Death Before Dishonor interview with Bryan

by Joe Toeben - 2009

Your newest album, “Better Ways To Die” just dropped on the 28th, what’s the reception so far?
I mean so far everything I’ve seen is good.  First and foremost we are psyched on this record; it’s out favorite so far to date, so we’re happy.  All the reviews I’ve seen were good.  It’s been going over really well so far.

You guys are heading to Europe after this. How does the hardcore scene differ from the US to EU?
It’s like our 9th time being to Europe so it’s like we’re almost from EU being there so much.  As far as the kids they tend to be more loyal.  Once you play in front of them live and they attach themselves to you they tell their friends and they are pretty much with you for life.  In the US there are so many more bands so there is just more to choose from.  They don’t have as many bands that come through there.

Of the 3 big hardcore bands that started it – Minor Threat, Bad Brains and Black Flag, which is your favorite?
I would have to go with Minor Threat.  When I first go into hardcore my favorite band was Agnostic Front.  Bad Brains did a lot for hardcore too.  Black Flag really crossed the punk/hardcore front so I have respect for all those bands.

Your album “Count Me In” charted on Billboards Heatseekers and stayed for 4 weeks. How huge was that for you?
It was really cool. It shows that there are a lot of hardcore kids out there that respect and follow you so that meant a lot to us since we’re just a bunch of kids playing in a band.

Who does most of the songwriting for the band?
Our guitarist Frankie does a good portion of it, especially on this new record.  I’ll come up with some stuff and we’ll work together but he does most of it.

Death Before Dishonor sounds like a typical hardcore band name.  Where does it come from? Is it a personal influence?
Well this band is a spawn of my old band and when we got together to get this new band together I was originally going to get that phrase tattooed on my neck.  We sat around and talked about it and just decided we should use that as a band name.

Where did the name “Better Ways To Die” come from?
First and foremost we are not a political band.  Now a days you see so many people going off to war.  I don’t think that war doesn’t need to happen because it does but after a while you’re fighting a war that isn’t going anywhere.  Young kids are still getting killed over there for no reason really.  We’ve had a lot of people die this past year, friends from drugs, there have been kids that came to our shows that have gone overseas and haven’t come back and we knew they had died for their country.

Did you grow up listening to hardcore or something else?
I remember buying Michael Jackson’s “Bad” and Bruce Springsteen’s “Born In The U.S.A” when I was younger.  Then I got into this hip hop stage which I still actually like.  Then I got into metal like Slayer.  Then someone turned me onto Agnostic Front.  Then I went a Biohazard show in Boston in ’94 which was an insane show.  It was cool how the bands hung out with the fans in the crowd.  So first then rock, hip hop, metal, hardcore which is where I am now.

Who are your favorite bands to play with on tour?
We get along good with a lot of bands.  Right now Terror is one of our good friends we’re touring with.  Madball too along with Trapped Under Ice.

Other than hardcore what is your favorite genre?
Punk and country.  I love to listen to outlaw country like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard.  The real country like the stuff they play in the streets.

Is there anything else you want your fans to know?
Check out the new record out on Bridge 9 Records.  We’re on the 10 for $10 for another week or so then we’ll probably be back sometime.

Thanks Bryan.
Thanks.