From releasing their first album in 2003, they have come a long way in a very short amount of time. Carrying forward the aggressiveness and brutality along with the emotion filled music, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER are all set to release their new album, ‘Nightbringers‘, via Metal Blade Records on October 6th, this year. ‘Nightbringers‘ will be the eighth full length album the band will offer after 2015’s equally hard hitting ‘Abysmal‘. To celebrate the new album, the band have already put out a new music video which is for the title track. You can check the video at the bottom.
The members recorded their own part in the album independently by splitting up, which helped bring out the best in the individuals. With former bassist Ryan Williams once again assisting, the drums were tracked at The Pipe Yard in Plymouth, Michigan and rhythm guitars and bass in the band’s practice space in Warren, Michigan. Ellis then recorded his many mind boggling solos in his home studio, while Strnad opted to record at his home in Auburn Hills, Michigan with Joe Cincotta (SUFFOCATION, INTERNAL BLEEDING) of Full Force Studios overseeing his sessions. The ghoulish cover art was the brainchild of Kristian Wahlin, aka Necrolord, who has designed seminal artwork for the likes of AT THE GATES, BATHORY, EMPEROR and also TBDM‘s 2007 release, ‘Nocturnal‘. “I think he’s the most prominent artist when it comes to classic releases in the melodic death metal genre, and kind of bringing things full circle with it being the ten-year anniversary of ‘Nocturnal’ felt right. By now people probably wouldn’t have expected us to go back to him, so it’s kind of a surprise, but at the same time it’s a very classic cover too.“, Strnad speaks.
Nightbringers Album Cover Art
Vocalist Trevor Strnad who keeps a vast and astounding knowledge of the underground metal scene opines, “I always feel a responsibility to the people who support this band when we start making a new record.” He further goes on to add, “The pressure that comes from people being excited to hear what you come up with next can be intimidating, but it’s so exciting that those people love you so much for just doing what you do. It makes you want to honor what you’ve done in the past, but also excite them with where you go next, and that definitely drove us on ‘Nightbringers’. When we started writing I honestly didn’t know we had this album in us, and I feel really proud of it. It’s a great moment for us.“
Former axe man Ryan Knight had to amicably step down from the band’s camp last year has been followed by the addition of former CANNABIS CORPSE and ARSIS member, Brandon Ellis. This has proved to be an excellent move having the band usher in a new exciting era. Only time shall tell what contributions the new member can add to the already pulverizing performances and composition of the band.
“He’s very professional for his age, I think he’s skilled far beyond his years, and his live energy is exceptional. When Max (Lavelle, bass) joined the band he challenged a lot of us on stage to raise our personal bar, and Brandon’s pushed that even further,” states Strnad regarding new recruit Brandon. “Brandon coming into the band and writing a bunch of songs was an awesome surprise too. He really took the reins, and this record is also the most involved that Alan (Cassidy drums) has been too. The way that we were doing the demos and bouncing things back and forth he had a lot of room to do what he wanted to do, and I think it’s definitely a more colorful album for that. I also think as we get older the emotional content goes up. I think we better realize how to grip the listener. Personally, I try to write lyrics that are going to match each part, and kind of ramp up those feelings that we’re putting across.“
While Strnad explores a variety of themes and ideas with his lyrics, they are united by the album’s title, which embraces a tenet that has been central to THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER‘s output since the very beginning. “Death metal and nighttime are synonymous to me,” Strnad explains. “We are the rulers of the darkened hours that the Christian good fears. A lot of archaic ideas that are still upheld – such as marriage and monogamy – came from Christianity, whether people want to acknowledge it or not, and to me, death metal has always been bucking that. It’s ‘being-the-villain music’, because we’re the enemy of Christianity, the enemy of all that is good and traditional. Death metal is for free thinkers, it’s for showing people the path to inner strength and operating on your own will, instead of being told what to do and living in fear, and songs like the title track and ‘Kings Of The Nightworld’ are about leading a legion of awakened minds into battle.”
‘Nightbringers‘ track-listing:
1. Widowmaker
2. Of God and Serpent, Of Spectre and Snake
3. Matriarch
4. Nightbringers
5. Jars
6. Kings of the Nightworld
7. Catacomb Hecatomb
8. As Good as Dead
9. The Lonely Deceased
Pre-Order ‘Nightbringers‘ HERE!
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER is currently co-headlining “The Summer Slaughter Tour” with DYING FETUS, plus OCEANO, ORIGIN, SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL, RINGS OF SATURN, BETRAYING THE MARTYRS and LORNA SHORE as support. This USA trek sees THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER performing ‘Nocturnal‘ in its entirety, for the album’s 10-year anniversary – making this one show not to be missed! See below for all dates, with more to be announced soon!
“The Summer Slaughter Tour” dates
w/ The Black Dahlia Murder, Dying Fetus, Oceano, Origin, Slaughter to Prevail, Rings Of Saturn, Betraying the Martyrs, Lorna Shore
Aug. 22 – Concord Music Hall – Chicago, IL
Aug. 23 – Bogart’s – Cincinnati, OH
Aug. 25 – The Majestic – Detroit, MI
Aug. 26 – Agora Theatre and Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
Tickets HERE!
