"If a band ever finds that it is not giving their best effort and playing at the edge of their abilities at all times, then they are not playing the kind of music that they should be playing." - Patrick T. Daly, taken from the liner notes of The Shape of Punk to Come.

This philosophy, placed in the context of hardcore music, is what makes Refused so unique. On The Shape of Punk to Come, complex rhythms, hardcore rage, political activism and a dose of experimental sonic atmospherics, all smashed together to create a seamless ball of energy.

Perhaps this explains why this aptly-titled record is often cited as the most influential record ever to arise from the hardcore genre, one that has spawned a whole new generation of like-minded, experimental politico posthardcore bands.