The Black Dahlia Murder - Aftermath (Official Video)

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

will release their tenth studio album, Servitude, on September 27, 2024 via Metal Blade Records.

“Before the tragedy, no one ever thought this band was going to exist without Trevor.”

That’s THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER’s co-founder Brian Eschbach telling it like it is. With the tragic passing of the band’s frontman and co-founder Trevor Strnad in 2022, 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?

“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.”

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 TBDM’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.

“I just had to lean into it hard,” Eschbach says of approaching Servitude in a completely new role. “Honestly, writing the lyrics for this album was easier for me than writing the music for the three songs that I wrote music for. I’d pick a subject, research it, and just kinda dive in. Even though it’s not something I’d really ever done before, there was a natural flow to it once I started.”

You can hear the thrilling results on “Aftermath,” the ripping lead single, which envisions a post-apocalyptic cannibal scenario. “We wanted that one to be heard first because it’s one of the faster songs on the album, if not the fastest,” Eschbach says. “We wanted that very aggressive BLACK DAHLIA melodic death metal feel coming right at you. Lyrically, it’s about a meteor that fucks up the whole planet, but there’s still people living. Kind of like The Walking Dead, but with no zombies—so you get right to how people deal with it. And by the end, they’re eating each other.”

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.

“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!”

The guitars, bass and vocals for Servitude were recorded at Ellis’ home studio in New Jersey. The drums were recorded by Mark Lewis in Nashville, Tennessee where the album was also mixed. Servitude was mastered by Ted Jensen.

"AFTERMATH" VIDEO CREDITS:
Director, Cinematographer, Editor, Post-Production FX:
David Brodsky for My Good Eye: Music Visuals

Producer, 1st AD, Cinematographer:
Allison Woest for My Good Eye: Music Visuals

2nd AD, Performance Lighting Director, Grip:
Robb Brown

Performance Gaffer, Additional Performance Cinematography:
Mike Compitello

Narrative Lighting Director:
Adam Pernick

Narrative Gaffer:
Lindsey Fehr

Pyro:
Cesar Benitez
Louis Arroyo

Narrative Make-Up and Practical SFX:
Kelly Harris

Audio Playback Tech, Additional Performance Cinematography:
Marshall Weiczorek

Performance Production Assistants:
Ben Armes
Rowland Scheessele

Starring:
Eamonn Farrell
Brent Hofmann
Faith Kelly

[metalbladerecords]

3. AFTERMATH
SO HERE WE ARE YOU THOUGHT YOU'D SEEN IT ALL STILL AMONGST THE LIVING AFTER THE FALL THE BURNING ROCK FELL FROM THE SKY LAID WASTE TO OLD WORLD MOST DID DIE ROAMING THE FIRE ADAPTING TO ASH SCAVENGING TO SURVIVE TIME AND PRESSURE MAKE US CLASH FEEDING OFF EACH OTHER WHEN WE CAN THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE BEG THE QUESTION "ARE WE STILL HUMAN?" RESOURCES DWINDLE FAST ILL DESPERATION HAUNTS THE LAND OUR MORALS CRUMBLE STEADILY SADLY OUR SOULS DETERIORATE WE'LL SOON EXPIRE THE THRESHOLD MAXED ARMS IN AIR SOME DO CRY WHY GOD HAVE YOU TURNED BLIND EYE TO THINK YOU'VE SEEN THE WORST BRUTAL TRUTH SHALL SURELY HURT EXISTENCE MAY BE A GIFT BUT EVER ENTWINED WITH SUFFERING "WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER" FOOLING OURSELVES FOR HOW MUCH LONGER? PUSHING 'GAINST NATURE'S GRAIN KIDDING OURSELVES THAT WE'RE STILL SANE THE SHAME ENDLESS PAIN LIVING IN AFTERMATH OLD WORLD LONG GONE THOSE LEFT THE REMNANT INSANE CARRY ON SOBBING AS THEY CHEW RECENT ALLIES BECOME FOOD SLOWLY MANS FLAME DIES OUT NO ENERGY TO SHOUT THIS WORLD ONCE MAJESTIC OUR LOST NOBILITY TAKING EYES FOR EYES WHATS LEFT OF MANKIND NO LONGER SEES FEEDING ON EACH OTHER WHILE WE CAN THE DECISIONS THAT WE’VE MADE THERE’S NO QUESTION NO LONGER HUMAN TO THINK YOU'VE SEEN THE WORST BRUTAL TRUTH SHALL SURELY HURT EXISTENCE MAY BE A GIFT BUT EVER ENTWINED WITH SUFFERING "WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER" FOOLING OURSELVES FOR HOW MUCH LONGER? PUSHING 'GAINST NATURE'S GRAIN KIDDING OURSELVES THAT WE'RE STILL SANE THE SHAME ENDLESS PAIN LIVING IN AFTERMATH

