Cult of Luna‘s cover of Refused‘s epic “Tannhäuser/Derive” has been released.
The track is the first single from the previously announced Refused tribute album The Shape of Punk to Come Obliterated — a re-imagining of the band’s iconic 1998 album. It’s set to drop November 8th as part of a deluxe box set via Epitaph (pre-order here).
Twelve bands were approached to “rearrange or deconstruct” a song, and fellow Swedes Cult of Luna were an apt choice for the project, taking on the expansive “Tannhäuser/Derive.”
The original song contrasts haunting instrumental sections with bursts of acerbic hardcore. However, in the hands of Cult of Luna, the instrumental sections are transposed as lush post-rock meditations, and the harsh hardcore becomes tectonic sludge metal.
“I hate covers and I usually am very reluctant to spend any time listening to one band playing another band’s songs,” remarked Cult Of Luna guitarist and vocalist Johannes Persson in the press release. “However, I’m very excited by the opportunity to dive into another artist’s writing and see how I can contribute my own creative style. For me that’s the only way to justify making a cover, it needs to have the musical mark of the original artist. You need to take what is someone else’s and make it yours by adding, not merely copying.”
He continued: “We felt very honored when Refused asked us to cover one of their songs. Not only are they a band that we grew up listening and looking up to, but they also were the pinnacle of Umeå hardcore. The scene that was the birthplace of our band. After the recording of The Shape of Punk to Come, I remember Dennis boasting about this … epic song, their “Tannhäuser.” That’s the reason why I picked the song. If you want ‘epic’ Dennis, we’ll give you epic! And thanks for the trust.”
The release of the tribute album will precede Refused’s North American farewell tour that kicks off in March (get tickets here). Back in September, the Swedish hardcore legends unveiled the tour dates and announced they would be breaking up — for good this time (the band previously went on an extended hiatus in 1998 before reemerging in 2012).
Among the other bands taking part in the tribute album are Quicksand, Idles, Ho99o9, and Touché Amoré. Below you can stream Cult of Luna’s cover of “Tannhäuser/Derive” and see the full tracklist and artwork.
The Shape of Punk to Come Obliterated Artwork:
The Shape of Punk to Come Obliterated Tracklist:
01. Gel – Worms of the Senses / Faculties of the Skull
02. Quicksand – The Liberation Frequency
03. Brutus – The Deadly Rhythm
04. Snapcase – Summer Holidays Vs. Punkroutine
05. Idles – New Noise (remix)
06. Ho99o9 – New Noise
07. Fucked Up – Refused Party Program
08. Zulu – Protest Song ’68
09. Cold Cave – Refused Are Fucking Dead
10. IGORR – The Shape of Punk to Come
11. Cult of Luna – Tannhäuser/Derive
12. Touche Amore – The Apollo Programme Was a Hoax