French journalist here. I wanted to shout out to your work in general and particularly this review. It really feels on point and explains a bit my sentiment after I gave it two or three listens. I didn't take the loss aspect into account, maybe becaude Brian's vocals are so close to Trevor's. I also wanted to say that your critiques are really helpful for my English. I work for an English newspaper and I sometimes struggle for words or struggle in finding shorter words or ways to say more in less. Being a non-native, this range of vocabulary use, specific verbs to explain or dissect one thoughts is immensely useful in my daily job
Necrotic Nick- Hey! Thanks, man! I still think this a solid album but much like Verminous this one will probably always have a cloud hanging over it but admittedly with more of a silver lining around it. This might be the first time we've ever been complimented on our English so I really don't know what to say given we butcher it pretty often lol. Thank you though and I'm glad that these is helping you out in a way I never thought about before. Hails, man!
Not sure if you guys noticed this but the last track "Utopia Black" transitions into the beginning of opener “Evening Ephemeral” which is tucking awesome.
Necrotic Nick- I had that in my notes but I did get sidetracked just talking about the band and all the emotions I felt around it. That was a good way to bookend the album though.
I've only been a metal fan for about 2 years so this is my first TBDM release. I love the mixing/mastering/tones on this project. The vocals are really good!! I like Brian's sound and delivery and I thought the song writing was solid. The overall pacing of the album/runtime was right in the sweet spot for me and overall I feel like the tracklist is pretty air tight. I absolutely love the cover art too. All in all, to me it lived up to the hype. Already got tickets to the Beg to Serve tour 🤘
Necrotic Nick- Honestly, I don't think there's a bad place start in this band's discography as they're so consistent you legit get an album that 100% sounds like them every time. Brian did a solid job on the vocals, Alan's a beast on drums and the lead work is scorching on every track. I do think the mix feels a bit off but all in all I enjoyed this and I'm just happy to see them back after all they've been through.
Cannot fault this record. For all the same reasons. Will it be top 10? Dunno.. A lot of emotion attached to it. It'll depend on how much I play it.. so far I've had it on 3 times since this morning.
Necrotic Nick- I really can't and as far as making a comeback album I think they made the album they needed to make here. They needed to show that ferocity and I think they focused on that aspect here. I've had about 4 spins with this one and I'm still in the same place which honestly is pretty good.
Ticked off all the ‘TBDM’ boxes, which is probably the safer option given the past events. Brian does a great job, however, it felt like he could’ve utilised more lows, as his highs just aren’t as visceral as Trevor’s. Leads were absolutely killer; hardly a surprise with Ellis & knight wielding the axe 🔥
Necrotic Nick- With comeback albums playing it safe and making sure the boxes are ticked off is arguably the way to go if you want to re-establish the band's presence and I think that's where they went with this one. Brian sounds good and I kinda knew he would and the lead work is sick as hell. I'm still not sure if they're trading leads on this one but if not that's 100% something I'd love to see in the future because Ryan and Brandon are incredible guitarists.
Well, I finally got around picking up the latest The Black Dahlia Murder album and it's certainly different. It definitely feels like a new era for the band. But, there's also some familiarity with what they've been doing since the beginning. I think it was wise to play it safe and let fans get used to this new era. I think Trevor Sternad would be super proud to know that the band continues their legacy and putting out quality extreme music. Very insightful and informative review.
The Black Dahlia Murder gift us not just only tasteful music with this album,though a precious lesson of resilience through the art theirs.And it can be considered as important as the first album of the band.Anyway it is such a heroic releasing likely a transition album where a chapter has been sealed off for another is being opened up towards a new destiny in their lives.This represents the fall and elevation of the band being showed at the same time.
Necrotic Nick- In away this is the start of a new era of the band so it's comparable to a debut in away. I'm so glad they returned and I think they made the album they needed to here. They kept it tight, vicious and showed off pretty much all the elements that I think the fans wanted to hear.
Admittedly, I've never been much of a BDM fan, so I don't really have the emotional attachment to the tragic events of the band like many others, but I really felt your mixed emotions and difficulty in doing this review, and I salute your efforts, guys! This couldn' have been easy... 👍 And Nick, can I just say thanks to you for drawing my attention to Schizogen in your latest collection update; I have been jamming their 'Spawn of Almighty Essence' lately, and boy, that shit hits home! 👌Sounds a bit like Deeds of Flesh; ironically another band with tragedy attached to them. ☹️ R.I.P. Erik Lindmark..
Necrotic Nick- Thanks, man! It really was a whirlwind of emotions even before we started taking notes. We sat back and just talked between the two of us about how we felt at the moment and it really was such a mixed bag. Having met Trevor on multiple occasions an shooting the shit with him he was just a flat out cool dude to talk to. Very down to earth and passionate as hell about the music he loved. I'll hold on to those memories forever. Hey! I'm glad you dug that one. Now that you mention it there's definitely a bit of Deeds of Flesh in that band's sound. Yeah, Lindmark was a beast and is also sorely missed. Hails, bro!
Another great review guys. It’s clear you’re big fans of the band and tried you best to give an honest review which you definitely did. I listened to this album several times today. I love Black Dahlia Murder. One of the first real death metal bands I got into. Servitude is great. I feel like it does a great job of paying tribute to Trevor, their sound/career, and the fans. No curveballs, just catchy brutality. Brian killed it on vocals. It definitely feels stripped down and it’s definitely a safe record but it’s great. Still TBDM we know and love. Maybe next time around they’ll branch out a bit but for now I’m just happy we still have them back. Next review can you guys please check out the new Kanonenfieber!!
