Since I discovered the Boston based hardcore band Death Before Dishonor some years ago I’ve seen them on every occasion they played in Holland. Last Sunday they played in Amsterdam and of course I had to be there again. In order to support their new record Better Ways To Die they toured Europe extensively and for the Dutch show Germany’s Final Prayer was invited and the locals from 21 Gun Salute and My City Burning were asked to kickstart this little hardcore event.

I never had the honor to witness, or even listen to music of, 21 Guns Salute, but right from their first song they had my full attention. In a very crowded venue they played a short set with some impressive heavy hardcore. I can’t say it is the most original band I ever saw, but they sure did a great job warming up the audience for the next few bands. Physically, only one guy was warming up while the others were just watching and drinking a beer, but that on a side note. The weakest part of the band was to keep the attention of the audience in between the songs, but by performing a lot this will hopefully change soon. Keep up the good work, guys!
 

After a short break My City Burning continued were 21GS left: playing aggressive and tight hardcore. In everything you can see that MCB has had more time to develop to what they are now, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing. I’ve seen them a couple of times this year now and although they deliver you quality (both in their music as in their performance) the feeling I had during the first couple of times I saw them was gone. Seeing them once or twice a year is okay, but when you see them more often… ‘Bored’ is the wrong word in this context, but I think you know what I mean.
 

Ze Germans from Final Prayer also did a great job performing for the people that liked their music, but personally I’m not a big Final Prayer fan. They did their own thing, which sometimes reminded me a bit of Born From Pain, and many people appreciated their performance. Personally I think the organization could have saved money by not putting Final Prayer on the bill. Simply because I don’t think that the band attracted more people than that the line up would have done without them playing the gig.

Half an hour after Final Prayer left the stage it was time for the sympathetic guys from Boston. With a nice mix of songs from all their three full-length albums Death Before Dishonor was playing a solid show in front of an excited crowd. In the back of the venue the melodic parts weren’t all audible, but it couldn’t spoil the fun. From ‘classic’ songs like ‘6.6.6. (Friends, Family, Forever)’ to new songs like ‘Piece & Quiet’ and ‘Remember’ to the cover song ‘Boston Belongs To Me’: every note was sung along with great passion and dedication. Not their most memorable gig, but sure a good one. True! TRUE TILL DEATH!