How Refused Reshaped Punk For The 21st Century

There's a mythic element to the band Refused and their 1998 album The Shape of Punk to Come. They were a nobody punk band from Umea, Sweden, who, after 7 years of by-the-numbers hardcore, dropped a perfect statement of an album before disappearing, never to play again. That album fused together standard hardcore punk with elements of techno, jazz and folk to create something refreshingly new, influencing a whole generation of bands in their wake. The mystery surrounding this enigmatic band was crushed slightly when in 2012 the band went back on their word, and returned to play to a world that had finally caught up with their invention. But what was the album really about? Why did the band break up? And did The Shape of Punk to Come really shape what punk became?
#Refused #Documentary #Punk
Soundtrack:
Bill Kiley - You Will Never Know (wicrecordings.bandcamp.com/al...)
Pracs - Kilt and Cutter ( / pracs )
Patricia Taxxon - Trap (patriciataxxon.bandcamp.com/)
Patricia Taxxon - Bellstep (patriciataxxon.bandcamp.com/)
Patricia Taxxon - Dance (patriciataxxon.bandcamp.com/)
Luar - Anchor ( / luarbeats )
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[@TrashTheory]

So yeah, hope you liked the video. What other bands/artists would you like a video on?

[@thiagomarcao6969]

System of a Down!

[@kirccohen6003]

Maybe some of the American underground bands in the 80s? 🧐

[@MattJames1958]

Manic Street Preachers

[@matthewborrego8598]

Trash Theory Glassjaw

[@Undone007]

You do awesome stuff man, I think most of us who are into punk/metal and maybe even rock in general feel so underrepresented because it's not the hot thing right now but seeing something so thoughtful and thought provoking definitely makes me feel better. Thanks for doing this.

[@mikeg3950]

The fact the album is called The shape of punk to come” gives me goosebumps. How many artists KNOW what they’ve created is groundbreaking enough to put it in the name. None

[@slayabouts]

Well they took the name from Ornette Coleman's The Shape Of Jazz To Come, so there was at least one

[@Dontpostdumbcomments]

These guys changed music forever it’s sad that they are rarely discussed and almost forgotten. I hope more people remember and find them with cyberpunk 2077. They released new songs under Samurai for the sound track

[@tahabashir3779]

well i found them through cyberpunk. so glad i did. these guys are fucking legends.

[@MattM-xk4xu]

Most underrated album and innovative band in the history of music.

[@loverdroid166]

Not to fear man, loving the samurai tracks i had to look into the band behind them and just as you hoped discovered id been missing out

[@wrythe777]

the samurai tracks are sexy as fuck

[@eletcherful]

I cant even find the samurai tracks now? but refused has newish songs regardless. economy of death is my favorite of their newer songs. it's very metal.

[@RomekTheCreator]

Love the quote at the very end of the video. I wanted to add the next line, which is "Not even failure." "So sick of not trying Scared that we might fail We'll accomplish nothing Not even failure." It's great wisdom in my opinion.

[@ariotofmyown4879]

I feel like this is a Netflix quality documentary

[@TerryFGM]

yes, expect for the narrator, hes not bad, but not netflix quality

[@bryantrudy568]

Refused Are Fucking Dead is a documentary about the band and the breakup. This is pretty much it, cut down, and with the influence other bands felt through them.

[@carlitoxb110]

VH1 vibes

[@deadeyes2803]

@@TerryFGM i prefer this than a netflix narrator. its like when a book autor makes an audio book of his own book

[@Zopf-international]

''I feel like this is a Netflix quality documentary.'' And therefor shouldn't even be classed as punk. All you young kids out there selling it for the buck.

[@DocAdamPhD]

As someone who was playing in hardcore punk bands from the mid-90s through the early 2000s, I'd take issue with the claim that Refused was just a "standard metalcore band like their label mates." Refused - much like Deadguy and Snapcase - may have had plenty of musical elements that felt similar to other bands on the Victory roster and in the broader Hardcore scene at the time, but I can tell you from direct experience that a lot of hardcore fans didn't know what to make of Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent. It is absolutely the case that Shape of Punk to Come was a sea change, but it's absolutely ludicrous to think they were a cookie cutter Hardcore band prior to that record. If you listen to STFTFOD next to the rest of the Victory catalog that came out at the same time, Refused stuck out like a sore thumb - in a good way. Whereas Earth Crisis felt like someone put Madball and Pantera chug riffs in a blender, Refused felt like 90s Fugazi decided to play Hardcore. Dug the video, but as someone who was deep in the weeds in that scene (in Ann Arbor/Detroit - so only a few hour drive from Tony Brummel's house) that aspect feels like historical revisionism. Not the other way around.

