Refused - The Shape of Punk to Come

Fame can sometimes be cruel with its choices. For instance, why does hip-hop reward Usher and latter-day Eminem, but leave heroes and innovators like DJ Shadow and Deltron 3030 to die in quasi-obscurity, especially when the latter group has a much tighter grasp on the scene?

Unfortunately, Refused fall victim to this very phenomenon. Shunned by the mainstream, The Shape of Punk to Come was doomed to fail commercially from the beginning. Compared to its contemporaries (blink-182's Enema of the State and the Offspring's Americana, for example), The Shape of Punk to Come was far too long, far too aggressive, and far too experimental to make any kind of sudden impact on angst-ridden anarchistic high school kids, or anyone else who wasn't an Internet regular (a rarity at the time) or down with the post-hardcore scene.

Fortunately, The Shape of Punk to Come ended up being one of history's most prophetic album names, its wildly experimental and over the top music influencing underground and mainstream punk and hardcore years after its release. And despite the tremendous influence Refused have had, The Shape of Punk to Come still hasn't gotten quite the recognition it deserves. Kids who live and die by the lyrics of, err, fine wordsmiths like Mike Shinoda haven't even caught a glimpse of hardcore until the opening lyrics of "Worms of the Senses / Faculties of the Skull" infiltrate their ears.

I've got a bone to pick with capitalism
And a few to break!