Death Before Dishonor

I have never liked Death Before Dishonor. I have never even come close to liking, or wanting to have anything to do with Death Before Dishonor. Not in a million years did I think I'd find myself saying positive things about a Death Before Dishonor record.

So brace yourself, because that's exactly what I'm about to do.

It's the minor changes made for Count Me In that made a world of difference: no longer is every song a repetitive moshfest; no longer are the vocals the stuff that involuntary naps are made of. Instead, Death Before Dishonor sounds revitalized; they sound intense; they sound pissed. From the relentlessly aggressive vocals of Bryan Harris to the youth crew gang vocals that flesh them out, every song is a punishing foray into the type of hardcore that the band is perfectly suited for. Without the aforementioned reliance on breakdowns (though they're still here, just used much more tactfully), DBD concentrates entirely on the elements that make tracks like "Nowhere to Turn" so invigorating.

Harris' vocals are more intense than ever, and the rest of the band adds plenty of little wrinkles to insure that nothing grows stale this time. Those gang vocals were one of those wrinkles, and the call-and-answer style of delivery towards the end of the song is a welcome addition to their approach. For those who enjoyed their sound before this album, there's plenty to keep you listening. The old-school style of "See It Through" retains the thick bass and heavy riffs they were always known for, while putting some focus on the quickly moving rhythm.

DBD have found a way to add a lot to their music without complicationg the structures or foresaking what they set out to do, and nowhere is this more noticeable than "Infected." Wasting no time, the band launches into the track with some fast-paced riffs and real shredding vocals, and it's impossible to not get caught up in their level of intensity.

From mosh to mayhem, Death Before Dishonor have made a turnaround that I never saw coming.