Necrotic Nick- Thanks, man! Yeah, this one definitely had a lot of mixed emotions around it but overall it was just good to see them come back with a pretty solid album. It's more of a straight ahead attack and kinda reminiscent of their earlier material in spots which honestly was kinda nice to hear. Brian did a great job on vocals and honestly he was the only guy I had on my list to step in for Trevor and I think with this difficult album out of the way the next one should be less safe. I jammed a bit of Kanonenfieber and I think it's pretty solid but we've got a whole slate of reviews to go through already so it'll probably have to wait for a collection update in the future.
@@thrallsofmetal definitely agree Brian was the only choice and he did a great job. The whole band sounds great. Next record we might get some more flair but I’m still very happy with this record. Lots of records coming out the next few months I’m sure you guys have a full plate. I’m really digging the Kanonenfieber record I have a feeling we’re going to be hearing a lot more from them and about them in the future
Necrotic Nick- I still need to see them with Brian on vocals. I head off just because I saw them with Trevor probably 10 times and it was always a ton of fun.
RIP Trevor. As a Michigan native, it is still a wound that is healing for us. ❤ What an awesome dude that is so missed here. I actually haven't listened yet because it's been hard for me to listen to them since he passed. I'll be grabbing a 6 pack of Michigan beer tonight and jamming out in his honor.
Necrotic Nick- Being just over the border I totally feel you on this, man. We actually sat and talked about our feeling around going over this before we even started on our notes and it's just such a heavy mixed feeling here. It's still tough to think about but ultimately I'm glad they pushed through the pain and came out with a pretty solid album overall. Trevor Forever!
I’ve been a long time fan of the Black Dahlia Murder ever since they released Ritual. They were one of the gateway bands for extreme metal for me. It’s amazing that an American death metal band can take tons of influence from Gothenburg melodeath, mainly At the Gates. Trevor Strnad was a very talented and charismatic vocalist and his death in 2022 was devastating. Many in the metal community were unsure how the band was going to continue without him. It was a smart decision to have guitarist and co-founder Brian Eschbach to step in for vocals. I’m going to be completely honest, I really liked this album and I think is their best since Nightbringers. I’m so glad the Black Dahlia Murder were able to pull through tragedy and deliver another great album.
Necrotic Nick- I've honestly heard that from a lot of people that The Black Dahlia Murder were a huge gateway band into more extreme metal and it totally makes sense. For me, they came at a time when I was huge into melodeath and the fact they were so much more blasty and extreme compared to a lot of the melodeath I was listening to made revisit a lot of my favorite death metal albums again. Brian did a great job here and in my mind he was the only one that could have filled those shoes on vocals. I like that this is a straight ahead attack of an album but I think it's missing some nuance which I'm sure will show up more in the next one. Either way, I'm glad they're back.
I agreed with Nick. Lots of this sounds meaner and leaner than Verminous, and reminded me of some of the mid era of the band. Really great and I’ve been digging it since it dropped. Really excited to dive into it more.
Necrotic Nick- Yeah, I kinda figured this was the way they were going to go one this one and just deliver a stripped down, vicious album and they did a pretty good job here. I think with the next album they'll open the bag of tricks a bit more but this is kinda the album they needed to make here.
great album! The guitar work on the previous one was a little bit more interesting , but this is an animal of an album, no doubt! And I agree the drumming is a highlight
I think it was great. Kind of paint by numbers TBDM and played it kind of safe, but ultimately still delivers everything you hoped for. Brian did a stellar job. Can’t replace Trevor, but i thoroughly enjoyed myself. Great review guys and RIP Trevor. Can’t wait to see them live next month with dying fetus, spite and angel maker. Monster line up.
Necrotic Nick- Thanks, man! Hell, even a paint by number TBDM album is generally pretty solid in my mind. I think they made the album they needed to make. It's a bit safe but it delivers on most of their main strengths and shows that Brian is legit the perfect fit going forward.
It strikes me as a planned move. All the songs are right around 3:30 and generally the same tempo. To me it harkened back to their older albums, just straight ahead bdm- not as many twist and turns as we began to see from ritual onward. I’d have to guess that it was back to basics so there would be less room for people to freak out lol. Ease everyone into the new bdm.
I get wanting to jump on a new album the day it's released and beat others to the review. But I truly believe any album needs time to settle. Over the course of days or a week or two, an album will sway in one's mind one way or another regardless of the listener's experience. It is very possible your thoughts are slightly different over time. Just a thought.
Necrotic Nick- There's already been a ton of reviews on this one before ours to be honest but we go through and discuss while listening, frequently go back and relisten to parts and take a ton of notes. People listen to and absorb music differently though and generally I know if I really enjoy something pretty early on in a listen. On the other hand there are people that might need months, maybe even a year to form a solid opinion on an album. It's kinda different for different people.
Totally agree about the guitar levels being too low. That was my first impressions and it really bugs me. These guitarists are way too good and the riffs are way too mean for them to take a back seat in the mix. I didn’t realize Brandon Ellis was involved in the mixing process. I don’t know how much input or control he had there but now it has me wondering if subconsciously he’s insecure about feeling like he’ll “steal the show” and that affected where the guitar levels landed in the mix 😅
Necrotic Nick- It's either that or the drums might be a bit up too high in the mix. Either way it does feel a bit off and not being able to hear the riffs as clearly did hamper the listen a bit. I believe almost all the mixing was Brandon and while the rhythm guitars may have got a bit buried the lead tones are amazing so he got one part really right in my opinion.