[@oddeagle1968]

Your post is great, it's like reading about something I like but getting info about it and realizing I was Clueless about some key elements of the music. Which bands were in your area? I'm originally from Toledo, moved in mid 90s to Cbus, got into some hardcore stuff, but more into the complex scene here, Bernie's, Stache's, etc. , Maybe those AA/Detroit bands got down here? Anyway, thanks for your time.

[@Sparta04]

@@oddeagle1968 Cbus represent! Hope you got to catch Refused playing that secret gig last week at Ace of Cups. Lost my god damn mind.

[@oddeagle1968]

@@Sparta04 Nope...the girlfriend and her buddygirl got in...heard it was fwkn great.

[@crieverytim]

didnt you do moombahton edits??

[@crieverytim]

i think i have a axelrod into dr dre edit of yours :D

[@conorgilles81]

I remember seeing "New Noise" on 120 Minutes and buying the album and then never hearing anything about Refused again. I was playing in a hardcore band at the time and it was really, really different. And for years after that, all the musicians I met who I respected always knew about Refused and loved that album.

[@linusfotograf]

I saw them 15 times in the 90’s. One of the best live bands ever.

[@thevellocet]

Your favourite bands' favourite band.

[@damageinc-uo3zs]

😂😂😂😂😂 Not Even close

[@roboat1156]

Yeah that's bullshit i really doubt a global threat, clit 45, monster squad, the unseen (paul unseen era) u.s. bombs, and so on even know who refused is... or if they do would even consider playing a show with them 🤣

[@ResidentEyebrowAppreciator]

Gang of four and killing joke are "your favorite bands favorite bands"usually

[@roboat1156]

Black flag, negative approach, devo, the germs, circle jerks, x, etc. Would be more accurate when saying your favorite bands' favorite band when speaking about punk/hardcore punk

[@liammcnicholas918]

Punk's Velvet Underground

[@Rompler_Rocco]

The SOUND of the recording is a huge part of the magic!

[@seanmichaelpatten3930]

I had no idea that Marlon Brando sample was in there. I've been listening to that song for over a decade

[@christopherbellofatto7512]

It's only on the new noise theology e.p. version. Not on shape of Punk to come.

[@SpArDa088]

Young Lyxzén putting the word out like a true samurai

[@SergMuller]

Damn, I didn't realise all the parallels between real Refused and fictional Samurai band they played (in all senses). What an absolute twist!

[@danielbenitez227]

There's a very clear influence in Refused from Fugazi: anarchism, straight-edge, anticapitalism and also musically they sound pretty close.

[@drofnoise555]

except Refused sold they souls

[@forrestrichard8133]

Yeah I can’t believe this wasn’t mentioned. I’ve always felt like they’re a fugazi carbon copy, except less interesting.

[@heppolo]

Fugazi had some good ideas and killer tracks, but they never managed to allign those as coherently and bold into an album (the closest might be "End Hits")

[@stevemuzak8526]

@@drofnoise555 Sold ? How? They never became truly mainstream. They disbanded after their biggest album. That's was the most hardcore anti-mainstream thing ever

[@namebrandmason]

And an even more clear influence from Nation of Ulysses. Lyxzen even went on to rip off the Make-Up in The (International) Noise Conspiracy.

