REFUSED’s legendary influence on the world of punk and underground rock is set to be commemorated through a new release titled The Shape Of Punk To Come Obliterated, slated for November 8, 2024.
This tribute album features reinterpretations of the Swedish band’s groundbreaking 1998 record The Shape Of Punk To Come, which redefined the boundaries of hardcore, punk rock and laid the foundation for countless bands to follow.
The tracklist reveals a sick set of bands contributing their own takes on REFUSED’s classics: GEL with “Worms Of The Senses / Faculties Of The Skull,” QUICKSAND with “The Liberation Frequency,” BRUTUS with “The Deadly Rhythm,” SNAPCASE with “Summer Holidays Vs. Punkroutine,” IDLES with a remix of “New Noise,” HO99O9 with “New Noise,” FUCKED UP with “The Refused Party Program,” ZULU with “Protest Song ’68,” COLD CAVE with “Refused Are Fucking Dead,” IGORRR with “The Shape Of Punk To Come,” CULT OF LUNA with “Tannhäuser / Derive,” and TOUCHÉ AMORÉ with “The Apollo Programme Was A Hoax.”
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Originally released in 1998, The Shape Of Punk To Come was more than just an album—it was a manifesto that pushed the limits of punk with its fusion of hardcore, jazz, and electronic elements.
Despite the band’s disbandment later that year following a small, almost anti-climactic show in a Virginia college basement, the album’s stature only grew over time. Dennis Lyxzén (vocals), David Sandström (drums), Kristofer Steen (guitar), and Magnus Flagge (bass) had no idea that their work would resonate so deeply in the years to come.
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Lyxzén reflected, “Refused was this weird albatross. I could play a great show and walk out into the crowd afterward, and someone would come up and say, ‘I love Refused.’ For a long time, playing together again wasn’t even on the table.”
Now, 25 years after its original release, The Shape Of Punk To Come is being honored with a limited collector’s edition that includes unreleased demos and rare alternate versions. Central to this celebration is The Shape Of Punk To Come Obliterated, a 12-song tribute featuring a diverse lineup of contemporary acts known for their innovative approaches to punk and hardcore.
Catch the band live at their farewell tour in America:
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