Refused Are Fucking Dead

And speaking of Refused one of the extras on the reissue is the documentary Refused Are Fucking Dead that explores their last show. Sometimes bands are described like marriages and when they break up it can be like a bitter divorce. Most of the time I would roll my eyes at that but in this case it may be true.

Refused - The Shape Of Punk To Come

Refused final album The Shape Of Punk To Come is a stone cold punk rock classic. It came at a time when Hardcore was at best in a rut and possibly creatively bankrupt. Refused knew this and in response looked to the music that was inspiring them from jazz to electronic music. The band threw all of these elements into the mix and in the process gave Hardcore a way out of stagnation. Bands like Fucked Up and These Arms Are Snakes have followed Refused lead, although not to the same level of success. When I put this album on all these years later it still sounds as fresh as it did the first time I heard it. The Shape Of Punk To Come has just been rereleased in a deluxe package.