Refuse/Resist is Sepultura's fourth single, released in 1993. The title song, also included as a single off the album Chaos A.D., is one of the band's best-known songs and remains a concert staple to this day. A music video was filmed for the single which features the band playing live at a festival intercut with footage of rioting and general unrest. This video can be found on the VHS Third World Chaos,[1] which was later released on DVD as part of the Chaos DVD.[2] The intro to the song is the heartbeat of Max Cavalera's then-unborn first son Zyon. This song is also notable for having a 20-second growl at the end.[3]

"Refuse/Resist"
Single by Sepultura
from the album Chaos A.D.
Released1993
Recorded1992
StudioRockfield Studios and Chepstow Castle, Wales
GenreGroove metal
Length3:20
LabelRoadrunner
Producer(s)Andy Wallace
Sepultura singles chronology
"Under Siege (Regnum Irae)"
(1991)
"Refuse/Resist"
(1993)
"Territory"
(1993)

"Refuse/Resist" also appears in live form on the band's live releases Under a Pale Grey Sky and Live in São Paulo.

Background

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Max Cavalera claims to have been inspired for the song by seeing the phrase "Protest and survive/Refuse and resist" on a man's leather jacket on the New York subway.[4]

Artwork

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The cover of the single depicts a Korean man jumping at a police barricade holding a petrol bomb, while the interior features the famous image of the anonymous Chinese man who stood in front of several tanks in Tiananmen Square, Beijing China, blocking their path. The reverse of the sleeve shows the band playing live. The spine of the CD release does not feature the band name or the name of the single, but rather is blank purple.

Releases

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The single was released in several forms. Two CD versions exist: one 3-track maxi-single and a seven-track EP, details of which are listed below. Both come in foldout card digipak cases. Early limited pressings were embossed with the Sepultura thorned 'S' logo. In addition, the single was also released on cassette tape with the same B-sides as the maxi single. The single also saw two vinyl releases, both limited editions. The 7" version was pressed on 7" vinyl with "Inhuman Nature" as the B-side, while the 12" version was pressed on black vinyl but had a die-cut sleeve which was made to look like it had been riddled with bullet holes.[5]

Accolades

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It charted at number 26 in VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs.[6]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Refuse/Resist" (from the album Chaos A.D.) 
2."Crucificados pelo sistema" (cover of a Ratos de Porão song) 
3."Inhuman Nature" (cover of a Final Conflict song: also appears on the compilation Blood-Rooted) 
4."Drug Me" (cover of a Dead Kennedys song: also appears on the compilations Virus 100, Blood Rooted as well as The Roots of Sepultura) 
5."Dead Embryonic Cells" (Live version taken from Under Siege (Live In Barcelona)*) 
6."Desperate Cry" (Live version taken from Under Siege (Live In Barcelona)*) 
7."Orgasmatron" (Motörhead cover, live version taken from Under Siege (Live In Barcelona)*) 
  • * denotes tracks which were only available on the scarce EP version.

Personnel

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Cover versions

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References

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  1. ^ We Are What We Are [VHS] (1988). ASIN 6304343302.
  2. ^ "Sepultura - Chaos". 20 August 2002 – via Amazon.
  3. ^ Sepultura – Refuse/Resist on YouTube
  4. ^ Everleypublished, Dave (February 18, 2022). "The Story Behind Refuse/Resist by Sepultura". loudersound.
  5. ^ "Sepultura - Refuse/Resist" – via www.discogs.com.
  6. ^ "VH1 40 Greatest Metal Songs", 1–4 May 2006, VH1 Channel, reported by VH1.com; last accessed September 10, 2006.