| THE
BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
Trevor
Strnad- vocals
Brian Eschbach- guitars
John Kempainen- guitar
Bart Williams – Bass
Pierre Langlois– Drums
The Black Dahlia Murder immediately established themselves
at the forefront of the then-burgeoning U.S. metal scene
when they released their full-length Metal Blade debut
Unhallowed in June 2003. The release of that critically
lauded album, however, was only the beginning of an
epic journey that would find this Detroit, Michigan,
quintet dealing with personnel issues and a nonstop
touring itinerary that kept them on the road for nearly
two years playing with bands as diverse as The Red Chord,
Arch Enemy, Napalm Death and Terror. But those experiences
ultimately had a profound affect on their latest Metal
Blade release, Miasma. "The road has been what
really made Miasma what it is," vocalist Trevor
Strnad confesses. "Much of the content here is
a direct result of our experience in the band."
It
is no surprise, then, that Miasma reflects the insanity
of life on the road for five guys, barely over the legal
drinking age, who were playing an endless string of
shows across North America and Europe. "It's quite
a bit more personal lyrically, ranging from anthems
of cheap sex and drug use to more classic Black Dahlia
Murder horror style," says Strnad. "I've tried
to reinvent BDM lyrically here. It's still dark. It's
still really evil shit."
Strnad’s
growth as a lyricist is just one of the ways the band
expanded its sound on Miasma. Guitarist Brian Eschbach
contributed more to the writing process while his counterpart
John Kempainen wrote and played solos for every track.
As a result, The Black Dahlia Murder have created an
album that reflects the bonds cemented by the band's
two-year odyssey. Recorded and co-produced with the
band by Scarlet drummer Andreas Magnusson at Planet
Red Studio in Richmond, Virginia, Miasma is a deadly
reinvention of The Black Dahlia Murder's nefariously
nasty melodic death metal sound. It is a sound that
Kempainen simply describes as "more pissed off."
Strnad sees other improvements, as well, however. "The
new songs are much heavier than anything on Unhallowed,"
he declares. "We were making a conscious effort
to challenge ourselves as players and give each song
an identity of it's own."
Miasma
is just the latest chapter in the ever-twisted saga
of The Black Dahlia Murder who since before the release
of this immeasurably anticipated sophomore effort, landed
themselves a spot on the coveted second stage at Ozzfest
2005 alongside bands like Killswitch Engage, Mastodon,
Rob Zombie, and label mates As I Lay Dying. The band
followed up their successful run on Ozzfest with an
exceptional headlining tour with Between the Buried
& Me, Cephalic Carnage, and up and comers Into The
Moat which sold out almost every single show as did
their co-headlining run with Throwdown which also included
label mates The Red Chord in the line up. The band also
made their way over to Europe and Japan bringing their
brand of American melodic death metal to the masses.
The
Black Dahlia Murder is secured to play this summers
Sounds of the Underground festival along with In Flames,
Terror, Trivium, and label mates Cannibal Corpse and
headliners As I Lay Dying. All in all The Black Dahlia
Murder have more than proved themselves to be warriors
of the road, an unbeaten live act, and ferocious musicians
that can not and will not be stopped.
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