Necrotic Nick- Yeah, I had so many mixed emotions about this one but overall I'm happy they're back and I think Trevor would have wanted it to keep going.
Killer review with much respect for the band, this albums solid, I have never been a big fan of this band but I had to always give credit where it's due, Ive seen them live multiple times and met Trevor and this is an amazing testament to his legacy through the sheer intensity of the music, on constant replay throughout the weekend for me! What did you think of the newer Defiled from last week Nick? Also are you guys going to cover the new Bewitcher that dropped today as well?
Necrotic Nick- Thanks, man! We're long time fans and while it's still missing some things that I love about their sound I think they made the album they needed to here. Trevor was such a solid dude. Every time I ran into him we had a fun conversation. I legit miss the hell out of those random Trevor encounters at shows in Detroit. I didn't get a chance to check out the new Defiled but I might just pick it up and Bewitcher is up tomorrow so I hope to see you there, man!
R.I.P Trevor Love the shirts you guys are shorting🤘 Spent 2 weeks with the album, and it's still hard to form an opinion enough to actually rate it for myself But still had to share some of my notes ✅️The haunting piano that starts and ends the album sets the tone to start(happy crying) for what we are going to get then (sad crying) that the album is over and we don't Have Trevor🥺😔😒 ✅️just have to laugh about the humor or the artwork butt-hole any one?😂 ✅️And the Careless Whisper nod towards the end of Mammoths hand November will be my 1st time seeing this Post Trevor line up live and my stomach is in knots
I don't think anyone else could have filled Trevor's shoes, it's so similar to the BDM we all know and love, but it's just different enough for Brian to get fitted for his own pair of shoes as far as being a frontman goes. Solid review as always gents, and maybe it's the weed and my nighttime antidepressant talking, but, how gracious you are to your subscribers, it's fucking awesome. I hope I speak for us all when I say, we're just as grateful to have you as you are to have us, you guys rule!!! 🤘
Necrotic Nick- Thanks, man! That means a lot to us and without our subscribers we would be nothing. Yeah, Brian was the clear choice to take over here. We've been hearing his screams compliment Trevor's for year so I think he was the natural choice. I think this was a pretty solid start to a new era for the band.
Necrotic Nick- I'm still not sure if Brandon and Ryan are trading off on that one but between that and the scorching lead on Mammoth's hand those are 2 of my favorite moments on this album.
Man, i am deeply conflicted with this one. 2 listens in and I don't know how to feel. This one may take a bit to truly make up my mind on it. Regardless of where I eventually stand on Servitude, i still want to catch them on their upcoming US Tour and I'll always be a fan as I have been since Nocturnal.
Necrotic Nick- Yeah, going into this one it's hard not to feel strange about it given everything that's happened but at the same time I'm happy we still have this band around. I'm hoping to catch them with this new line up at some point. I held off for awhile just because it still felt odd but I think it's time now.
I think under the circumstances its the best to be expected, really really good album, one slight criticism would be though that at times in songs it feels like it should build up to more of a low gutteral vocal, but that just really doesnt happen it feels like that is what Trevor would have done, and its super hard not to judge them by that yardstick, i dunno its a tough one to call. Brian did a great job overall but Trevor was just a different beast.
Necrotic Nick- To a degree. I think this with the potential of this line up there's a lot more that could be tapped into but at the same time I think they needed a good re-establishing album. I agree that I think there could have been more guttural roars to balance out the screams though since that vocal flip was a big part of their sound. That again may be something they explore more on the follow up to this but overall I think Brian did a solid job and to me he was the only one that could have done this.
@@thrallsofmetal yeah i think Brian was the right person to go with and it keeps their overall sound intact, for a first album with him on lead vocals its great i guess what im saying is he still has abit of room to grow into that role abit better, but great job from him and the band
I enjoyed the album through & through. Brian did an excellent job with the vocals on this album and he definitely radiates the same shrieking vox that Trevor Strnad(RIP) is known for. Plus, the guitars are masterwork in here as well. I'm gonna miss Trevor, but I think Brian is up to the task to keep this band's legacy alive.
Necrotic Nick- I thought it was a pretty solid and pretty vicious album. Brian did a solid job on vocals though I'd like to hear some more low growls mixed in next time but overall this was a good comeback and keeps their streak alive of only releasing bangers in my opinion.
You know. I don't know how I feel about this album. I feel like I'm going to need some time with the album. I think the talent is there. It's amazing music. The vocals are different but the same. The lyrics are a real fall off for me. That was one thing I absolutely thought this set the band apart. So I'm going to go with undecided. I am very open to loving this album.
I think exactly the same. instrumentally speaking, the new album is great, brian's voice is very good and quite similar to trevor's, however, the lyrics of the songs have discouraged me a little, it is clearly noticeable that there is no longer that well marked lyric style of Trevor, those verse melodies that fit well with the guitars, all this is gone, but we just have to get used to the new sound and who knows, maybe with time Brian will improve his lyrics much more, this is his first album composing lyrics, so we have to be aware of that. PS: I don't want to say that Brian's lyrics are bad, they are just very different to the style that Trevor had us used to.
@@4neurismoYou nail it with the “PS.” I will miss Trev’s lyricism, but I think Brian has real chops, just in a different way. It’s less flowery (meant in the best way possible). I think the storytelling is still there, though.
