REFUSED – Elektra
aaamusic | On 20, May 2015
The message screams tooth-spitting over an ‘Elektra’-shockwave of blood strings and cymbal shrapnel: ‘Nothing has changed’. This is the latest anarchic, hardcore-punk anthem from reformed Swedish band Refused, who are once again living up to their name and rejecting the death of a genre.
The new single ‘Elektra’ throws you face-first into a mix of call-and-reply percussion. This song is unashamedly drum heavy, with fills being not only allowed, but compulsory. The talents of drummer David Sandström are displayed with a kind of refreshing apocalyptic subtlety.
‘Elektra’ dispenses with complex lyricism instead focusing on creating an increasingly violent crescendo. The verse/chorus changes are signalled by hi-hat to ride cymbal transitions, followed by a stripped back build-up of rolling toms. The loud to loud evolutions, drive this song to a ferocious conclusion.
Satisfyingly, the bass player makes it off the G-string to contribute more than just a backing track. The layered guitars are not merely mirrored but independent instruments, with serious vendettas. The song grabs you by the jugular, only releasing once your body is severed, becoming a head-thrashing bobble-head. The drums and bass wind together creating an experience which craves the ‘replay’ button, it is a joy to hear something with so much untethered power and proud-musicianship.
For fans of Refused this track will conjure aural memories of the ‘New Noise’ bombtrack. And for those hearing the band for the first time (a strong possibility, due to the hiatus/reunion heavy history) think And So I Watch You From Afar on a rampage, with a head count.
‘Elektra’ is an exciting firefight illustrating the potential of a band who have once again Refused to lay down.
