Some bands blend many different styles and influences into their music, with varying results. Refused was a band that could seamlessly shift between styles but still sound undoubtedly like itself.

Refused was technically a punk band, but listening to the band’s brilliant final album, “The Shape of Punk to Come,” is a lesson in influence.

Free jazz and punk are blended perfectly, and the “The Deadly Rhythm” goes from an all-out assault to a jazzy bassline, providing the song with a change of pace and serving as a testament to the talent of this incredible band.

The raw, overpowering vocals range from a scream to a whisper, and as the song slows, it stays interesting and unrelenting. The bass, however, is the real star. The bass goes from breakneck speed in a punk style, and then shifts to a bassline that wraps around your head like it could have been performed by a classically trained jazz musician.

Though the band’s aggressive Marxist politics and rough style make it an acquired taste to many, it is a great example of how styles of music like punk can evolve over time.

Most importantly, the song lives up to its title. The rhythm of this song drives it all the way through. Anyone with the desire to expand his or her opinions of punk should find this album and listen loudly.