Necrotic Nick- Before we even sat down to take our notes we talked about how we were feeling and I still have so many emotions swirling around this release to be honest. I still think about Trevor's passing as I'd seen the band so many times with him and had a lot of interactions with him over years at shows. I also think that Brian's choice to step up to the plate on vocals was the best way to go about this because he's been doing the back ups for years and they sounded similar. I really didn't go over the lyrics much but Trevor was amazing with his lyrics and his cadences. I still think Brian is settling into this roll and he'll get better as he settles into it more. I think this was the album they needed to make though and I think we'll see the band get more comfortable with the next one.
I started getting into them a year ago so i never witnessed trevor in any way really, so for me this new album is fucking awesome as every dahlia album.
Necrotic Nick- I do think this is a solid album. Man, Trevor was such an awesome frontman. The dude had a presence about him and was always fun to shoot the shit with.
Necrotic Nick- Been a fan since Unhallowed and I thought this was pretty solid. It's a straight ahead listen packed with aggression which I think was probably the way to go here. I'll probably always be a fan of this so regardless I'm happy they're back.
Great show y’all, have to check Black Dahlia murder. Just bought one you’d recommended awhile back (Noisear) and another I’d never heard of before that I’m really into (Year of Desolation). Megadeth playing Nashville tonight and still haven’t seen them live (work) 😂😳keep rocking guys ☕️
Necrotic Nick- Thanks, man! This band is definitely worth diving into if you like a lot of modern death metal. Dude! Noisear is such an underrated grindcore act and that Year of Desolation album is killer. Hope you had a blast at the Megadeth show, man!
I thought it was a solid record! You guys are right about the guitar playing being phenomenal; I caught myself air-guitaring to several songs on this album today. 😂 Ritual is the only other album I’ve heard from front to back from TBDM, actually having heard it back when I was in high school on Grooveshark (remember that website?). And of course I’ve heard several songs from them over the years. RIP to Trevor; the guy was a death metal legend.
Necrotic Nick- Overall I definitely dug it but I do have some slight issues with it being kinda straight forward and the mix being a bit odd. Still, I think this is the kind of album they needed to make to let people know the energy, tenacity and explosiveness was still very much in tact. Ritual is a banger so you started with a good one for sure... but I think all their albums are killer honestly. I vaguely remember grooveshark but I think Jon might. Trevor Forever!
I've just spun the new Ripped To Shreds, and this and RTS was hands-down, my favourite. So fucking good. Next weekend is a HUGE one for death metal. We have Devenial Verdict, Maul, Blood Incantation, Cosmic Putrefaction & Undeath. Have ya'll decided which ones you're reviewing yet?
Necrotic Nick- Ripped to Shreds is up after the Bewitcher review and (spoiler alert) I think it might be their best album yet. Andrew Lee is a beast! October is gonna be loaded with stuff and you name dropped a some we definitely have targeted for reviews.
I too listened to TBDM and Ripped to Shreds yesterday and today. Ripped to Shreds is much better IMO. Definitely their best album yet and that's saying a lot
I think a lot of reviewers are giving this sympathy points.. I’m more in the range of a 2.5/5.. The guitar solos are the obvious standout, but it’s basically 10 different versions of 1 track.. I was never huge on this band, but their older stuff is better.. Of course RIP Trevor.. Mental health is still so sadly overlooked in this world, and he left the world too soon, but again, I thought this album was very mid
Necrotic Nick- We all hear music differently. For me, I hear an aggressive album that while doesn't take a lot of chances still delivers what I feel the fans want and shows the band still has plenty of fight in them. I haven't seen any other reviews to be honest so I don't know what's been said on this album other than the comment section here. Trevor is still sorely missed here. He was one hell of a dude and I'd say he was one of metal's spirit animals.
French journalist here.
I wanted to shout out to your work in general and particularly this review.
It really feels on point and explains a bit my sentiment after I gave it two or three listens. I didn't take the loss aspect into account, maybe becaude Brian's vocals are so close to Trevor's.
I also wanted to say that your critiques are really helpful for my English. I work for an English newspaper and I sometimes struggle for words or struggle in finding shorter words or ways to say more in less. Being a non-native, this range of vocabulary use, specific verbs to explain or dissect one thoughts is immensely useful in my daily job
Necrotic Nick- Hey! Thanks, man! I still think this a solid album but much like Verminous this one will probably always have a cloud hanging over it but admittedly with more of a silver lining around it. This might be the first time we've ever been complimented on our English so I really don't know what to say given we butcher it pretty often lol. Thank you though and I'm glad that these is helping you out in a way I never thought about before. Hails, man!
When Trevor passed away my heart was crushed rip may your memories never die
Not sure if you guys noticed this but the last track "Utopia Black" transitions into the beginning of opener “Evening Ephemeral” which is tucking awesome.
Necrotic Nick- I had that in my notes but I did get sidetracked just talking about the band and all the emotions I felt around it. That was a good way to bookend the album though.
I've only been a metal fan for about 2 years so this is my first TBDM release. I love the mixing/mastering/tones on this project. The vocals are really good!! I like Brian's sound and delivery and I thought the song writing was solid. The overall pacing of the album/runtime was right in the sweet spot for me and overall I feel like the tracklist is pretty air tight. I absolutely love the cover art too. All in all, to me it lived up to the hype. Already got tickets to the Beg to Serve tour 🤘
Necrotic Nick- Honestly, I don't think there's a bad place start in this band's discography as they're so consistent you legit get an album that 100% sounds like them every time. Brian did a solid job on the vocals, Alan's a beast on drums and the lead work is scorching on every track. I do think the mix feels a bit off but all in all I enjoyed this and I'm just happy to see them back after all they've been through.