[@rpgmindandfitness]

I remember when I first heard New Noise and then looked into the band to found out they had broken up. "Mythic" is a great way to describe Refused. I had never been so captivated by a bands story. It was so... strange. It was like they were this whirlwind disaster of a band that could really play, but could never put anything notable together to gain traction. They had this (seemingly) pretentious shithead of a singer. They all hated each other. They played in basements and empty bars... but acted like they were god's gift to music for no reason. They spewed off radical politics that the average person desperately did not want to hear. Sometimes Dennis would ramble on for the majority of his set and they'd run out of time for music. He said himself he was more concerned with starting some sort of Anarcho-Communist revolution than he was with making music. Then... they just pulled this ridiculous album out of their ass.... it flops... no one gives a fuck about it. Even their own fan-base was like "WTF? This isn't hardcore!". They go from playing 500-1,000 seat shows, to playing gigs for 20-30 college kids. They have this disastrous breakup where they're stranded in the States... broken up... but still have to play so they can earn money to return home. They write this strange manifesto... no one gives a fuck about that either. Then after all this time passes? Suddenly the album catches on and people are hailing them as heroes. 15 years later they're back and headlining fucking Coachella in front of TENS OF THOUSANDS of people. You can search up and down history if you'd like... you will not find another band with a backstory like THAT.

[@silverhawkroman]

That's life for ya, sometimes you try so hard at something and if you're lucky, it will ever pay off, even when you're not around anymore.

[@kalezicevam.8788]

I agree with you to some extent,but their older albums are as good as SOPTC.I also heard new noise first.Was lucky enough to see them play 3x twice in Boston and once in Stockholm, but this is their best live performance by far...kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKjdhaGcbN6lrqs...I don't know how I have never seen this....GL

[@rpgmindandfitness]

@@kalezicevam.8788 Yeah, I've seen that show. They sound great. They also have some good live ones on YT touring in 98 in support of SOPTC, though. Songs to Fan the Flame has some fantastic tunes. Some tracks before that are good, too. Actually, I used to have CD of theirs and it was their earliest demos. Some of that was really good. None of it had the depth of SOPTC, though.

[@seanzawko09]

I am 49 years old, and when I heard this band the first time in 1999(at29 years old), I cried. It was so fucking moving. Here I am 49, thinking of the day I heard that I wouldn’t be able to see them live due to their breaking up. I cried. This band is was like a movie I had dreamed of seeing. I saw a change coming. Glad they are back. At the same time. It will never be the same.

[@MrIke86]

The thing that strikes me about the "they ripped off Ulysses, etc." argument is that those bands (while amazing) never completed the full synthesis of punk/hardcore and jazz that Refused did on Shape. I'm not just talking about the jazzy breakdown on Deadly Rhythm. I'm talking about the the jazz ascetic that runs through the entire album---*especially* in regards to rhythm. David Sandström provides one of the most exciting and innovative drum performances in punk history. Throughout the record he’s artfully pushing and dragging the beat, zig-zagging through and around the guitar riffs, accenting the vocal melody, providing countless variations on his beats and fills, and effortlessly utilizing the entirety of the kit. Put differently, he’s moving and thinking like a jazz drummer, while still putting out the tone and fury of punk/hardcore drumming. To be sure, he’s not the only person to do this in the "rock" genre. Among others, Mitch Mitchell did this with Hendrix and Steve Lamos does it exceptionally well for American Football. Nevertheless, the point remains. The obsession with who presented hardcore in a fashionable lens first, or who had some spoken word bit, or who inserted some free-jazz breakdown is boring to me because its low-hanging fruit (yes, my bias here). The true brilliance of Shape is the musical marriage of punk/hardcore with jazz thinking and playing. It raised the bar rhythmically for punk/hardcore, without subsequently abandoning its punk foundation (as an illustrative counter example, consider Deloused by The Mars Volta-a similarly innovative record in terms of embodying a jazz ascetic; however, it's clearly more prog, than punk)

[@BCThunderthud]

This is good album and original enough but its reputation has a lot to do with the fact that 99% of the kids who bought it didn't know who Nation of Ulysses, Nomeansno, Born Against or Men's Recovery Project were, there had been punk exploring similar territory for more than 10 years. Nothing against these guys, they were very good, but most of their fans were coming from commercial pop-punk or from nowhere.

[@heppolo]

basically MTV and a sleeper hit that was "New Noise" sealed the deal for the album's legacy, otherwise it would have gone relatively quiet

[@wespenn6139]

One of my biggest influences in music, like nobody in my school has ever heard of these guys so it feels special to listen to them. Thank you for this video

[@khris461]

I love how every one of your music analysis vids are always aligned with my music taste. Great minds think alike!! Awesome vid

[@TuddsCrapshoot]

your videos are of excellent quality! Loved this one

[@mtzfox]

Wow, that was a great tribute to Refused and what made that album so powerful and unique.

