Refused members launch 'anti-racist, anti-fascist free-form death jazz' side-project

Refused
(Image credit: David Wolff - Patrick/Redferns)

Refused members Dennis Lyxzén (vocals), Magnus Flagg (bass) and David Sandström (drums) have started a new side-project, Backengrillen, which they describe as "anti-racist, anti-fascist free-form death jazz".

The trio are joined in the new group by saxophonist/flautist Mats Gustafsson, who they describe as a "free jazz genius".

“Like I wasn’t busy enough we decided to start a new band," says Dennis Lyxzén. "There’s some familiar faces like me on vocals, David on drums and Magnus on bass. You know, most of Refused. Joining us is Mats Gustafsson free jazz genius on saxophone and flute and noise. It’s wild and improvised and tons of fun."

The band have lined up four Swedish dates in January.

Backengrillen will play:

Jan 25: Stockholm, Fashing SWE
Jan 26: Uppsala, Uppsala Konstmuseum SWE
Jan 27: Göteborg, Folkteatern SWE
Jan 28: Örebro, Kvarteret & Co SWE

Fake Names, the post hardcore supergroup which unites Dennis Lyxzén with Washington DC guitarists Brian Baker  (Minor Threat, Bad Religion, Dag Nasty) and Michael Hampton (S.O.A., Embrace), bassist Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys, Soulside) and drummer Brendan Canty (Fugazi, Rites of Spring), will release their second album, the 10-track Expendables, on March 3 on Epitaph. The group released the single Delete Myself last year.

The album tracklist is:

1. Targets
2. Expendables
3. Delete Myself
4. Go
5. Don't Blame Yourself
6. Can't Take It
7. Damage Done
8. Madtown
9. Caught In Between
10. Too Little Too Late

The quintet will play US shows in April:

Apr 13: Asbury Park, NJ House of Independents
Apr 14: Brooklyn, NY TV Eye
Apr 15: Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's
Apr 16: Washington, DC The Black Cat
Apr 20: San Francisco, CA Rickshaw Stop
Apr 22: Long Beach, CA Alex's Bar
Apr 23: Los Angeles, CA Zebulon

Paul Brannigan
Contributing Editor, Louder

A music writer since 1993, formerly Editor of Kerrang! and Planet Rock magazine (RIP), Paul Brannigan is a Contributing Editor to Louder. Having previously written books on Lemmy, Dave Grohl (the Sunday Times best-seller This Is A Call) and Metallica (Birth School Metallica Death, co-authored with Ian Winwood), his Eddie Van Halen biography (Eruption in the UK, Unchained in the US) emerged in 2021. He has written for Rolling Stone, Mojo and Q, hung out with Fugazi at Dischord House, flown on Ozzy Osbourne's private jet, played Angus Young's Gibson SG, and interviewed everyone from Aerosmith and Beastie Boys to Young Gods and ZZ Top. Born in the North of Ireland, Brannigan lives in North London and supports The Arsenal.