INVSN (mem Refused) releasing 'The Beautiful Stories' (stream a track)

April 7, 2017

In addition to fronting the reunited Refused, the now-defunct (International) Noise Conspiracy, and a few other projects, Dennis Lyxzén also leads the band INVSN, who have a new album out this year. The Beautiful Stories comes out June 9 via Dine Alone, and it was recorded by Adam “Atom” Greenspan, who also worked on the last Refused album. You can pre-order it from Dine Alone or from PledgeMusic.

We’re premiering the album’s newest single, “I Dreamt Music.” In case you’re unfamiliar with INVSN, it’s a pretty major departure from Refused, with Dennis channeling gothy ’80s rock rather than boundary-pushing post-hardcore. “I Dreamt Music” has the ’80s influence coming in loud and clear, as you can hear for yourself below. Here’s what Dennis says about the song:

Music always meant more to me then just entertainment.

It has had a profound impact on everything that I am as a person and I see music as art and art as life.

We live in a world devoid of meaning where we serve the lowest common denominator at all times. Where politics as an idea has failed us and where art is being reduced to consumerism and clickbait.

I wanted to write about the longing for resistance to the cultural/political/musical landscape that holds us imprisoned.

I wanted to write about the naive, romantic and pretentious notion that music and art should be about ideas that can change and transform and maybe even be the beacon of hope in these dysmal times.