Cannot fault this record. For all the same reasons. Will it be top 10? Dunno.. A lot of emotion attached to it. It'll depend on how much I play it.. so far I've had it on 3 times since this morning.
Necrotic Nick- I really can't and as far as making a comeback album I think they made the album they needed to make here. They needed to show that ferocity and I think they focused on that aspect here. I've had about 4 spins with this one and I'm still in the same place which honestly is pretty good.
Ticked off all the ‘TBDM’ boxes, which is probably the safer option given the past events. Brian does a great job, however, it felt like he could’ve utilised more lows, as his highs just aren’t as visceral as Trevor’s. Leads were absolutely killer; hardly a surprise with Ellis & knight wielding the axe 🔥
Necrotic Nick- With comeback albums playing it safe and making sure the boxes are ticked off is arguably the way to go if you want to re-establish the band's presence and I think that's where they went with this one. Brian sounds good and I kinda knew he would and the lead work is sick as hell. I'm still not sure if they're trading leads on this one but if not that's 100% something I'd love to see in the future because Ryan and Brandon are incredible guitarists.
Well, I finally got around picking up the latest The Black Dahlia Murder album and it's certainly different. It definitely feels like a new era for the band. But, there's also some familiarity with what they've been doing since the beginning. I think it was wise to play it safe and let fans get used to this new era. I think Trevor Sternad would be super proud to know that the band continues their legacy and putting out quality extreme music. Very insightful and informative review.
The Black Dahlia Murder gift us not just only tasteful music with this album,though a precious lesson of resilience through the art theirs.And it can be considered as important as the first album of the band.Anyway it is such a heroic releasing likely a transition album where a chapter has been sealed off for another is being opened up towards a new destiny in their lives.This represents the fall and elevation of the band being showed at the same time.
Necrotic Nick- In away this is the start of a new era of the band so it's comparable to a debut in away. I'm so glad they returned and I think they made the album they needed to here. They kept it tight, vicious and showed off pretty much all the elements that I think the fans wanted to hear.
Admittedly, I've never been much of a BDM fan, so I don't really have the emotional attachment to the tragic events of the band like many others, but I really felt your mixed emotions and difficulty in doing this review, and I salute your efforts, guys! This couldn' have been easy... 👍
And Nick, can I just say thanks to you for drawing my attention to Schizogen in your latest collection update; I have been jamming their 'Spawn of Almighty Essence' lately, and boy, that shit hits home! 👌Sounds a bit like Deeds of Flesh; ironically another band with tragedy attached to them. ☹️ R.I.P. Erik Lindmark..
Necrotic Nick- Thanks, man! It really was a whirlwind of emotions even before we started taking notes. We sat back and just talked between the two of us about how we felt at the moment and it really was such a mixed bag. Having met Trevor on multiple occasions an shooting the shit with him he was just a flat out cool dude to talk to. Very down to earth and passionate as hell about the music he loved. I'll hold on to those memories forever. Hey! I'm glad you dug that one. Now that you mention it there's definitely a bit of Deeds of Flesh in that band's sound. Yeah, Lindmark was a beast and is also sorely missed. Hails, bro!
Another great review guys. It’s clear you’re big fans of the band and tried you best to give an honest review which you definitely did. I listened to this album several times today. I love Black Dahlia Murder. One of the first real death metal bands I got into. Servitude is great. I feel like it does a great job of paying tribute to Trevor, their sound/career, and the fans. No curveballs, just catchy brutality. Brian killed it on vocals. It definitely feels stripped down and it’s definitely a safe record but it’s great. Still TBDM we know and love. Maybe next time around they’ll branch out a bit but for now I’m just happy we still have them back.
Next review can you guys please check out the new Kanonenfieber!!
Necrotic Nick- Thanks, man! Yeah, this one definitely had a lot of mixed emotions around it but overall it was just good to see them come back with a pretty solid album. It's more of a straight ahead attack and kinda reminiscent of their earlier material in spots which honestly was kinda nice to hear. Brian did a great job on vocals and honestly he was the only guy I had on my list to step in for Trevor and I think with this difficult album out of the way the next one should be less safe. I jammed a bit of Kanonenfieber and I think it's pretty solid but we've got a whole slate of reviews to go through already so it'll probably have to wait for a collection update in the future.
@@thrallsofmetal definitely agree Brian was the only choice and he did a great job. The whole band sounds great. Next record we might get some more flair but I’m still very happy with this record.
Lots of records coming out the next few months I’m sure you guys have a full plate. I’m really digging the Kanonenfieber record I have a feeling we’re going to be hearing a lot more from them and about them in the future
Saw these guys open for Carcass earlier this year. Sadlly never got the chance to see Trevor, but Brian fucking killed it. Gotta get this album
Necrotic Nick- I still need to see them with Brian on vocals. I head off just because I saw them with Trevor probably 10 times and it was always a ton of fun.
RIP Trevor. As a Michigan native, it is still a wound that is healing for us. ❤ What an awesome dude that is so missed here. I actually haven't listened yet because it's been hard for me to listen to them since he passed. I'll be grabbing a 6 pack of Michigan beer tonight and jamming out in his honor.
