Out of the nine studio albums they have released to date, the last eight have charted on the U.S. Billboard 200, with their fifth album Ritual peaking at No. 31 in 2011, marking them as one of the most popular contemporary American extreme metal bands. Their ninth and latest album Verminous was released on April 17, 2020.
Current Line-Up:
Brian Eschbach â lead vocals (2022âpresent), rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2001â2022)
Ryan Knight â rhythm guitar (2022âpresent), lead guitar (2009â2016)
Max Lavelle â bass (2012âpresent)
Alan Cassidy â drums (2012âpresent)
Brandon Ellis â lead guitar, backing vocals (2016âpresent)
The Black Dahlia Murder began its inception during late 2000 and gained the final band lineup in January 2001. The group released their demo entitled "What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse", and a four-track EP, "A Cold-Blooded Epitaph", the latter of which the group released on Lovelost Records. After appearing in concerts such as the Milwaukee Metal Fest, The Black Dahlia Murder signed to Metal Blade Records in 2003.
Bassist Ryan "Bart" Williams left his former band, Detroit's Today I Wait, to tour with the Black Dahlia Murder. After touring with the band on their co-headlining gig with Throwdown and their European dates with Liar, he joined the group full-time, replacing former bassist David Lock. Frontman Trevor Strnad said that Lock was fired for incompetency. Williams was one of two engineers (the other being Walls of Jericho's Mike Hasty) on the band's first full-length album, "Unhallowed". The band then went on a tour in late 2004 supporting Unearth alongside with Terror and Remembering Never throughout the United States.
The band's second album "Miasma" was released on July 12, 2005, and peaked at No. 118 on the Billboard 200. After touring for "Miasma", drummer Zach Gibson left the band along with Pierre Langlois. While Gibson went on to join Abigail Williams, Langlois left the band for a more secure lifestyle, and the band finished their search for a replacement drummer when they found former All That Remains drummer, Shannon Lucas.
Their third album, entitled "Nocturnal", was released on September 18, 2007. The album debuted at No. 72 on the Billboard 200. Their longtime lead guitarist, John Kempainen left the band and was replaced by Ryan Knight during the beginning of 2009. In May 2009, The Black Dahlia Murder released their first DVD, "Majesty". The DVD contains a documentary and live footage from the Summer Slaughter tour and their tour supporting Children of Bodom in late 2008. The DVD also contains all of their music videos and behind the scenes footage.
The Black Dahlia Murder released Deflorate on September 15, 2009, via Metal Blade Records. The album sold 12,000 copies in the United States in the first week of the release, debuted at position No. 43 Billboard's Top 200 charts, No. 5 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart, No. 4 on Billboard's Top Hard Music Albums chart, and No. 50 on HITS Top 50 Albums chart. They toured with Children of Bodom and Skeletonwitch in support of the album. After their 2010 headlining tour with Goatwhore and Arkaik, the band began writing and recording their next full-length album.
In February 2011, The Black Dahlia Murder completed the songwriting process for their fifth studio album, entitled "Ritual". It was released on June 21, 2011, in North America.
In April 2012 during the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival on the first night performance, Trevor Strnad officially welcomed new bassist Max Lavelle into the band after former bassist Ryan Williams parted ways. On November 7, Shannon Lucas announced via a YouTube video that he would be stepping down as drummer of The Black Dahlia Murder to pursue other aspirations. Alan Cassidy of Abigail Williams filled in for Shannon's touring duties.
In early 2013, despite the news of the departure of two band members (drummer Shannon Lucas and bassist Bart Williams), plans were announced for an upcoming album release, to be entitled "Everblack". Tentative plans estimated its release to be early summer 2013; likely June. On April 10, 2013, the iTunes Store was updated with official release and availability information, including cover art, a full track listing, and an official U.S. release date of June 11, 2013. The album has 10 tracks in total. On the same day, the band's first single from "Everblack" was made available for purchase and download, titled "Into The Everblack". The album itself was then released on June 11 and peaked at No. 32 on the U.S. Billboard 200.
On November 28, 2014, The Black Dahlia Murder released a 7" EP titled Grind 'Em All featuring 3 short grindcore covers of punk rock songs: a cover of "Ripped Up" by Left for Dead, of "Rebel Without a Car" by Sedition and of "Populous" by Gyga. The covers were originally recorded almost 10 years earlier during the era of "Miasma". The EP was released as part of Record Store Day's Black Friday event via A389 Recordings (rather than the band's label, Metal Blade Records), made available for purchase on the band's online merchandise store and also streamed in its entirety via Exclaim!. The album art for Grind 'Em All was designed by Szymon Siech.