[@djcj]

Thank you for this. To this day still one of my favorite albums of all time

[@dallas970]

One of the best channels about music that I've found since the beginning of KZbin!

[@Zach_Beebe]

I love Refused! TSOPTC still holds up as an amazing album 20 years later!

[@HotStrange]

Zach Beebe indeed!

[@bambitheboy]

Thank you so much for this Video. Loved it!

[@tylaratkins]

Man the videos you make are so insightful. I remember like 10/15 years ago, trying to find out this information for myself was almost impossible. Its so refreshing to watch something so concise and informative. Keep doing you man, love the content.

[@michaela.webermann4141]

Liking this before even watching, because all of your videos are perfect and this album is perfect.

[@MrCornWolf]

This is one of the few hardcore albums I can still just throw the record on my turntable and let it play the whole way from front to back.

[@MechaRodzilla69]

please do a bigger post-hardcore video, the most interesting genre imo

[@jackattack7940]

He did a video on Hüsker Dü, who were pretty much the first post-hardcore/alternative rock band.

[@markwaltersmedia6956]

Everytime you make a video like this I'm like "Damn maybe I should listen to this album.."

[@Mr_Stanley888]

You should listen to this album.

[@GabrielGAS1201]

You definetly should

[@EntryLevelLuxury]

Summer Holiday was one of my favorite tracks growing up... Good shit.

[@trentowens6122]

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. I have replaced it at least 5 times due to it getting stolen or broken. I just can't live without having it on my playlist. It's great to see someone giving this amazing album its due.

[@eh2396]

I strongly believe Tom Delonge started growing his hair out because he was a huge refused fan. He even stated he was hugely influenced by them when writing songs for box car racer.

[@keithklassen5320]

That's hilarious!

[@noparkingnoparking]

boxcar racer is peak delonge too

[@crissy2628]

the "super group" United Nations had a song addressing Refused, and Dennis specifically, called The Shape of Punk That Never Came. check it out.

[@THEEArmoredSaint]

Bravo! A finely edited and crafted video

[@theaviary238]

Thank you for doing this video!!!

[@CH-sb8qz]

Love Your Channel!

[@BomageMinimart]

This totally fucking rocks! Thanks for tackling this and for doing such a great job!

[@brieoshiro]

This is still one of my favorite albums to this day. I still own the original CD I bought in '98. I miss going to old punk shows as a teenager and this energy bands put out. Great video!

[@chang82]

Great video!! This band and album was a huge influence on me. They were so far ahead of the punk music scene.

[@SuperLordpig]

I can't believe I've never heard of this band. Im slightly disappointed in myself.

[@jowashere5981]

Now you know what you gotta know.

[@FamousByFriday]

Man... I had new noise on a sampler in the late 90s and loved it, but I remember someone playing the cd and thinking, eh. I listened to it again in the mid 00s and still ended up only listening to new noise. I Should go back and give it / some of their other stuff a shot.

[@danielhance1467]

It's not too late. This is one of the best written albums of all time

[@lobesmcgee]

I saw them open for deftones a few years ago and had no idea until after that, that they were such a huge influence for a lot of bands. I also had never heard their music before that

[@bryanfuknc]

welcome home! haha. my old ass has been jamming this album since the 90s. it never gets old. ever.

[@thedwdawson]

Trash Theory - I've spent the past two days going through your videos, reliving a good part of my own musical journey. Great stuff! From the Buzzcocks to Nirvana to Refused, these are all bands that upon my very first listening I was like "Yes. THIS!" You've done a great job documenting bands that for seventies kids like me, coming out of the Zeppelin/Sabbath era (and the Neil Young/Disco era), provided the soundtrack for my eighties and nineties. Thanks!

[@pokesprite266]

I fucking love this album, and this video lives up! Thanks so much for making this, it made my night :)

[@daveydoom5479]

Aaargh just saw them in Pomona with the Hives a couple days ago... so good... my top 5 bands ever that influence me as a musician

[@kalelvigil1510]

Saw them in Denver a week ago, it was incredible.

