The Black Dahlia Murder have announced their new album, Servitude, and have dealt out “Aftermath,” the post-apocalyptic single that is the band’s first since the 2022 passing of vocalist Trevor Strnad.
Fans have had a taste of what Brian Eschbach, the band’s founding guitarist who has now taken up lead vocal duties, sounds like already. He did vocals on the Verminous bonus track “Their Thwarted Patience” and has been the frontman on a few tours already.
But now we have a look at the future, which includes guitarist Ryan Knight, who last contributed to 2015’s Abysmal.
“Aftermath” is a lean, three-minute ripper and it’s this quality that drove the melodic death metal icons to lead with.
“We wanted that one to be heard first because it’s one of the faster songs on the album, if not the fastest. We wanted that very aggressive Black Dahlia melodic death metal feel coming right at you,” Eschbach says. “Lyrically, it’s about a meteor that fucks up the whole planet, but there’s still people living. Kind of like The Walking Dead, but with no zombies—so you get right to how people deal with it. And by the end, they’re eating each other.”
The Black Dahlia Murder, “Aftermath”
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Fans React to “Aftermath”
Fans have been extremely supportive of The Black Dahlia Murder’s regrouping after the tragic death of Strnad. With Knight back in the band and Eschbach switching over to vocals, it keep things familiar.
“Everyone that’s in the band now is someone that Trevor and I searched for,” Eschbach adds. “We spent so much time on the road together that everyone understands the mission statement. We don’t really need to talk about it. We just need to make great music and try to make people happy playing it.”
The reactions have been exceptionally favorable, with many fans being moved emotionally, grateful that the band they love is in top form while also still dealing with the pain of loss that will naturally well up.
“More than pressures or expectations from the fanbase, I feel their trust and support,” adds guitarist Brandon Ellis, who joined in 2016.. “We’ve always done what we do for them, and they’ve appreciated our consistency over the years. The global outcry following Trevor’s passing has shown us how important the band’s music has been to so many people, and how important it is that we continue in his honor. Under all that weight, I think we all knew what needed to be done.”
Here’s what fans are saying.
Brian Eschbach on Writing Lyrics for the Album
“I just had to lean into it hard,” Eschbach says of his new role in The Black Dahlia Murder. “Honestly, writing the lyrics for this album was easier for me than writing the music for the three songs that I wrote music for. I’d pick a subject, research it, and just kinda dive in. Even though it’s not something I’d really ever done before, there was a natural flow to it once I started.”
The Black Dahlia Murder, “Aftermath” Lyrics
So here we are
You thought you’d seen it all
Still amongst the living after the fall
The burning rock fell from the sky
Laid waste to old world most did die
Roaming the fire
Adapting to ash
Scavenging to survive
Time and pressure
Make us clash
Feeding off each other when we can
The decisions that we make
Beg the question “Are we still human?”Resources dwindle fast
Ill desperation haunts the land
Our morals crumble steadily
Sadly our souls deteriorate
We’ll soon expire
The threshold maxed
Arms in air some do cry
Why God have you turned blind eyeTo think you’ve seen the worst
Brutal truth shall surely hurt
Existence may be a gift
But ever entwined with suffering“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”
Fooling ourselves for how much longer?
Pushing ‘gainst nature’s grain
Kidding ourselves that we’re still sane
The shame
Endless pain
Living in aftermathOld world long gone
Those left the remnant insane
Carry onSobbing as they chew
Recent allies become food
Slowly mans flame dies out
No energy to shoutThis world once majestic
Our lost nobility
Taking eyes for eyes
What’s left of mankind
No longer sees
Feeding on each other while we can
The decisions that we’ve made
There’s no question, no longer humanTo think you’ve seen the worst
Brutal truth shall surely hurt
Existence may be a gift
But ever entwined with suffering“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”
Fooling ourselves for how much longer?
Pushing ‘gainst nature’s grain
Kidding ourselves that we’re still sane
The shame
Endless pain
Living in aftermath
READ MORE: The Black Dahlia Murder’s Brandon Ellis Plays His Favorite Riffs
When Does Servitude Come Out?
Servitude drops Sept. 27 on Metal Blade and you can pre-order the album at the label’s webstore.
View the album art and track listing below.
The Black Dahlia Murder, Servitude Album Art + Track Listing
01. “Evening Ephemeral”
02. “Panic Hysteric”
03. “Aftermath”
04. “Cursed Creator”
05. “An Intermission”
06. “Asserting Dominion”
07. “Servitude”
08. “Mammoth’s Hand”
09. “Transcosmic Blueprint”
10. “Utopia Black”