[youtubeuser]

Trevor’s legacy continues. I’m so happy they all stuck together and even brought Ryan back. This album is going to fucking rule.
RIP Trevor, miss you bud

[ELECTRORLPH]

Trevor’s fuckin so proud right now and we are too!

[granthelas]

Eschbach is a hard working dude, and he will continue to push this band forward.

[somekindofhope]

Brian sounds incredible! So blown away! Trevor must be watching over this so very fondly, TBDM forever

[flyboymcgee]

To be honest, listening to this made me tear up. Sticking together and weathering the storm with your bros no matter what. That’s how you honor Trevor’s legacy

[micahreed]

I had to keep reminding myself that Trevor was gone.
Holy fuck Brian.
Thank you.
Thank you
Thank you
You have taken the lead, and that shit is INCREDIBLE
Trevor is smiling on you all.
#Trevorforever
#Blastfiends4life

[psycold]

I still feel like Brian sounds like Unhallowed era Trevor, and I love it

[GhostOvPerdition]

It is insane how much Brian sounds like Trevor on this track. It's almost as if Trevor is speaking through him and it literally gives me chills. I'am blown away by how good this is and this could not honor Trevor any better. My soul is smiling right now 🤘

[GriffinGTR]

Im so happy they didn't do anything wacky and just went with the older formula that we all know and love, not too much change all at once. God bless black dahlia, looking forward to another amazing addition to the catalog.

[trenchcoatslife]

I still can't believe the vocals sometimes reach the highs of Nocturnal Era. I was worried we'd lose that high tone from the older albums. I'm actually excited for this record now.

[beauglenn]

Idk how you guys are doing this. After all these years and albums together...

That's some true inner strength.

[felpipo]

Brian is a fucking legend, being the singer of this band after Trevor is a near imposible task. Loved the energy of this track and i am looking foward for this album. NOCTURNAL MAJESTY! SWORN TO BLACK WE WILL ALWAYS BE!

[bradybogenreif]

Brian’s transitions from highs to lows had me doing a double take. Great job guys. Thank you so much.

[ds]

I love you guys so much thank you for continuing on!!! RIP TREVOR LONG LIVE THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER! I always imagine Trevor is at every show upon the stage in astral form doing guitar solo finger flicks as you all crush it on stage!

[WheelsGood.]

The next two days will feel like eternity.

EDIT: WORTH IT

[wilbo]

As if they hadn’t already, the men just cemented themselves in metal history for the greatest comeback of all time.

This is unabashedly textbook & god tier melodeath.

Where Trevs passing created a vacuum, this return is a black hole of awesome new beginnings.

What a tribute. Outstanding guys! 👏🏻

[danibalism]

This is scary good, Brian is carrying that torch proudly. Rest In Peace Trevor.

[charliekowalski]

guys, i almost didnt wanna even listen to the band anymore cause i thought how could i ever enjoy it without trevor but yall proved me wrong. thanks guys. thanks for continuing on. i dont ever deal with death when it comes to humans, ive always stuffed it away and i dont know why, but after finishing the song, im in tears typing this and RIP trevor and thanks for going on.

[qsvdtvk]

Man nothing excites me more than Dahlia riffs. Let's fucken