Necrotic Nick- Being just over the border I totally feel you on this, man. We actually sat and talked about our feeling around going over this before we even started on our notes and it's just such a heavy mixed feeling here. It's still tough to think about but ultimately I'm glad they pushed through the pain and came out with a pretty solid album overall. Trevor Forever!
@@thrallsofmetal Hell yeah, Nick. Trevor forever!
4 to 4.5 for me. After 10 listens there are so many nuances, melodies, etc. Love it!
Necrotic Nick- I've only had 4 but I think it's pretty solid.
I’ve been a long time fan of the Black Dahlia Murder ever since they released Ritual. They were one of the gateway bands for extreme metal for me. It’s amazing that an American death metal band can take tons of influence from Gothenburg melodeath, mainly At the Gates. Trevor Strnad was a very talented and charismatic vocalist and his death in 2022 was devastating. Many in the metal community were unsure how the band was going to continue without him. It was a smart decision to have guitarist and co-founder Brian Eschbach to step in for vocals. I’m going to be completely honest, I really liked this album and I think is their best since Nightbringers. I’m so glad the Black Dahlia Murder were able to pull through tragedy and deliver another great album.
Necrotic Nick- I've honestly heard that from a lot of people that The Black Dahlia Murder were a huge gateway band into more extreme metal and it totally makes sense. For me, they came at a time when I was huge into melodeath and the fact they were so much more blasty and extreme compared to a lot of the melodeath I was listening to made revisit a lot of my favorite death metal albums again. Brian did a great job here and in my mind he was the only one that could have filled those shoes on vocals. I like that this is a straight ahead attack of an album but I think it's missing some nuance which I'm sure will show up more in the next one. Either way, I'm glad they're back.
Servitude Rules. RIP Trevor.
I agreed with Nick. Lots of this sounds meaner and leaner than Verminous, and reminded me of some of the mid era of the band. Really great and I’ve been digging it since it dropped. Really excited to dive into it more.
Necrotic Nick- Yeah, I kinda figured this was the way they were going to go one this one and just deliver a stripped down, vicious album and they did a pretty good job here. I think with the next album they'll open the bag of tricks a bit more but this is kinda the album they needed to make here.
great album! The guitar work on the previous one was a little bit more interesting , but this is an animal of an album, no doubt!
And I agree the drumming is a highlight
I think it was great. Kind of paint by numbers TBDM and played it kind of safe, but ultimately still delivers everything you hoped for. Brian did a stellar job. Can’t replace Trevor, but i thoroughly enjoyed myself. Great review guys and RIP Trevor. Can’t wait to see them live next month with dying fetus, spite and angel maker. Monster line up.
Necrotic Nick- Thanks, man! Hell, even a paint by number TBDM album is generally pretty solid in my mind. I think they made the album they needed to make. It's a bit safe but it delivers on most of their main strengths and shows that Brian is legit the perfect fit going forward.
It strikes me as a planned move. All the songs are right around 3:30 and generally the same tempo. To me it harkened back to their older albums, just straight ahead bdm- not as many twist and turns as we began to see from ritual onward. I’d have to guess that it was back to basics so there would be less room for people to freak out lol. Ease everyone into the new bdm.
I get wanting to jump on a new album the day it's released and beat others to the review. But I truly believe any album needs time to settle. Over the course of days or a week or two, an album will sway in one's mind one way or another regardless of the listener's experience. It is very possible your thoughts are slightly different over time. Just a thought.
Necrotic Nick- There's already been a ton of reviews on this one before ours to be honest but we go through and discuss while listening, frequently go back and relisten to parts and take a ton of notes. People listen to and absorb music differently though and generally I know if I really enjoy something pretty early on in a listen. On the other hand there are people that might need months, maybe even a year to form a solid opinion on an album. It's kinda different for different people.
Love the album, Brian and the boys are killing it. Trevor 4ever, blast fiends!!!
Necrotic Nick- Agreed on all fronts! Hails!
Totally agree about the guitar levels being too low. That was my first impressions and it really bugs me. These guitarists are way too good and the riffs are way too mean for them to take a back seat in the mix. I didn’t realize Brandon Ellis was involved in the mixing process. I don’t know how much input or control he had there but now it has me wondering if subconsciously he’s insecure about feeling like he’ll “steal the show” and that affected where the guitar levels landed in the mix 😅
Necrotic Nick- It's either that or the drums might be a bit up too high in the mix. Either way it does feel a bit off and not being able to hear the riffs as clearly did hamper the listen a bit. I believe almost all the mixing was Brandon and while the rhythm guitars may have got a bit buried the lead tones are amazing so he got one part really right in my opinion.
RIP Trevor. Emotional listen and pretty good album overall. Love the solos especially 🤘
Necrotic Nick- Yeah, I had so many mixed emotions about this one but overall I'm happy they're back and I think Trevor would have wanted it to keep going.
Killer review with much respect for the band, this albums solid, I have never been a big fan of this band but I had to always give credit where it's due, Ive seen them live multiple times and met Trevor and this is an amazing testament to his legacy through the sheer intensity of the music, on constant replay throughout the weekend for me! What did you think of the newer Defiled from last week Nick? Also are you guys going to cover the new Bewitcher that dropped today as well?
Necrotic Nick- Thanks, man! We're long time fans and while it's still missing some things that I love about their sound I think they made the album they needed to here. Trevor was such a solid dude. Every time I ran into him we had a fun conversation. I legit miss the hell out of those random Trevor encounters at shows in Detroit. I didn't get a chance to check out the new Defiled but I might just pick it up and Bewitcher is up tomorrow so I hope to see you there, man!
