PRINTThe unusual suspects
Death metal arrives at The Blue Note
Courtesy of Metal Blade
The Black Dahlia Murder is (from left) Shannon Lucas, John Kempainen, Trevor Strnad, Brian Eschbach and Bart Williams. The Michigan band has been screaming since 2001.
May 1, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Break out the leather jacket, let your hair down, and prepare for some serious head-banging, fist pumping and moshing. The Black Dahlia Murder is coming to town and is determined to “spread the gospel of metal.” Metalheads rejoice.
The Detroit-based band with the ominous name is hitting the road to promote its third album, Nocturne, released in September.
What: The Black Dahlia Murder, A Life Once Lost, Arsis, Saetith
When: Wed., May 7,
6:30 p.m.
Where: The Blue Note
Cost: $12
Call: 874-1944
Despite the fact that its previous drummer departed prior to the song-writing process thus leaving half the album to be written with drum machine accompaniment, the band is clearly proud of its musical progression.
“Even though things were looking pretty sh--ty, I had a special feeling that this album was a step up, so we needed to work to get it off,” Strnad says. “We play better now than we used to. I think we are more professional then we used to be.”
The band, which describes its sound as European melodic metal mixed with ferocious American metal, attributes its influences to such bands as Cannibal Corpse, Metallica and Iron Maiden. It is composed of everything a death metal band should be and then some. Fast-paced blast beats, throaty screams, ear piercing shrieks and shredding guitar are blended with a dab of punk to offset comparisons to its contemporaries and give the band its own flavor.
“I used to want to be a cut and dry death metal band with the hardcore and metalcore influences,” Strnad says. “I found the crossover appeal is great for metalheads and punks.”
But with touring comes the challenge of luring in new fans as well as maintaining the old with each show.
“We really try to find the balance between an extreme band and a memorable band,” Strnad says. “We are a good live band, playing energetic melodic death metal.”
The Black Dahlia Murder’s intense shows and its ability to cross over into the hardcore and metalcore genres appeal to a wide variety of people. Strnad and his band are determined to keep metal alive.
“Part of our ongoing conquest is to push the album and play the best we can,” Strnad says. “Be metal, and if you’re not, get metal.”
