DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR

I remember being thoroughly impressed with Boston's DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR opening a show for FULL BLOWN CHAOS and AGNOSTIC FRONT, as well as thinking that I really must pick up an album. I never did end up with a release from the hardcore savages, so getting a re-issue of the band's first EP is a good starting point. "Friends Family Forever" has been re-mastered and now includes two songs from the limited edition split 7" with BLACK FRIDAY '29, one unreleased song, and a five-song live set from CBGB. And what an impressive debut it is, featuring some of the most vicious, traditional East Coast hardcore out there today.

The Boston boys not only bash, slam, and destroy, but write songs with choruses that grab hold immediately, well-placed gang shouts that incite riots, and lyrics that will put a snarl on your face. Barking "I will not be the victim, I will not play your games!" ("Born from Misery") and "Can't you understand your word isn't shit to me!" ("Walk Away"),vocalist Bryan sounds like he'd just as soon crack you upside the head as sing you a song. Riffs that approach thrashy crossover and an unrelenting rhythmic pummel get the blood pumping and would turn the most ardent pacifist into a violent street thug. Breaking from the rest of the album just a hair, a harmony vocal (as in "whoa oh ohs") on "6.6.6. (Friends Family Forever)" is exceedingly well done. The unit gets it right song after song. Avoiding the pitfall of writing an album with tracks that bleed into one another, the group writes songs that stand defiantly on their own and make for an easy listen in one sitting. Finally, what the live set may lack in sound quality (though it's not all that bad) more than makes up for in primal aggression.

If you're tired of all these faux "hardcore" bands trying to look and sound tough (kind of difficult when you're wearing makeup though, isn't it?),DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR is here to show you the way. "Friends Family Forever" is the most fun you'll ever have getting beaten bloody.