Lead guitarist Ryan Knight confirmed in early 2015 that the band will deliver a seventh studio release that year, followed by extensive touring, and that he is planning to start working on a solo album afterwards. Vocalist Trevor Strnad stated that the band's new album, titled "Abysmal", will be "more raw and natural sounding" and feature "more dynamic and developed songs" than their previous work. "Vlad, Son of the Dragon", the first song from the album, was released online on June 24, followed by "Receipt" on July 22 and "Threat Level No. 3" on August 19. "Abysmal" was produced by Mark Lewis and Ryan Williams and released worldwide through Metal Blade on September 18.In early February 2016, it was announced that Knight had left the band. He was replaced on lead guitar by Brandon Ellis of Arsis.
The band's 8th album "Nightbringers" was released on October 6, 2017, to critical and commercial acclaim, charting at 35 on the Billboard 200.
The Black Dahlia Murder released their ninth studio album, "Verminous", on April 17, 2020.
On May 11, 2022, it was announced that the band's frontman Trevor Strnad had died. While no official cause of death has been given, the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline was provided at the end of the statement.
On September 14, 2022, The Black Dahlia Murder announced a tribute concert taking place for Trevor Strnad on October 28 at Saint Andrew's Hall in Detroit, Michigan, supported by Darkest Hour and Plague Years. It was also announced that Brian Eschbach will be stepping down from guitar and taking over as lead vocalist as he states in an interview with Decibel Magazine; "I know Trevor would keep this band going if I went down a deep, dark path and werenât here.". In Brian's place, Ryan Knight will be returning to the band as the rhythm guitarist.
Goat of Departure
The Black Dahlia Murder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Antithesis of their ivory Christian chains
Fearful thee ovis their weakened hearts and minds
We are the satyrs of hedonistic kind
Less travelled is our path
Laid darkly to the left
Footprint of Mendes emblazoning our armored breast
A tribute to your magnificence the feared sign of the horns shows on our hands
Azazel the damned ibex
Swath of scarlet ties his neck
To the desert banished yet
Our curse lives on
Embrace the glory the goat
Worship the one who burns below
Heretic liberation of the soul
Dispel their false salvation as a whole
Misunderstood our lord
Preserver of the horde
Footprint of Mendes enchants our angel cleaving swords
O silvered Capra taught us to fear no man
In your honor we have gathered strength to rid their aging falsehoods from this land
Weâll fight their kingdom high
The burdened scapegoat cast aside
Like he has we shall too survive
Melding our powers undenied
Order of Ebon we are his righteous blade
Reich of satanic rule the iron might of Baphomet
Bringers of chaos we are an antichrist
Swing spiked morning stars to crush his kingdom our delight
Danse ye now unto to the satyrs' lyre
Spring heeled devotion to hell's eternal fires
Instinctively to follow thine desire
We should ashamed not be preservation of the will is key
Embrace the glory the goat
Worship the one who burns below
Heretic liberation of the soul
Dispel their false salvation as a whole
Weâll fight their kingdom high
As the burdened scapegoat cast aside
Like he has we shall too survive
Melding our powers undenied
Goat of Departure is a Black Dahlia Murder song that talks about the rejection of the "ivory Christian chains" imposed by Christianity and the liberation of the soul through hedonistic satyr worship. In the song, the goat represents the satyrs who carry the shame of those who have chosen to live freely and indulge in their desires instead of conforming to the imposition of Christian morality. The satyrs are portrayed as followers of the Great bearded Capra who is a tribute to the magnificence of satyr culture and the feared sign of the satanic horns shows their devotion. The goat of departure is a symbol of the satyrs' rebellion against the oppressive dogma and their desire for self-preservation.
The lyrics showcase a sense of unity and loyalty among the satyr community, who have formed the Order of Ebon, a righteous blade against the kingdom of Christian rule. The satyrs' devotion to satanic worship is the antithesis of Christian salvation and is misunderstood by those who seek eternal life. The satyrs embrace their desire and resist the aging falsehoods of Christian morality to live freely under the guidance of their Great bearded Capra. By following their will, they achieve liberation of the soul and overcome the burden of being the scapegoats of society.
Line by Line Meaning
Goat of departure on his back rides their shame
We honor the goat who takes away their shame and guilt.
Antithesis of their ivory Christian chains
We are against the restrictive Christian beliefs and norms.
Fearful thee ovis their weakened hearts and minds
Their weak minds and hearts fear the goat who represents our freedom and hedonism.
We are the satyrs of hedonistic kind
We are the beings who enjoy pleasure and indulgence, like satyrs.
Less travelled is our path
Our way of life is unconventional and not followed by many.
Laid darkly to the left
Our path is obscured, not perceived by those stuck in the right-handed path of Christianity.
Footprint of Mendes emblazoning our armored breast
We bear the mark of Mendes, a powerful and imposing figure who symbolizes our strength and protection.
Great bearded Capra who towers oeâer the land
We worship the mighty Capra, who represents the primordial forces of nature and wilderness.
A tribute to your magnificence the feared sign of the horns shows on our hands
We bear the sign of the horns as a tribute to the Capra's greatness and as a symbol of our defiance.
Azazel the damned ibex
We honor the cursed ibex Azazel, who represents our rebellion and independence.
Swath of scarlet ties his neck
Azazel bears the mark of his sin and punishment, which we embrace as a symbol of our courage and determination.