[@nicolasfonticelli5675]

I dug the fact that this was so well researched, and thank you for including glassJAw on the video. Fun fact: i remember reading a few years ago somebody who was in their last show (possibly somebody from Frodus) saying that it wasn't nearly as dramatic as pictured in the documentary

[@dalekellett2636]

Glassjaw are quilty and cool than all the other post hardcore acts and refused they definitely helped influenced alot of modern punk and metal bands

[@EtherealMusicTherapy]

Huge respect for doing this vid!!! Refused and International Noise of Conspiracy had a little effect on my life

[@SoFarSoGoodSoWhat14]

"I've got a bone to pick with capitalism, and a few to break" still goes hard af 😍

[@RSpracticalshooting]

always makes me laugh when bands try to shit on capitalism as if they could be professional musicians in any other economic system. capitalism is why we can spend money on entertainment.

[@DrippyWaffler]

​@@RSpracticalshootingAh yes, because there were no musicians before the 1800s 😂😂😂

[@DrippyWaffler]

​@@RSpracticalshootingalso some people make music and art because they want to do so, not for the money

[@Huss_D]

Great video mate

[@dansimpson9214]

Absolutely loved this!!!

[@jeremystothers990]

Fantastic as always. I saw the Noise Conspiracy in '02 or '03. Dennis Lyxzén was absolutely incredible.

[@concretecaliban]

Good vid. For me, Breach were a more important band, particularly from that scene. Their album 'its me god' came out in '97, Refused's 'The Shape of...' in '98. I think Refused overshadowed Breach, and manifested in the public eye a lot more, but Breach were definitely as important in shaping this kind of music as Refused were. Those that know about this particular scene during that time period recognise this. Refused were a great band though, and definitely very important musically.

[@HornedBee]

I agree about Breach, they were so much more interesting, but I think because of 'it's me god' kinda lo fi sound quality and lack of marketing in didn't blow up as much. such a shame

[@alvarogarcia5270]

I fucking love Breach!! This band is amazing.

[@korvkioskshelvete]

Breach, Raised Fist (Luleå) and Abhinanda, Refused (Umeå) were all parts of the Northern Sweden hardcore scene, but Refused were the pioneers. The shows with all these bands in the early 90’s here in the northlands was crazy asf. Never seen moshpits like those. Never will again.

[@RobDementia]

Breach were great! Whatever happened to them? They go onto other bands?

[@concretecaliban]

@@RobDementia Yes. The vocalist (Tomas) founded a band called The Old Wind and recorded an album playing all the instruments himself. Some of the previous Breach members joined this project. Some (I believe two) of the ex-members of Breach also formed Terra Tenebrosa, who are maybe a bit more avant-garde and 'weird', but still very heavy. They've put out more records than The Old Wind, I think. They're both good bands, in my opinion. Check them out!

[@Keith-zu4tz]

Saw these guys with Off! in Brooklyn a few years ago. They were joined onstage by John Joseph of the Cro-Mags. Just brilliant!

[@TheDeadmanTT]

I like the video a lot! Good job people, Would be nice if you could add the year the music videos/live shows were recorded in.

[@jeenaparadies]

Very cool video! Back in the 90ies this was one of my favorite bands, I was very disappointed to hear that they split up before I was able to see them live. I went to see The International Noise Conspiracy a couple of times which was also awesome but by far not as crazy as I imagine a Refused concert. Thanks for explaining the time which let up to the split, very interesting timeline, especially the fact that it was month after they split up when MTV put their song in heavy rotation.

[@downthedrain_82]

Great video! How about you make a video about The International Noise Conspiracy? I think they are very unique as well and deserve a whole video!

[@muzak313]

I was so happy when I finally got to see these guys in 2016. Incredible band and a great message they bring.

[@refuzed74]

The late 90's -early 2000's had such a wealth of amazing bands and records, but The Shape of Punk to Come really stood out above it all. I remember going to my local record store and ordering it because it wasn't carried in most stores. Placing that CD in my car and the hairs on my arms stood up for nearly an hour.

