To understand why lossless audio matters for this specific record, you have to look at its construction. The Shape of Punk to Come was a violent departure from the "three chords and a cloud of dust" mentality of 90s hardcore. Refused didn't just play faster; they integrated:
Unexpected time signatures and swing rhythms. Refused - The Shape Of Punk To Come -FLAC-
Cellos and acoustic arrangements that provide a haunting contrast to the distortion. To understand why lossless audio matters for this
Refused famously "died" shortly after this record, claiming that "Punk is formatting." They felt the genre had become a set of rules rather than a spirit of rebellion. Ironically, by breaking every rule of punk, they created its most enduring blueprint. by breaking every rule of punk