Death metal outliers The Black Dahlia Murder have announced they will release their landmark tenth fell length studio album, Servitude, on September 27thg via Metal Blade Records. The album marks the first studio effort from the reconfigured band, following the tragic passing of beloved frontman, Trevor Strnad.
“Before the tragedy, no one ever thought this band was going to exist without Trevor," confided Black Dahlia Murder co-founder Brian Eschbach.
Opting to move forward harnessing the affable spirit of Strnad, the remaining members of Black Dahlia Murder in Max Lavelle, Alan Cassidy, producer/guitarist Brandon Ellis and Ryan Knight returning to take Eschbach's place so he could move to vocals have completed the reassembly of The Balck Dahlia Murder and cemented it with the announcement of a new chapter.
“Everyone that’s in the band now is someone that Trevor and I searched for,” Eschbach says. “We spent so much time on the road together that everyone understands the mission statement. We don’t really need to talk about it. We just need to make great music and try to make people happy playing it.”
Servitude is packaged with significant firsts for The Black Dahlia Murder. In addition to marking the first album to feature Brian Eschbach as the band's vocalist, the project also serves as the first to feature Ryan Knight on guitars since 2015's Abysmal.
Along with the confirmation of the new record, The Black Dahlia Murder have shared the first serving from the project with the unveiling of the pummeling introductory trackj, "Aftermath". Paired with a post-apocalyptic visual directed by David Brodsky for My Good Eye Visuals.
Given how beloved Trevor Strnad continues to be among the collective culture of extreme metal and art, The Black Dahlia Murder are especially tuned into the fact that the release might be met with a healthy cynicism from the fans. Brandon Ellis spoke about that reality and reiterated that rhe next phase of The Black Dahlia Miurder is less about moving away from Strnad but rather a living tribute to his enduring musical legacy.
“More than pressures or expectations from the fanbase, I feel their trust and support,” Ellis says. “We've always done what we do for them, and they've appreciated our consistency over the years. The global outcry following Trevor's passing has shown us how important the band's music has been to so many people, and how important it is that we continue in his honor. Under all that weight, I think we all knew what needed to be done.”
“We put in everything we had, and this is the album that felt right to make,” he adds. “I'm proud of it and proud of the five of us. You can never please everybody, but I know that this music will be a healing and positive force for those who embrace it!”
Servitude, the tenth album from The Black Dahlia Murder arrives September 27th via Metal Blade Records. Pre-order the album - HERE
The Black Dahlia Murder will be trekking throughout Europe on a stretch of dates that includes both festival appearances and featured performances with the likes of Suffocation, Shadow Of Intent and Decapitated. See the current list of dates below.
