The Black Dahlia Murder
Servitude
Metal Blade Records
So, let’s kick off by addressing the woolly mammoth in the room. This is The Black Dahlia Murder’s first album since they lost scene legend Trevor Strnad who tragically died in 2022. In a very fitting way, the only way the band saw to carry on was to have an existing member Brian Eschbach (formerly on guitars) step up on vocals. This has proved to be a genius move as Brian has had a front row seat insight into Strnad’s vocal technique since the band’s inception and therefore knows the band’s sound inside out.
The result is a vocal that is reminiscent of the former frontman but gravellier in tone which means it pays tribute (especially in enunciation and cadence) but definitely feels like Brian’s own take on it. Musically the band are in full impact mode with their signature heavily swung take on horror themed death metal ringing out loud and proud throughout.
Lead single, ‘Aftermath’, with its “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” refrain sets the tone as a statement of intent and album openers ‘Evening Ephemeral into Panic Hysteric, roar out of the speakers and stamp down the fact that this is 100% Black Dahlia Murder as we know and love them and to my ears their strongest and best album since 2013’s awesome Everblack. Mammoth’s Hand and Asserting Domination are huge displays of riff laden dexterity, and the rhythm section is, as always, bang on point and full of loose groove within its surgical precision.
This isn’t a comeback as much as a rebirth. When a bone breaks it heals calcified, I feel that the same has happened with the band’s hearts and minds. This is glorious, the is The Black Dahlia Murder.
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Reviewed By George Miller