[@TheRandomShitFilm100]

I love your videos dude! Honesty it makes me enjoy the music and bands more. Great fucking job keep up the good work. I’d love to see something Beach Boys related!

[@them4309]

Great vid.

[@daveganger0416]

Refused are a thing of rare beauty I have listened to all their albums many times full volume in many different social settings all bands argue and have fallout's ,that's the music industry and the pressure and crap that goes with it. They are loud ,rebellious and most of all have the guts to question authority, and say what they believe to me they will always be relevant and i believe in time will be loved like say The Misfits {yes i know they are not the the same ,just an example} i love Refused ,they have helped me when i needed help through music. Dave Ganster Gold Coast Australia

[@IndiConRecs]

Refused leading to Enter Shikari is something i never thought of, but love so damn much!

[@gizmoff]

Good vid like usual.

[@NPGLAMB]

Would love to see a video on the creation of ska punk.

[@thealternativenerd3067]

The Shape of Punk to Come is a fantastic record. Also, I really enjoy your videos!

[@theincrediblesimulatedman3484]

Was lucky enough to be one of the few who actually purchased The Shape of on release, was in the recommendations section of my local shop. Always will be an important band to me.

[@oops6876]

Got into this album in 2014 and it’s easily become one of my favorites. It very clearly laid the groundwork for so much music I grew up on. ❤️

[@STIZZUH]

This album was the soundtrack to my high school years.

[@DrasticTimesInc]

+1 for the blood brothers reference

[@JimmyF638]

This album is pure ART. I got my first copy of it in 1999 then I got a copy of My War by Black Flag. Nothing was the same after that.

[@austintrousdale2397]

Oof, nostalgia! Remember hearing New Noise and a couple other tracks off The Shape... on college radio in the late 90s-early 00s. Loved how there was a live DJ in the studio who you could call to request a song, find out a track's title and artist. Sometimes, you actually knew the person - they went to classes on campus just like you did! The year I graduated, station went fully automated. The timing was perfect, b/c I'd have felt like a small piece of my soul had died when they took the DJ out of the studio.

[@xouat]

Hey! I’d forgotten about the Rye Coalition! Nice one!

[@Mike-ge7pe]

I remember hearing New Noise in 99 and deciding to buy the album off that one song because it was so unique. Some of my friends liked it casually, but it felt like it was this treasure that nobody else found as valuable as I did. Slowly over the years I would come across people who shared my enthusiasm, but it was still very uncommon. It’s really great to see them getting so much recognition all these years later, and interesting to see how many artists not only were aware of them, but inspired by them. To me it’s revolutionary. They pulled primarily from such deliberately unrefined and somewhat unsophisticated genres and decided that they not only wouldn’t be constrained by the unwritten rules of the scene, but would stray far beyond them and incorporate such antithetical elements that were basically taboo at that point. It really was a big middle finger to the punk and hardcore ethos of unbridled aggression. It was controlled aggression and thoughtful expressiveness. Whether it was an inspiration for the future or just a harbinger of what it would bring, good or bad, it was just completely unique for its time, and a damn good record in my opinion.

[@gabriel3912]

I find it so impressive that Refused’s influence could be found in seemingly unrelated genres like pop

[@TurtleGamers1]

Despite what you'd think Paramore quite clearly had punk influences, even if taken through a completely pop-lens.

[@gabriel3912]

K-Next yes very much, all the time. Oh yeah no doubt, Paramore have had roots to post-hardcore since the start, i recall them covering at the drive in, and sunny day real estate and other bands like that

[@TobiasVokes]

Great video mate! Always been into their songs and message. Now you've inspired me to look further into them Why is it in the 90's loads of bands released their best album just before or after they broke up. Mineral, refused, american football haha

[@KonwTheTrut]

Found these guys because of this video. Thank you.

[@lescouse]

Watched them play in 1996, simply the best live performance ever. Looking forward to seeing them once again in December.

[@TheCivildecay]

I love how they inspired the Chrome rock band Samurai

[@TheFlyingHoodlum]

!! I happened across the video for new noise and it knocked me on my ass. But I didn't catch their name at the end and they were lost to time. Now, I can finally track down that elusive record.

