THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER — Servitude (review)

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER — Servitude album cover Album · 2024 · Melodic Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Servitude" is the tenth full-length studio album by US death metal at The Black Dahlia Murder. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in September 2024. It´s the successor to "Verminous" from 2020 and there have been a few lineup changes since the release of the predecessor. Firstly guitarist Ryan Knight has returned to the fold, having originally departed in 2016 after an eight year stint with the band. Secondly and on a more sad note lead vocalist/founding member Trevor Strnad took his own life in May 2022. A huge force on the post-2000 death metal scene Strnad could not be easily replaced, but guitarist and main composer (and co-founder) Brian Eschbach took up the challenge and performs the vocals on "Servitude" (Eschbach does not perform guitars on this release).

So it´s of course the number one question when listening to "Servitude", if Eschbach brings the goods like Strnad did on so many albums before this one...and the answer is yes. Strnad was a very unique vocalist and of course Eschbach can´t replace him one-to-one, but I think he steps up to the plate and brings his own version of the high pitched blackened snarling/deep growling death metal vocal style with success. Regarding the instrumental part of the music there´s nothing negative to say about it. This is more or less The Black Dahlia Murder as they have sounded since day one. Predominantly fast-paced, melodic (often neo-classical influenced) death metal with horror themed lyrics performed by an incredibly skilled band. The rhythm section deliver sharp, precise, and powerful drumming and bass playing, the guitarists play one fast-paced and sharp riff after another and deliver loads and loads of melodic lead themes and solos, and on top of it all Eschbach´s high pitched blackened snarling/deep growling death metal vocals.

"Servitude" still stands out a bit from the last couple of releases though, as The Black Dahlia Murder have gone for a slighly less polished and a generally more stripped-down production style, which I personally think suits the material well. It´s a more immediate and instantly effective release than anything they´ve released in the last 15 years. And that´s not a criticism of the releases which came before this one, because they are all great in their own right, but "Servitude" is just a bit more direct and in-your-face.

Faced with an immense tragedy The Black Dahlia Murder never wavered (at least not publicly) and almost immediately vowed to return with a new lineup and keep the band going, and "Servitude" is the proof that they did the right thing. I´m sure Strnad would have been proud of the result. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Tormenta De Arena Metalcore
VORAGO
Buy this album from MMA partners
Infinite Metalcore
FUTURE GHOST
Buy this album from MMA partners
Heretic Melodic Death Metal
SUNCINDER
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Skull Burned Wearing Hell Like A Life Vest As The Night Wept Mathcore
FRONTIERER
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Reclamation Of I Metalcore
IMMINENCE
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Future Ghost - Wolves (Official Music Video)
FUTURE GHOST
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Future Ghost - Nemesis Game (Official Music Video)
FUTURE GHOST
Bosh66· 1 day ago
Harrowed TwentyTenVideo
HARROWED
Bosh66· 2 days ago
Sunmancer - Realms of Dilemma (Official Visualizer)
SUNMANCER
Bosh66· 7 days ago
Sunmancer - Lower Cavalier (Official Visualizer)
SUNMANCER
Bosh66· 7 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed