The Shape Of Punk To Come - Refused

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the release of 'The Shape of Punk to Come' album from Refused. Refused was a Swedish Hardcore Punk band and active between the years of 1991 and 1998. 'The Shape of Punk to Come' was the last album that the band would ever release, an album that marked a dramatic change from their earlier work and is considered by most to be the best album that the band ever released. Ten years on it is still an album which is held in extremely high regard, and several nods towards this album have been made from UK based bands in recent years. Adequate Seven had a track entitled 'The Shape of Funk to Come' on their 'Songs of Innocence and ...  Read the complete review

Basically Refused are simply the best hardcore band to come out of Europe ever! But the thing is, they are so much more than just a hardcore band. They manage to combine just about every type of alternative music that there is without making it sound mumbled and confused. How many other hardcore bands can use violins? This album immediately grabs your attention and has enough twists and turns so that every time you listen to it you'll notice things you haven't before. They manage to play music that is simply awesome and it is such a shame that they are no ,onger together because I have heard that they are an incredible live experience. Before you ...  Read the complete review

In an age where the term 'Punk' has been devalued by a million guitar based pop-punk bands, Refused took the spirit of punk and turned a tired musical genre on its head. 'The Shape of Punk to Come' takes virtually every Western musical form (be it jazz, funk,electronica, metal or folk) and assimilates it to form an album that feels like one piece of music, yet is constantly veering off in different, unexpected directions. But this is more than simply cut and paste music. The lyrical concept and hardcore roots of the music means the album retains a common musical feel, aided by a razor-sharp production. Full of vitriol and Marxist rhetoric, it ...  Read the complete review

Punk,jazz,techno,drum and bass,classical,metal,pop and other styles that defy classification all add up to make "The Shape Of Punk To Come" a groundbreaking record which is greater than the sum of its parts.By no means easy listening {despite being very catchy} this record is greatly rewarding for the listener who appreciates music for lyrical and emotional emphasis. The lyric sheet contains a four page manifesto by vocalist Dennis Lyxzen thatexpresses very articulate and philosophical views on all aspects of contempary society.Buy this album,then spend some time reading the notes to fully appreciate the effect of this masterpiece which unfortunately turned out ...  Read the complete review