The band released their debut album This Just Might Be… the Truth in 1994. They followed this up with Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent (1996) and five EPs. In 1998, the band released The Shape of Punk to Come, which expanded their sound with jazz and electronic influences, but was initially poorly received commercially and critically. The group disbanded shortly after their subsequent tour. Despite limited contemporary success, Refused were influential on the development of rock music in subsequent decades.
In 2012, the band reformed and started a reunion tour, during which they were supposed to perform at Rock for People 2012, but had to cancel due to bad weather. However, they eventually made up for it by giving their fans a concert later that year.