[@lavenderllamamusic]

14:58 You mentioned Tony Hawk's Underground but showed a clip of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater gameplay instead. Just a minor thing that got me lol but honestly, this was very well put together. Keep up the good content!

[@xxcrysad3000xx]

Boy I really hope someone got fired for that blunder.

[@DarkStarGSK22]

It's been confirmed. We fired that guy!

[@umeahardcore8521]

Also shows David Sandström every time they mention Kristoffer Steen, but hey, kill your idols right?

[@Darkestbefourdawn]

I never realized how good the production value of this album was and how amazing it was for the time

[@oddtick]

New Noise inspired the sound of The Used's debut single Maybe Memories.

[@shacharh5470]

The Ex have been doing genre-bending anarchopunk since the 1980's but haven't got the same level of attention (despite being very influential with many artists)

[@Jacksonville_Phil]

What was the name of your ex's band?

[@MrLedeberg]

i know The Ex but never heared of Refused

[@Jacksonville_Phil]

@@MrLedeberg its the exact opposite to me I have heard of the refused but not the Ex I thought they where talking about their ex girlfriend lol

[@johncopeland100]

The Ex, Karma Sutra, Rubella Ballet have all genre bent years and years before whomever this refused band was. Nothing new. Even Conflict had a techno track on an album. Nothing original to see here.

[@johncopeland100]

Add early Chumbawumba to the list. And they are really anarchists.

[@thomasknowles7700]

Solid state records would be broke without refused influenced bands.

[@vinaskth]

CAPITALISM IS INDEED ORGANIZED CRIME! This album is in my heart. One of the best albums of all time.

[@soniaanand1278]

Atleast better than communism.

[@dju164]

"...and we are all the victims. This next one is called Refused Party Program." I never get tired of this. Damn masterpiece.

[@Chris-yj2di]

@@soniaanand1278 Everything is better than communism.

[@HeisLeg3nd]

Amazing

[@NostalgiNorden]

Thanks for bringin up Refused. A few corrections. 1. As far as i am aware no one in Refused ever considered themselves as "Anarchist". Maybe it's the americans indoctrinated scare of the "C-word" but they where all in fact communists. There is a reason Lyxzén is being interviewed next to a painting of Karl Marx. 2. Really bad pronounciation of "Lyxzén" :P 3. Two times when you talk about guitarist Kristofer Steen you show images of drummer David Sandström. 4. Like Lyxzén himself has said multipe times. You are not a capitalist for making money off your own work. A capitalist is someone that makes money off of other peoples work.

[@jeffmiller6025]

I might be wrong, but I’ve generally read their politics as flowing more in the autonomist Marxist streams. Not entirely removed from anarchism in that, but distinct in some important ways.

[@Hiretsukan]

There are a few explicit anarchist references in TSOPTC though; "I breathe out and I scream/Rewoke Malatesta's dream" in the chorus of Protest Song '68 for example. I always took their biggest influence to be the Situationists, a group which definitely had Marxist roots but were arguably more influential on anarchist thought. I think Lyxzén became more conventionally Marxist later on, but during the Refused years they were, if not explicitly anarchist, at the very least espousing ideas associated with "anti-authoritarian" branches of left wing thought.

[@jeffmiller6025]

Hiretsukan, 1) First of all, are you related to the band Hiretsukan? Because, if so, I was in Turn Around Norman. 2) And I agree that that’s probably all the case-at least during Refused. Though I’d say, additionally, that the Situationists and autonomist Marxists represent a continuation and development of antiauthoritarian strains of Marxism (e.g. Council Communists) that have always maintained common cause and discourse with anarchists. And in some groups-such as CrimethInc-where there are strong elements of both traditions, it seems to come down to a choice of identification more than a strict distinction.

[@Hiretsukan]

@@jeffmiller6025 Heh, no, but I did pinch the name from them. That's the first time anyone's ever made the connection. And yeah, I very much agree, any borders between these schools of thought are definitely porous. I half wonder if, given that Refused were active in the immediate post Cold-War period, that it wasn't an exclusively American anxiety to be associated with the C word: Calling oneself a capital C Communist may have been too strongly associated with the Soviet Union and the murky borderlands of the Autonomists and Situationists allowed them to distinguish themselves from the politics of the Eastern Bloc whilst still keeping hold of the key insights of Marxism.

