Refused
The Shape Of Punk To Come
Epitaph

When I first got this release from Epitaph, I listened to about twenty seconds of it and immediately filed it under "crappy hardcore," and put it away forever. Then, a few nights ago I saw a video of the song "New Noise" and pulled the disc out for further study. I've listened to this thing six times today, and while it is still hardcore, it is definitely not crappy. In fact, it is really like no other punk release I have heard in a long time. Truly The Shape of Punk to Come. Like swing, or say, rock-a-billy, hardcore as a genre is very traditionalist. You do not fuck with the formula. Refused have definitely fucked with the formula.

"How can we expect anyone to listen if we are using the same old voice?" The music is dark and disturbing. It is full of strange techo blasts, quirky jazz time-signatures, odd musical interludes, and politically charged messages that will keep you on your toes and thinking far after the CD is done playing. This may sound like it cannot work. But Refused has made a coherent piece of accessible hardcore that any kid who likes new metal, or punk can grab onto and call their own. Destined to be a blueprint for the future of hardcore and music in general.
-TS

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