DO OR DIE is a pioneer of the Belgian Hardcore scene from Tournai, Hainaut that was founded in 1999. Their main influences are the NYHC old-school scene, HATEBREED, MERAUDER, SWORN ENEMY, THROWDOWN, mixed with more modern, Metal-style parts. The band released their first EP “Tears Of Rage” in 2000. Since then, the band was able to release six studio albums, of which the latest one “Crows” dates from as far back as 2015. In the meantime, they had a name change into BURY YOUR DEMONS in 2019 before reverting back to their original name again. When that happened, I can’t say, as I couldn’t find any confirmation of it all. Now, some nine years after their latest album DO OR DIE have found time to record an EP which they aptly named “Resurrection”.

Well, if you were wondering whether DO OR DIE is still a Hardcore band, any doubt you might have had will have disappeared after a few seconds, as this is like anything they have done before; Hard, Heavy, Hardcore, Uncompromising. The sound is relentless, which really works with the almost hysterical sounding vocals by singer Chris Michez. I don’t know if he does all the voices, but I have to assume so, as nowhere is stated who the second voice belongs to. in the 16:40 minutes that the six songs pass you by you will blasted off your chair by the sheer intensity and aggression that comes through your speakers or headphones. Thankfully the band have been able to recreate the sound in such a way that everything that is played is to be heard in a proper way. That does add to easing the way you listen to “Resurrection”.

As for the songs themselves, they are as you would expect; straight forward, simple but effective in construction and of course really loud. I have to warn you though, because if you are expecting to hear new sounds after more than nine years silence of the slabs, you will come out disappointed. No, DO OR DIE have opted to stay within the sounds they always have used and respect the boundaries they set themselves years back. If that is enough for you, “Resurrection” will excite you. But if you are like me and would have liked to hear some positive changes in the process, you get the feeling that the band is selling itself short. I do hope that these Belgians find the courage to enhance what they are doing, as they always have been and still are a force to be reckoned with.