The Shape of Punk to Come Obliterated is the Swedish hardcore punk band Refused’s 25th anniversary celebration of its 1998 album The Shape of Punk to Come. Released in November 2024, it is a tribute to the band’s influential iconoclasm and innovative collaboration of contrasting music genres. The Shape of Punk to Come Obliterated further reimagines the sounds of anarchy with Refused’s invitation to twelve artists to each cover a song on the album. Featuring Gel, Quicksand, and more, the renovated album is a testimony to The Shape of Punk to Come’s pioneering experimentation as it continues redefining the possibilities for hardcore punk music.
As Refused’s original album is praised for its pulsating tempos and anti-capitalist commentary, the artists of Obliterated honor these qualities while still adhering to their styles. While some songs remain sonically familiar, others are entirely reinvented with the new artist’s vision.
The opening track, “Worms of The Senses / Faculties of the Skull,” is covered by Gel and is almost identical to Refused as Sami Kaiser belts out the same assertive lyrics, “I got a bone to pick with capitalism and a few to break.” It follows the same turbulent rhythm until the final guitar solo. Gel slows down the original riff before adding an adjacent electric guitar melody to amplify a new edge layer.
Quicksand’s “Liberation Frequency” approach is more harmonious as they add a secondary electric guitar sequence with more pronounced vocals. His vocal rhythm is highlighted in the chant, “We want the airwaves back,” where he channels a new flow amidst the electric punch. This alteration heightens the song’s sense of urgency by the time of the confrontational chorus, “What frequency are you getting? / Is it noise or sweet, sweet music?”
“New Noise” receives a cyberpunk makeover from Ho99o99 and Idles. Instead of having a cover for its instrumental “Bruitist Pome #5,” Refused had the groups recreate two versions of its most popular song. Both renditions include thrilling opening chords but expand on their techno elements to curate an exciting modern sound.
The classically infused “Tannhäuser / Derivè” is one of the more dramatic songs on Refused’s album, which initially has a slow build of orchestral strings. In Obliterated, Cult of Luna elevates this drama with electronic beats and stretched-out guitar synths. They follow the same climatic build that culminates in Johannes Persson’s consuming vocals. He effortlessly captures the fearless mood of the original lyrics, “Let’s bring this city to life / to light / tonight.”
The rest of The Shape of Punk to Come Obliterated features are just as stimulating as they are impressive in their tribute to Refused’s legendary album. Regardless of sound similarities, the album’s original intention remains intact. With this 25th-anniversary update, the artists of Obliterated honor the band’s musical revolution and advance its legacy of intense expression through their own punk perspectives.
