Refused

The New Noise Theology (Epitaph)
by Tim Den

Call me melodramatic, but the world lost one of its brightest units when Refused called it quits two years ago. In my opinion, there has never been – and possibly never will be – a hardcore band like Refused. A band whose identity morphed like mercury, arriving at its final incarnation as a piercing combination of DC-core, jazz, drum’n’bass, and Marxism. Now, with members going on to film school in California and The (International) Noise Conspiracy, all we’re left with are their legendary The Shape of Punk to Come album and The New Noise Theology E.P. Essentially two B-sides, a remix, and “New Noise” from The Shape of Punk to Come, this EP wouldn’t’ve been that necessary had the band stayed together. But since these are probably the last recordings the band ever did, you’d be foolish not to cling to them. And by the sounds of “Blind Date” and “Poetry Written in Gasoline,” even their B-sides were monumental, so you really have no excuse but to cling on to them. The New Noise Theology E.P. is the last testament of one of the most innovative bands of the genre. Oh, I do miss them so.
(2798 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026)