The Black Dahlia Murder – Servitude
Release Date: 27th September 2024
Label: Metal Blade Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
FFO: The Black Dahlia Murder
Review By: Eric Wilt
Trevor Strnad was not just one of the most popular vocalists in death metal, he was also one of the biggest personalities in the scene. If you’re The Black Dahlia Murder, you know it’s going to be an uphill battle to push on without him, both for the individuals in the band and the fans. But pushing on is what they thought was best for the situation, and now, with guitarist Brian Eschbach assuming vocalist and lyric writing duties, and with the return of former guitarist Ryan Knight filling Eschbach’s vacated guitarist spot, The Black Dahlia Murder is back with the first release of their new era.
So, with the band continuing on with a new vocalist, the most pressing question is how does Brian Eschbach do? And the answer is surprisingly good. I’m not sure they would’ve wanted a vocalist that sounded any more like Strnad than Eschbach does, so there really isn’t a feeling of newness to the vocals. Eschbach does an admirable job of carrying on with the vocal style that Strnad utilized over the years.
As for the music, the musicians are all the same (albeit with the previously mentioned rearranging), so their new album, Servitude, sounds like The Black Dahlia Murder being The Black Dahlia Murder, a fact that I know many fans will find a relief. To begin with, when you have Brandon Ellis playing guitar in your band, you know things are going to be just fine. One of the most talented guitarists in death metal, Ellis, with the help of Knight, brings the fire on each of the albums nine tracks. The rhythm section is held down with typical precision and flare by longtime bassist and drummer Max Lavelle and Alan Cassidy.
Containing the band’s patented style of melodic death metal, Servitude is The Black Dahlia Murder at their best, regardless of who is doing vocals. If you were a fan of them before Strnad’s tragic death, bangers like Aftermath and Asserting Dominance will make you feel right at home. From the first note of the harpsichord that opens the album to the last note of the harpsichord that closes the album and everything in between, Servitude is a bold statement of endurance by a band that hasn’t missed a beat in the aftermath of tragedy, and I’m excited about what the future holds for their new iteration.
(4.5 / 5)