TBDM did the "our vocalist died but here's a new guy" so much better than Power Trip (which sucks, PT was at one time my favorite metal band)
I like the new Power Trip more than this one and I was always TBDM vs. Everybody, but this just doesn't get me there.
Necrotic Nick- Yeah, I still don't get that move with Power Trip especially after the parents of Riley seemed put off by it.
R.I.P Trevor
Love the shirts you guys are shorting🤘
Spent 2 weeks with the album, and it's still hard to form an opinion enough to actually rate it for myself
But still had to share some of my notes
✅️The haunting piano that starts and ends the album sets the tone to start(happy crying) for what we are going to get then (sad crying) that the album is over and we don't Have Trevor🥺😔😒
✅️just have to laugh about the humor or the artwork butt-hole any one?😂
✅️And the Careless Whisper nod
towards the end of Mammoths hand
November will be my 1st time seeing this Post Trevor line up live and my stomach is in knots
I don't think anyone else could have filled Trevor's shoes, it's so similar to the BDM we all know and love, but it's just different enough for Brian to get fitted for his own pair of shoes as far as being a frontman goes. Solid review as always gents, and maybe it's the weed and my nighttime antidepressant talking, but, how gracious you are to your subscribers, it's fucking awesome. I hope I speak for us all when I say, we're just as grateful to have you as you are to have us, you guys rule!!! 🤘
Necrotic Nick- Thanks, man! That means a lot to us and without our subscribers we would be nothing. Yeah, Brian was the clear choice to take over here. We've been hearing his screams compliment Trevor's for year so I think he was the natural choice. I think this was a pretty solid start to a new era for the band.
4 of 5 from me boys!🤘
thnx
The lead on Transcosmic blew me the fuck away. The whole album RIPS.
Necrotic Nick- I'm still not sure if Brandon and Ryan are trading off on that one but between that and the scorching lead on Mammoth's hand those are 2 of my favorite moments on this album.
To me this is like the nightbringers style mixed with ritual/everblack era. Maybe even some nocturnal too. It’s way way faster than verminous.
Necrotic Nick- It's definitely faster than Verminous. Actually, I'd put the speed on par with Miasma honestly.
Are u guys going to see the Detroit show in November wrould love to see u guys there
I have the same question. I'd love to see them there.
Necrotic Nick- Possibly. We haven't even looked into that one yet as we're still figuring out the October shows we're hitting.
Man, i am deeply conflicted with this one. 2 listens in and I don't know how to feel. This one may take a bit to truly make up my mind on it. Regardless of where I eventually stand on Servitude, i still want to catch them on their upcoming US Tour and I'll always be a fan as I have been since Nocturnal.
Necrotic Nick- Yeah, going into this one it's hard not to feel strange about it given everything that's happened but at the same time I'm happy we still have this band around. I'm hoping to catch them with this new line up at some point. I held off for awhile just because it still felt odd but I think it's time now.
I'll blast it here in a bit then give my rating and review and then I'll see y'all soon!🤘
thnx
I think under the circumstances its the best to be expected, really really good album, one slight criticism would be though that at times in songs it feels like it should build up to more of a low gutteral vocal, but that just really doesnt happen it feels like that is what Trevor would have done, and its super hard not to judge them by that yardstick, i dunno its a tough one to call. Brian did a great job overall but Trevor was just a different beast.
Necrotic Nick- To a degree. I think this with the potential of this line up there's a lot more that could be tapped into but at the same time I think they needed a good re-establishing album. I agree that I think there could have been more guttural roars to balance out the screams though since that vocal flip was a big part of their sound. That again may be something they explore more on the follow up to this but overall I think Brian did a solid job and to me he was the only one that could have done this.
@@thrallsofmetal yeah i think Brian was the right person to go with and it keeps their overall sound intact, for a first album with him on lead vocals its great i guess what im saying is he still has abit of room to grow into that role abit better, but great job from him and the band
I enjoyed the album through & through. Brian did an excellent job with the vocals on this album and he definitely radiates the same shrieking vox that Trevor Strnad(RIP) is known for. Plus, the guitars are masterwork in here as well.
I'm gonna miss Trevor, but I think Brian is up to the task to keep this band's legacy alive.
Necrotic Nick- I thought it was a pretty solid and pretty vicious album. Brian did a solid job on vocals though I'd like to hear some more low growls mixed in next time but overall this was a good comeback and keeps their streak alive of only releasing bangers in my opinion.
Can't wait to hear this one. I haven't heard a track yet. Waiting to get my copy in the mail.
Necrotic Nick- It's pretty solid and I'd say it keeps their streak alive.
Panic Hysteric🤘🤘🤘
Necrotic Nick- Pretty solid track.
You know. I don't know how I feel about this album. I feel like I'm going to need some time with the album. I think the talent is there. It's amazing music. The vocals are different but the same. The lyrics are a real fall off for me. That was one thing I absolutely thought this set the band apart. So I'm going to go with undecided. I am very open to loving this album.
I think exactly the same.
instrumentally speaking, the new album is great, brian's voice is very good and quite similar to trevor's, however, the lyrics of the songs have discouraged me a little, it is clearly noticeable that there is no longer that well marked lyric style of Trevor, those verse melodies that fit well with the guitars, all this is gone, but we just have to get used to the new sound and who knows, maybe with time Brian will improve his lyrics much more, this is his first album composing lyrics, so we have to be aware of that.
PS: I don't want to say that Brian's lyrics are bad, they are just very different to the style that Trevor had us used to.
