The Black Dahlia Murder - Everblack

Published June 17 2013

*=Staff's pick	In Hell Is Where She Waits For Me* Goat Of Departure Into The Everblack Raped In Hatred By Vines Of Thorn* Phantom Limb Masturbation Control Blood Mine Every Rope A Noose* Their Beloved Absentee Map Of Scars

Genre	Melodic Death Metal	Trevor Strnad	Vocals
Tracks	10	Brian Eschbach	Guitar
Running time	43 Min.	Ryan Knight	Guitar
Label	Metal Blade	Max Lavelle	Bass
Release	11 June 2013	Alan Cassidy	Drums
Country	USA	-	Keyboard
Producer	Ryan Williams
Similar artists	Arsis, At The Gates

When Shannon Lucas left The Black Dahlia Murder I guess there were at least a few who gasped for breath. I know I did. The drummer's style and lovely danceable pummeling of the drums was one thing I thoroughly enjoyed in the past.

In retrospect I feel that I was worried for nothing as the band has found a replacement in Alan Cassidy, who with full dignity and lashing speed continues the more than blasphemously groovy way this band executes their music.

Everblack is the sixth full-length album and after 2011's more than excellent Ritual my expectations were high. And I can't say that I'm disappointed. If, on the one hand, one enjoys large leaps in a band's musical development one could argue that there's not very much happening on this front in regards to The Black Dahlia Murder's music. For those of us that are satisfied with the band taking miniscule steps in refining their musical formula, Everblack is a very good record.

In spite of being a relatively extreme band, The Black Dahlia Murder has always had a solid groove in their music - this being the case on Everblack as well. Raped In Hatred By Vines Of Thorn (by far the most constructed songtitle on the record) has a nice bounce to it that I really enjoy. Opener In Hell Is Where She Waits For Me delivers a solid bashing that I, yep!, very much appreciate. In Every Rope A Noose the band delves into an almost desperate tone over which Trevor Strnad - this vocal equilibrist - once again shows that his vocal cords are of the finest quality in a disturbingly eloquent demonstration throughout the record.

And I'll be darned if the guitarist Ryan Knight and Brian Eschbach hasn't tapped into the inspirational jar as the solos really showcases just how good these guys are.

The Black Dahlia Murder shows on Everblack that the good form that the band's been showing off since Deflorate from 2009 seems to be intact with force.