With the tragic passing of the THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER‘s frontman and co-founder Trevor Strnad in 2022, band co-founder Brian Eschbach, bassist Max Lavelle, drummer Alan Cassidy, and producer/guitarist Brandon Ellis were faced with a decision: Close the door on one of the most beloved death metal bands of the last twenty years, or carry on in their fallen brother‘s charismatic spirit? After a period of profound grief and deep soul-searching, Eschbach moved from guitar to vocals, setting aside his lifelong identity as a live guitarist for the survival of the band. Former THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER member Ryan Knight returned to the fold to take Eschbach‘s place on guitar. The new lineup made their debut in the band‘s hometown of Detroit in late October 2022 for a tribute show for Strnad.
Fast forward to right about now: THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER‘s new album is the one that many would have thought impossible. Servitude marks Eschbach‘s recorded debut as THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER‘s lead vocalist and lyricist—and their first with Knight on guitar since 2015‘s Abysmal. The members of THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER know that some will be skeptical of an album without Trevor‘s inimitable presence. But many fans have already embraced the band‘s decision to move forward.
“… the highest praise one could give this is that it sounds like the kind of death metal record Strnad himself would‘ve loved. At a brisk thirty-three minutes, there‘s no real fat, just a collection of raging riffs and solid gold grooves that never overstays its welcome…” – Decibel Magazine
“…the release of Servitude faces down existential concerns with determination and defiance. Forged from tragedy and loss, it honors their fallen friend while celebrating the survival of THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER as an ongoing entity.” – Kerrang
“THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER could have taken a prolonged hiatus and returned a few years down the road, refreshed and reinvented. But fuck that. Whether wallowing in grim, doomy waters on ’Mammoth’s Hand,‘ or blasting away like some crazed, nihilistic army of intergalactic ghouls on ’Transcosmic Blueprint‘ and climactic hook avalanche ’Utopia Black,‘ this is an album that nobly delivers the goods, while screaming defiance at the stars. Everybody involved should be immensely proud. The saga continues…” – Blabbermouth
“Produced in Ellis’ home studio, songs like the lightning-fast opener ‘Evening Ephemeral’ or ‘Mammoth’s Hand,‘ which actually thunders along like an angry horde of mammoths, ignite a great energy, so that Servitude doesn’t have to hide behind discography highlights like Nocturnal or Nightbringers. The king is dead, long live the king!” – Rock Hard Germany
“…No one, particularly the band themselves, would have wanted a sympathy pass but just by effortlessly doing the thing that they have always done, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER have skillfully picked up where they left off. They know that they will never replace the irreplaceable, deciding to channel and celebrate him instead and the results are glorious.” – Metal Hammer UK
“They could‘ve rested on their not-insignificant laurels, but instead, keeping their ’new‘ lineup in THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER family has reinvigorated them. Knight‘s playing is as taut as ever, while Eschbach is a commanding, venomous presence and never feels like a hollow recreation of Strnad. Servitude is anything but; it reaffirms their place as one of melodeath‘s greatest, most consistent bands.” – Distorted Sound
“THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER is doing Trevor‘s memory justice while simultaneously putting out some fucking killer death metal.” – Metal injection
“This album represents a pivotal moment if ever there was one, but thankfully, it is not a downward turn, but rather a calculated and highly efficient lateral movement. They‘ve made the best of a truly regretful situation, and while Trevor will always be missed, he would also surely be extremely proud of what his friends have accomplished not just in his stead, but in his name.” — MetalSucks
“…a crushing introduction to this new chapter for THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER.” – Consequence on “Aftermath”
“Servitude is nothing less than an absolute monumental achievement for a band as legendary as THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER. They proudly carry on the legacy of their fallen comrade Trevor Strnad and will do so for years and years to come. If Strnad was able to be here right now, he would be beaming with pride with how truly incredible of an album Servitude is.” – Boolin Tunes
“There is no single aspect of the musicianship on display here that could even fleetingly be described as weak or substandard; instead we are treated to an exquisite tour de force of metallic brilliance that plants itself like a crown jewel in any self-respecting melodeath fan‘s year end list.” – The Razor‘s Edge
“Servitude could have sounded like an evocation of past glories THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER records and that would have been enough for most; something comfortable and consistent in the wake of a horrific chapter in the band‘s life. Instead, Servitude is, against all odds, a massive highlight in their discography. While it will perhaps always be an album defined by the context surrounding its recording, that same context imbues its moments of melancholy with pathos, its most powerful moments with triumph.” – Toilet Ov Hell
“…a significant step for THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, one that honors their past while paving the way for their future.” – Lots Of Muzik
“Complex, melodic and full of venomous fury…” – Ghost Cult
“…an absolute heatseeker. It is exactly the record that THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER needed to release to give themselves the courage to forge forward and to reward fans for their unceasing faith in them. Long live THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER!” – Metal Wani
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER:
Brian Eschbach – lead vocals
Max Lavelle – bass
Alan Cassidy – drums
Brandon Ellis – lead guitar, backing vocals
Ryan Knight – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
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