Overview

Death Before Dishonour is the fifth studio album by the Scottish punk band The Exploited, first issued on April 15, 1987. Coming nearly a decade after the band formed, the record occupies a distinct place in their discography and is frequently cited when discussing the group's late-1980s sound. The album produced the single "Sexual Favours," which received a promotional music video at the time.

Musical character and themes

The material on Death Before Dishonour continues The Exploited's focus on confrontational, street-level punk, while also showing a shift toward a heavier and more polished production than some of their early releases. Lyrics address themes common in the band's work—alienation, anti-authoritarian attitudes, social frustration—and the arrangements often pair aggressive guitar work with direct, shout-along choruses. This blend made the album accessible both to traditional punk audiences and to listeners drawn to harder-edged rock of the period.

Release history and versions

The original release appeared in April 1987. A later reissue, released on June 19, 2001, expanded the record with seven additional tracks, offering extra B-sides and live cuts that documented the band's evolving stage repertoire. In the years after its release the album was listed within the top 200 of British alternative music listings, reflecting a degree of commercial visibility beyond underground punk circles.

Reception and legacy

Critical responses to Death Before Dishonour were mixed to positive: some listeners praised its anthemic moments and tightened production, while purists preferred the rawer sound of earlier records. Regardless, the album has remained part of The Exploited's catalog and is referenced in discussions of how several punk acts in the 1980s moved toward heavier sonics. The single "Sexual Favours" is often highlighted in retrospectives as a notable track from the era.

Notable facts

  • The album is credited as the band's fifth studio effort and reflects their late-1980s period.
  • "Sexual Favours" was released as a single and accompanied by a music video.
  • A 2001 re-release added seven bonus tracks and renewed attention to the record.
  • It registered on British alternative charts and helped sustain the band's profile beyond underground scenes.

Further reading

For concise band history and discography details see entries and discographies associated with punk rock reference sources and archival material on The Exploited. These resources place Death Before Dishonour in the wider context of late-20th-century punk and its crossover influences.