Review by Saxy S for Black Dahlia Murder, The - Servitude (2024)

Amazing to think that this album even exists considering how important former vocalist Trevor Strnad was to the Black Dahlia Murder's songwriting process. However, that is not to say that the rest of band were not able to capture Trevor's essence inside Servitude and release a very solid album. This album still feels very comfortable in the melodic death metal ways, but the band isn't afraid to step outside of that steamy comfort and pull the string back for some slower, pummeling riffage on "Mammoth's Hand." The new vocal styling's of Brian Eschbach have a familiarity to them, while still sounding providing some original personality to the band in Trevor's stead. I wouldn't go so far as to call it essential listening since it is still the Black Dahlia Murder and finding variety in their music (and melodic death metal in general) can be a losing game. Compared to albums like Nocturnal and Ritual, even with a new vocalist, Servitude feels like status quo Black Dahlia Murder. Not that this is a bad thing; this band are still making quality, meat-and-potatoes melodic death metal in 2024 and I'm still giving this as good of a recommendation as I can. Think of this band's discography as comparable to Lamb of God; nothing new or innovative, but a top quality refinement of a niche.

Best Songs: Cursed Creator, Evening Ephemeral, Transcosmic Blueprint, Utopia Black