The Black Dahlia Murder, one of the most critically acclaimed and enduring bands in American extreme metal, is gearing up for a special tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their landmark album, 'Nocturnal'. This European headline tour, titled 'Two Decades Of Nocturnal', will see the band perform a special set drawing heavily from the 2007 album, alongside fan favorites spanning their entire catalog. The tour is a testament to the band's enduring legacy and their ability to push the boundaries of melodic death metal with an intensity and craft that resonates far beyond American shores.
The tour is a significant moment for the band, as it comes on the heels of the passing of beloved co-founder and vocalist Trevor Strnad in 2022. The remaining members, led by co-founder Brian Eschbach, who stepped into the vocalist role, chose to honor Trevor's legacy by carrying the band forward. Their tenth studio album, 'Servitude', released in September 2024, marked Eschbach's recorded debut as lead vocalist and lyricist and was met with near-universal critical acclaim across Europe and beyond.
The tour will see the band perform at some of the continent's most prestigious festivals, including Download (U.K.), Graspop Metal Meeting (Belgium), Hellfest (France), Wacken Open Air (Germany), Brutal Assault (Czech Republic), Party San Open Air (Germany), Alcatraz Metal Festival (Belgium), and Bloodstock Open Air (England). The band's return to European stages in 2024 is a significant moment, as it marks their first tour since 2019 and their first headline tour since 'Spring Fling 2026'.
The tour is a celebration of the band's enduring legacy and their ability to push the boundaries of melodic death metal. The special set will feature a great deal of material off the band's third release, 'Nocturnal', which remains widely regarded as the gold standard of modern U.S. melodic death metal and one of the most important extreme metal records of the 21st century. The album's visceral combination of flesh-searing riffage, mind-bending guitar solos, and disgustingly poetic lyricism pushed the boundaries of melodic death metal with an intensity and craft that resonated far beyond American shores.
The tour is a significant moment for the band, as it marks a new era led by Eschbach, who stepped into the vocalist role following the passing of Trevor Strnad. With acclaimed guitarist Wes Hauch now a full member of the lineup, The Black Dahlia Murder continues to build on a legacy that remains as vital and uncompromising as ever. The band's current lineup includes Brian Eschbach on vocals, Ryan Knight on guitar, Wes Hauch on guitar, Max Lavelle on bass, and Alan Cassidy on drums.