To the desert banished yet
Azazel was sent away to the desert, but his spirit and legacy lives on.
Our curse lives on
We follow Azazel's footsteps and curse the established norms and authorities that suppress our freedom and joy.
Embrace the glory the goat
We celebrate our identity as followers of the goat, who embodies our thirst for pleasure and experience.
Worship the one who burns below
We honor the underworld forces that challenge the rule of the heavens and offer us liberation and power.
Heretic liberation of the soul
Our way of life and beliefs liberate us from the constraints of the orthodox religion and morality.
Dispel their false salvation as a whole
We reject the Christian notion of salvation and expose its hypocrisy and falsehood.
Misunderstood our lord
Our god or lord, the goat, is misunderstood and misrepresented by the ignorant and biased followers of the Christian faith.
Preserver of the horde
The goat protects and cherishes our community and values, which are threatened by the dominant culture and authority.
Footprint of Mendes enchants our angel cleaving swords
We use the magic and power of Mendes to fight against the Christian angels and their oppressive rule.
O silvered Capra taught us to fear no man
The Capra inspires us to be fearless and defiant in the face of authority and conformity.
In your honor we have gathered strength to rid their aging falsehoods from this land
We fight against the outdated and corrupt norms and beliefs of the oppressive culture, in the honor of the Capra and our values.
Weâll fight their kingdom high
We challenge the hierarchies and structures of power that keep us down and limit our potential.
The burdened scapegoat cast aside
Like the scapegoat, we reject the guilt and punishment that are forced upon us by the dominant culture.
Like he has we shall too survive
We overcome the challenges and dangers that come with our defiance and uniqueness.
Melding our powers undenied
We combine our strengths and potentials to create a powerful force for change and liberation.
Order of Ebon we are his righteous blade
We are the loyal servants and protectors of the goat, who embodies our values and goals.
Reich of satanic rule the iron might of Baphomet
We envision a society ruled by the principles of the goat and the satanic forces, which represent our freedom and independence.
Bringers of chaos we are an antichrist
Our rejection of the dominant culture and its norms creates chaos and disorder, which we embrace as a way to challenge and change the status quo.
Swing spiked morning stars to crush his kingdom our delight
We fight against the Christian kingdom and its oppressive rule with enthusiasm and pleasure, using our weapons of rebellion and defiance.
Danse ye now unto to the satyrs' lyre
We celebrate our identity and values with music and dance, inspired by the playful and sensual satyrs.
Spring heeled devotion to hell's eternal fires
We devote ourselves to the forces of the underworld and the hellish flames, which embody our values of freedom, pleasure, and rebellion.
Instinctively to follow thine desire
We trust our instincts and passions, which guide us towards our true selves and our goals.
We should ashamed not be preservation of the will is key
We reject the shame and guilt that come with our lifestyle and choices, and embrace the preservation of our willpower as the key to our success and happiness.
Lyrics Š BUG MUSIC
Written by: Brian Eschbach, John Kempainen, Ryan Williams, Shannon Lucas, Trevor Strnad
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter G
The lyrics are written so poetically. Trevor has got to be my favorite lyricist.
nowimhigh
All hail Azazel, this song is about the old Jewish ritial of a lot chosing two Goats. One to be sacrificed for their God, the one would be sent out to the wilderness know as The Goat of Departure aka the scapegoat. It became one of the holiest days known as Yom Kippur sort of similar to Muslims with Ramadan, except it last for a wkend instead of a month. Its when they make their atonement for all of mans sins for their God.
So I guess God changed his mind and decided to recreate himself as a Man. Where he experiences what it was like to be human. What the Fallen Angels were essentially trying to tell him.
Anyways there's a very good book that I enjoyed thats part of her Vampire Chronicles series. About the adventures of the Vampire Lestat title Memnoch The Devil.
Its basically about the same thing. About why the Devil rebelled and his relationship with God. Its an interesting twist of Jewish and well all Abrahamic Myths essentially since both Islam and Christianity are rooted in Judaism.
Kay Perry
- Reich of satanic rule the iron might of Baphomet -
Gyles Doolan
Lyrics that havr been expressed in their songs, I would've never have fathomed as words. This band has opened me up down the path of expanding my vocabulary ten fold. I love TDM!
Bring me Peter pan
I know right, probably some of the best lyrics I've ever seen. The stories he manages to tell in 4 minutes is amazing.
SebbeLorĂŠn
amazing how this band still sounds good. For the fact that they change members more than they change drumsticks.
Gandalf Grey
@painfuldeath This dude was from Despised Icon so he's cool
Michael Hall
@Jason Archdeacon
Fu
LSgaming420
@Kozmo617 agree ryan could play so damn well and was funny on their dvd when he got drunk
Kozmo617
Just drummers. And bassists. And lead guitarists.
Still theyâre one of my favorites. Brandon is killing it right now but Ryan will always be my favorite. They have had some amazing musicians in the band.