[@jeffmiller6025]

Hiretsukan That’s rad. They were lovey people (and a great band!). My own band (which I mentioned) did some touring with them a couple of times in the early 00s. But we’ve long since lost touch. And I would think that’s a spot on analysis. Personally, I can say that my own use of “anarchist” as an identity has generally been flexible, not incorrect (as I love me some Emma Goldman, et al.), but more as a stand-in for “communist” in its full / dynamic / real meanings (as I situate myself more strongly in the autonomist Marxist tradition, understood as inclusive of the Situationists and Council Communists). In conversations I had with the folks around CrimethInc, Refused, and T(i)NC back when, this seemed to be the general tenor of their views on political self-identification, as well. But I don’t want to speak for anyone! It was just a fun time to be in a touring political hardcore band; the dynamic political and philosophical conversations were fun!

[@maxtew6521]

I usually don't listen to harder stuff, but topping Bear Vs. Shark's 'Terrorhawk' and The Blood Brothers' '...Burn, Piano Island, Burn,' 'The Shape of Punk to Come' is my favorite hardcore album of all time.

[@TheShoottheradio]

I live right outside Harrisonburg,va. I still can't believe I missed the show.

[@SchuylerPickren]

Ah man New Noise was insane. I remember being 15 listening to it and lovin every second of it.

[@4leEsc]

I was 16 when this came out.. Already listening to all the swedish scene, raised fist, breach, satanic surfers, millencolin, etc.. i'm italian...this was so brilliant...i had to wait the reunion to go to their show. TheShapeofPunktoCome is one of the best albums ever in rock history

[@RobDementia]

Ale-Esc breach!! 🤘🏻

[@brieoshiro]

I was 16 too! I'm not even sure how I came across this band but it was love at first listen. Still own my copy of The Shape of Punk to Come and listen to it in the car with my son. Gotta start him off young lol

[@kmm2442]

These clips make me so stressed out and emotional.

[@dangaruga2149]

One of my favourite albums, ever

[@benfrank8649]

I saw them like a week ago. It was so amazing

[@xkumanekox]

Actually, Crass was one of the first punk bands to utilize spoken word into their music and albums. With that being said, can you do a video on Crass and Touche Amore? I'm super curious to see you tackle those two bands.

[@Asaconstant]

Yes a few bands, Gang of Four, wire. Crass is before all of them I think.

[@Asaconstant]

Actually “This heat” kinda covered all of this territory, just never had any kind of mainstream appeal, more just massive influence over other musicians.

[@benjaminherrera1987]

One of my favorites albums of all time, i got sooo many references political theories, movements, literature and other forms of art that pretty much shaped who I am today.

[@medes5597]

Refused just brought a bunch of punk subgrenes into one place. Atari Teenage Riot had already mixed Punk with Techno ("digital hardcore"), the Minutemen mixed punk and Jazz, the plan-it-x folk punk scene was gaining steam and dated back to the Violent Femmes. Refused just took what others were doing and put it all on one album.

[@basedsouljah]

Im a huge Orchid fan. Now i see 100% where they got a large chunk of their mystique. The beatles haircuts. The sasscore dancey breakdowns, the quoting Philosophers shit, and really the STYLE.

[@rjelam84]

I got a hold of this record sometime in 1999 and the age of 15. It changed my life, shaped my taste in music, and swung my political beliefs hard to the left. I was so impressed by their steadfastness to never reunite, glorify the past, or milk their legacy for a buck. Then they broke my heart and went on a stadium tour with Faith No More.

[@colina1330]

Refused were definitely a breath of fresh air. I listen to their live record a lot, and I feel like it's one of the only live albums I've heard where you can really feel the energy of the room they were playing in, if that makes any sense.

[@kylebrosius9118]

This was really well done. I was lucky enough to see Refused on a Burning Heart Records tour that came through Antwerp, Belgium in the spring of 1998. I went to the show to see the headliner No Fun At All. (Europe's answer to Pennywise) Never had heard of Refused or even knew they were playing. It was nuts. I walked away from that show confused, and it was a few months before I really listened to the record and understood what they were doing.