The Black Dahlia Murder announced that the band will continue on in the wake of the passing of their frontman, Trevor Strnad. Verminous marked Trevor Strnad’s final album with the band, but TBDM will continue to honor Strnad’s legacy in the best way they know how – by making music and playing it. Guitarist and founding member Brian Eschbach will become the new vocalist.
Strnad’s legacy will be known not just for his talent as a vocalist, but also for his constant promotion and love of heavy music. This wasn’t limited to bigger bands, of course – it especially involved his love and discovery of relatively unknown acts.
As noted in a recent Decibel interview + feature, The Black Dahlia Murder are full-time musicians who make their living both in the studio and on the road. As Eschbach noted in said interview:
“We spent many days thinking things like, ‘Is this over?’” Eschbach tells Decibel. “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.”
While we don’t quite know what the future holds for the band’s new music, we do know that it’s certainly what Strnad would want.
