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I've owned three copies of this album, two on CD (the second coming after the first simply got handled too much) and the third on DVD Audio. Having bought the first copy back when it came out (late 98, early 99 or so) I can honestly say that even after listening to it for 10 years and having memorized every single nuance and fill, it still holds up. There's simply not another band that has come close to creating a solid full album like this. It's vicious, it's beautiful, it's perfect.
I think Refused made a mistake when they picked the title of this album, because no one will ever be able to make this type of music. I've been listening to music since 2000, I've heard so many great albums, including Nirvana's, but never felt like learning guitar until I discovered Refused this year and heard this album.
Full of creatively played riffs, monster drumming, and a variety like you wouldn't believe. And I must compliment on the atmosphere the two last songs. The interludes, the effects, the jazz breakdowns, the techno breakdowns, some of them you could dance to, the instrumental breaks, the closer, and the electronic song. While it's not as intense as Minor Threat, it's not exactly supposed to be. If you like punk rock, this is a must.
It's loud, occasionaly fast, always feels like the band going to light a fire under their @$$, you name it. Well, I could ramble even more, but I've had enough. The Refused may be dead as a band, but The Shape of Punk To Come is ALIVE with stunning, well thought out music. These guys are extremely talented, and the way they play, JUST LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE PLAY.
Refused deliver an astounding variety of punk rock and other stuff that's it hard not to love. ERGH, this stuff is ________ cool. It's potent, as WA mentioned, the vocals are full of venom, anger, and rip anew, it's explosive, it's ________ punk. Guitar, bass, and drum fans are in for a treat, and not the kind that equate technicality with greatness. Pretty much the whole thing.
Anybody who thinks that punk rock is a lousy genre where the people can't play obviously haven't heard anything like this before (not to mention everything punk influenced). And it's great how those things don't feel like gimmicks. The jazz breakdown in Deadly Rhythm could easily have come out straight from the times (only don't expect any horns). TannHauser/Derive has brooding, atmosphere that paints pictures of the band standing in Egypt at sunset and a city, and The Apollo Program Was a Hoax, I could see the band on a farm, a lonely farm, singing this song, or an empty NASA station with the lights off, or. There are even some effects thrown in for good measure, such as the beginning of Refused are _______ Dead, and inside the liner notes list a Cello, Violin, Tambourine, upright bass, and Melodica. Once you digested the songs, you won't want to put it down, and listening to the whole thing from beginning to end will not be a problem (I usually try to tackle the songs that haven't grown on me before playing it all the way through).I won't spoil it for you, but give it some time (I wasn't exactly crazy about it the first time I heard it either). This is why.First off, as punk rock, it delivers on that front.
It's worth it and I wont' want to give this album up if you payed me. People who understand more about music than that (though technicality brings great things, no doubt, like DEP). Don't expect much of those, however, I just think it's used great on this record.And it must be said is the many different styles these guys play, the goody bag of sounds. It would be waaayyy too long and you would lose interest.Highlights. Best experimentation of punk rock since The Minutemen, and probably one of the last great punk rock albums not released by Rancid.10/10
I can't heap enough praise on it, it's brilliant. If you're a heavy metal fan, you have every right to feel ashamed for not owning this record. I truly wish this WAS the shape of punk to come. Refused f-ing rock. This is such a slamming, grooving, neck-snapping record, it's hard to properly describe it. I'd guess that if you like old NYC hardcore, post-punk stuff like Minor Threat and At The Drive In, then you have every reason to LOVE this LP. You'll spin this thousands of times before ever getting tired of it.
I am in no position to sit here and say that I am an expert in punk. my favorite punk album. Don't ask why but that seems to be the case once I play it for people.
However I will say that I simply love this album. That did not capture the magic of this album. I know my share of punk but to a certain extent.
I went on to give Songs to Fan the Flame of Discontent a chance but to no avail. This album is fierce and intense. It almost transcends all genres and is actually accessable to most.
The Shape of Punk to Come and Liberation Frequency are standouts.Very Intense A must own in my opinion.
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