Refused released The Shape of Punk to Come through Burning Heart in October 1998. Across its twelve pieces, hardcore collides with electronics, spoken passages and free jazz. Just when you expect it to kick off, the band will often make you wait.
Waiting For New Noise To Explode
New Noise is the obvious starting point. The electronics and repeating guitar figure build for nearly two minutes before Dennis Lyxzén asks whether anyone can scream. That wait is why the entrance hits so hard.
The Split Came The Same Year
Refused split later in 1998, after a final American show was shut down by police. The documentary Refused Are Fucking Dead later captured that collapse. The story became part of the album's reputation, but there's more than enough in the music to keep coming back to.
Post-hardcore, metalcore and experimental punk bands took different things from this record: electronics, politics, huge changes in volume. Refused gave them a reason to try things that might have sounded out of place before.
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