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The Black Dahlia Murder is an American melodic death metal band from Waterford, Michigan, formed in 2001. Their name is derived from the 1947 unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, often referred to as Black Dahlia. Currently, the band consists of lead vocalist Brian Eschbach, bassist Max Lavelle, drummer Alan Cassidy, and guitarists Brandon Ellis and Ryan Knight. The Black Dahlia Murder has undergone various lineup changes, with Trevor Strnad and Eschbach remaining the only constant members Read more on Last.fm
I am a sucker for the kind of teeth rattling dirges that groups like TBDM dish out. Call it an anger release or a love of intricate musicianship, but I crave the energy and the sort of visceral lyrical content they bring to the table. It’s an adrenaline rush for me. The song craft here is up to the task of maybe winning second or third best on my list of excellent metal offerings this year. Vocally, these guys are polarized. But you’re talking to guy who gives high grades to Cannibal Corpse, so I’m not easily deterred. I’ll go ahead and say Ritual is gonna be on repeat in my car for the next few months.
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I give TBDM an honest chance with every album, and I usually end up annoyed that I don’t like their take on melodic death and also can’t get past their vocalist’s style. With ‘Ritual’, I can finally say that the structure and execution are interesting enough to ignore the high-pitched frontman. It’s everything I loved about All That Remains’s “This Darkened Heart”: great guitar work, interesting songwriting, and diverse songs. Everything tips the hat to traditional melodic metal but manages to stay modern.