Tonight Death will play at Europa. Yes, Death.

Formed in the early '70s, Death was a proto-punk rock trio composed of three African-American brothers from Detroit. They only recorded seven songs, and those tunes were released as ...For the Whole World to See on Drag City last year. The reception to those tunes was so good that band reunited and started playing live again last September. They also have a new album on the way.

We caught Death at South By Southwest the other week, and they put on one of our favorite performances of the festival. Brothers Bobby and Dannis Hackney still wield drum sticks and bass, while Bobby Duncan has taken up guitar duties in place of David Hackney, who died of lung cancer in 2000. They entered the stage with all of the lights off, draped in black grim reaper-like robes, and then unveiled and charged through a terrific set. Though they might be 35 years older, the band still sounded as energetic and vital as they must have been back in 1975.

Opening the show will be Rough Francis, a band started by Bobby Hackney's three sons after being inspired by the recordings of their father's band. There name is a tribute to David Hackney, as Rough Francis was a moniker he had created for himself.

Last year the New York Times recounted the history of Death in an article titled "This Band Was Punk Before Punk Was Punk." You can get order ...For the Whole World to See from the Drag City website.

Below, check out a video of Death playing at last year's Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, Texas.

Death - "Politicians In My Eyes" live at Fun Fun Fun Fest, November 7, 2009: