Earlier this year, vocalist Trevor Strnad of the Black Dahlia Murder tragically died at 41. Now, the Michigan melodeath group have announced plans to carry on without him.
Guitarist Brian Eschbach, a co-founder of the band, will take over vocal duties; he will be replaced on guitar by returning member Ryan Knight, who exited the band in 2016.
Eschbach told Decibel, "We spent many days thinking things like, 'Is this over?' None of us wanted it to be over. We still feel like there is a lot left to do. I know Trevor would keep this band going if I went down a deep, dark path and weren't here. It's bigger than us. When we finally started talking about it, we thought, 'Let's remake it from within and see if Ryan wants to return. And I'll take a crack on the vocals and see how it goes.' I can't go out there and do Trevor's voice or try to be him. I can only execute the music of the Black Dahlia Murder with respect and try to do it the most justice I can. I've heard Trevor perform more than anyone else alive."
The Black Dahlia Murder will apparently stick with the same style and themes they've always been known for.
Eschbach said, "It's always a challenge to write a new album, but it will be a different challenge this time to keep this legacy alive without Trevor. We aren't going to start writing a bunch of political songs. In the early days, we would always talk about horror comics. We wanted to tell dark and scary stories. That was the foundation of it, and will stay the same."
The new lineup will play a hometown show in Detroit at Saint Andrew's Hall on October 28 (for what's being called a "celebration of the life and legacy of Trevor Strnad"). They are considering touring in 2023, and are planning new material, but it sounds like those future plans are still in their formative stages.
Guitarist Brian Eschbach, a co-founder of the band, will take over vocal duties; he will be replaced on guitar by returning member Ryan Knight, who exited the band in 2016.
Eschbach told Decibel, "We spent many days thinking things like, 'Is this over?' None of us wanted it to be over. We still feel like there is a lot left to do. I know Trevor would keep this band going if I went down a deep, dark path and weren't here. It's bigger than us. When we finally started talking about it, we thought, 'Let's remake it from within and see if Ryan wants to return. And I'll take a crack on the vocals and see how it goes.' I can't go out there and do Trevor's voice or try to be him. I can only execute the music of the Black Dahlia Murder with respect and try to do it the most justice I can. I've heard Trevor perform more than anyone else alive."
The Black Dahlia Murder will apparently stick with the same style and themes they've always been known for.
Eschbach said, "It's always a challenge to write a new album, but it will be a different challenge this time to keep this legacy alive without Trevor. We aren't going to start writing a bunch of political songs. In the early days, we would always talk about horror comics. We wanted to tell dark and scary stories. That was the foundation of it, and will stay the same."
The new lineup will play a hometown show in Detroit at Saint Andrew's Hall on October 28 (for what's being called a "celebration of the life and legacy of Trevor Strnad"). They are considering touring in 2023, and are planning new material, but it sounds like those future plans are still in their formative stages.