hit and more like a communal, revolutionary moment, a shared exorcism of anxiety and apathy. Lyxzén grinned, exhausted but elated, as the final notes rang out.
Refused have declared themselves “fucking dead,” but their performance in Dublin proved that their music and message have never sounded more alive or more purposeful. It was a flawless farewell for a band that never compromised, leaving a sweaty, ecstatic crowd to absorb the undeniable fact: REFUSED ARE DEAD – LONG LIVE REFUSED.
Quicksand photos:
Refused photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Poetry Written in Gasoline
The Shape of Punk to Come
The Refused Party Program
Rather Be Dead
Malfire
Liberation Frequency
Summerholidays vs. Punkroutine
The Deadly Rhythm
Circle Pit
Pump the Brakes
Refused Are Fucking Dead
Worms of the Senses/Faculties of the Skull
Elektra
New Noise
Tannhäuser / Derivè
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It’s Not O.K…
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Photos & Words – David McEneaney @experimentzero
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