@@4neurismoYou nail it with the “PS.” I will miss Trev’s lyricism, but I think Brian has real chops, just in a different way. It’s less flowery (meant in the best way possible). I think the storytelling is still there, though.
Necrotic Nick- Before we even sat down to take our notes we talked about how we were feeling and I still have so many emotions swirling around this release to be honest. I still think about Trevor's passing as I'd seen the band so many times with him and had a lot of interactions with him over years at shows. I also think that Brian's choice to step up to the plate on vocals was the best way to go about this because he's been doing the back ups for years and they sounded similar. I really didn't go over the lyrics much but Trevor was amazing with his lyrics and his cadences. I still think Brian is settling into this roll and he'll get better as he settles into it more. I think this was the album they needed to make though and I think we'll see the band get more comfortable with the next one.
I started getting into them a year ago so i never witnessed trevor in any way really, so for me this new album is fucking awesome as every dahlia album.
Necrotic Nick- I do think this is a solid album. Man, Trevor was such an awesome frontman. The dude had a presence about him and was always fun to shoot the shit with.
@@thrallsofmetal maybe, but he was miserable inside, so he removed himself.... ....so sad man.
Its a great album. It is a tbdm album but its not the same without Trevor.
I’ve loved this band since Nocturnal. I like this album but I’m not sure I love it. Lots of Michigan emotion attached to this one.
Necrotic Nick- Been a fan since Unhallowed and I thought this was pretty solid. It's a straight ahead listen packed with aggression which I think was probably the way to go here. I'll probably always be a fan of this so regardless I'm happy they're back.
Great show y’all, have to check Black Dahlia murder. Just bought one you’d recommended awhile back (Noisear) and another I’d never heard of before that I’m really into (Year of Desolation). Megadeth playing Nashville tonight and still haven’t seen them live (work) 😂😳keep rocking guys ☕️
Necrotic Nick- Thanks, man! This band is definitely worth diving into if you like a lot of modern death metal. Dude! Noisear is such an underrated grindcore act and that Year of Desolation album is killer. Hope you had a blast at the Megadeth show, man!
I thought it was a solid record! You guys are right about the guitar playing being phenomenal; I caught myself air-guitaring to several songs on this album today. 😂 Ritual is the only other album I’ve heard from front to back from TBDM, actually having heard it back when I was in high school on Grooveshark (remember that website?). And of course I’ve heard several songs from them over the years. RIP to Trevor; the guy was a death metal legend.
Necrotic Nick- Overall I definitely dug it but I do have some slight issues with it being kinda straight forward and the mix being a bit odd. Still, I think this is the kind of album they needed to make to let people know the energy, tenacity and explosiveness was still very much in tact. Ritual is a banger so you started with a good one for sure... but I think all their albums are killer honestly. I vaguely remember grooveshark but I think Jon might. Trevor Forever!
Jammin Jonny Boy!!
Necrotic Nick- I think that's his "street name" lol
Gotta check it out at work today. but my headphones suck so i will put it on again at home after work. I heard some and it is killer already.
Necrotic Nick- It's pretty solid, man. Honestly, if you already love the band's sound this isn't going to change that.
Great album this for you Trevor RIP
3.5/5
Necrotic Nick- Trevor Forever!
🤘🤘
Necrotic Nick- Hails!
R.I.P. Trevor Strnad.
Necrotic Nick- Trevor forever
I've just spun the new Ripped To Shreds, and this and RTS was hands-down, my favourite. So fucking good. Next weekend is a HUGE one for death metal. We have Devenial Verdict, Maul, Blood Incantation, Cosmic Putrefaction & Undeath. Have ya'll decided which ones you're reviewing yet?
New Ripped to Shreds sounds heavy as all hell.
Necrotic Nick- Ripped to Shreds is up after the Bewitcher review and (spoiler alert) I think it might be their best album yet. Andrew Lee is a beast! October is gonna be loaded with stuff and you name dropped a some we definitely have targeted for reviews.
I too listened to TBDM and Ripped to Shreds yesterday and today. Ripped to Shreds is much better IMO. Definitely their best album yet and that's saying a lot
I think this is a pretty damn good album. I didn't like Verminous at all. This album brings more aggression and speed.
Necrotic Nick- I think it's a solid album and probably the album they needed to make to re-establish themselves in aggressive fashion.
I think a lot of reviewers are giving this sympathy points.. I’m more in the range of a 2.5/5.. The guitar solos are the obvious standout, but it’s basically 10 different versions of 1 track.. I was never huge on this band, but their older stuff is better.. Of course RIP Trevor.. Mental health is still so sadly overlooked in this world, and he left the world too soon, but again, I thought this album was very mid
Necrotic Nick- We all hear music differently. For me, I hear an aggressive album that while doesn't take a lot of chances still delivers what I feel the fans want and shows the band still has plenty of fight in them. I haven't seen any other reviews to be honest so I don't know what's been said on this album other than the comment section here. Trevor is still sorely missed here. He was one hell of a dude and I'd say he was one of metal's spirit animals.
Doesn’t Brian sound like the dude from job for a cowboy??
Necrotic Nick- A bit. I think Trevor's vocals were pretty comparable to Jon Davy's too.
@MetalNeverDieswithMarkA lol i thought so too glad I wasn’t the only one.
IMO mammoth hand is not the best track
Necrotic Nick- I dig it. I still think it's my favorite in this one.
32 minutes is too short
Necrotic Nick- It is a bit short.