It is sad to see great musical talent cease to exist in its prime, however there is also something to be said about going out in a blaze of glory. This is the case for Swedish hardcore group Refused. The band was around for only 7 years, releasing 3 full length albums including their masterpiece "The Shape Of Punk To Come" the year they disbanded in 1998. The album was unfortunately overlooked on my 'Best of 90s' list as it would most definitely be among the top ten. The album has been praised by other rock musicians, namely Kirk Hammett (Metallica) "The pure intellect that was pouring out of this band - even when it comes to arrangement, they were sophisticated, it still sounds contemporary", Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) "New Noise is one of the great rock jams of all time. It's just a heavy, unique, awesome, kick-ass jam" and Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses) "The Shape Of Puck To Come is the Sergeant Pepper's of punk rock. They were fucking fearless". According to allmusic.com, "Refused disbanded, unable to reconcile their anarchist leanings with a career in music." A deluxe edition of 'The Shape of Punk To Come' was recently released on Epitaph records, including the full length album, an unreleased live album recorded shortly before the bands break-up and a DVD entitled "Refused Are Fucking Dead" documenting the band and its demise. This is one reissue that should not be missed. Recommended for all fans of punk, metal, hardcore and anyone curious.
Check out the video for New Noise (which prompted me to buy the album the year of its release). Easily one of the coolest songs to come out of the 90s and certainly the most devastating.
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