Although this picture is the only thing released on the subject, it's pretty apparent we have a new BDM album on our hands. I'd love to start speculating about the album.

The name suggests there aren't really going to be deviations in their sound. I think it will be another quintessentially Black Dahlia album with their sense of ever-improving songwriting ability. The name also just gives me a Nocturnal vibe. Perhaps we'll see a return to the Castlevania-esque blackened Swedeath imagery of Nocturnal.

I was hoping after Ritual they'd o in a ore direction kind of like Exhumed and have a red album cover and attempt a more patholoical take on horror. Oh well, maye next alum.

Bro, I am so excited. One of my top 3 favourite bands. I'm one of the few who thinks they keep getting better and better (Deflorate was a slight step down in some songs, but also contained some of their best songs ever).Black Valor, Denounced Disgraced, I Will Return). Ritual was all around amazing, showed a clear progression as usual and was very well received by people who used to throw criticisms at them (inaccurate ones like calling them metalcore). The soloing just gets better and better too, as do the lyrics and riffs. The only thing I'm holding back on being fully ecstatic about are the new drummer and bassist. I'm under the impression that Brian writes most of the music, but their old bassist contributed quite a bit. Also, I really don't think you can comment on the cover. It's clearly just a placeholder, nigga.

I know. But I think it's a good indicator of the color scheme that will be used.

Or, you know, the fact that it's called EVERBLACK

Good to know this. I loved Ritual (first record by the band that I actually could get into), and if this follows the same path while adding a few progressions, then I'll most certainly be pleased. Very anxious to see what kind of lyrics Trevor comes up with next too. Yeah, I don't like most of TBDM's material, but I always found his lyrical skills to be very impressive, and I think that even strong detractors of the band would have a hard time criticizing the man's writing.

Unhallowed = good
Miasma = eh
Nocturnal = good
Deflorate = eh
Ritual = good

Logically this means I anticipate Everblack to be eh.

I need to go listen to Ritual in full... People who disliked the band were saying positive things about it, and the few songs I heard off of it were really good, but for whatever reason I never listened to the whole album. Interested in this new album for sure.

Do it. Do it now. It's an excellent album.

This is so true and so obvious that I cannot believe I didn't notice sooner. My expectations have been appropriately lowered in light of this conclusion.

The big problem I've always had with Deflorate is that it's way too short. The songs on it are generally pretty good and Ryan Knight's lead work is excellent, but many of the songs go by way too fast, like Death Panorama. The song is technically just under 2 minutes, but the last 30 seconds or so of it is just guitar feedback, meaning that the song is really only about 1:20. Ritual was a whole lot better when it came to song lengths and general pacing.

At the very least, Deflorate had "I Will Return", which is just a fucking beast of a track. Most of the other ones I can't really recall from memory. It's not bad really, but it's just totally forgettable and a huge disappointment after how much I loved Nocturnal.

Deflorate has Black Valor, Necropolis, and I Will Return, which are some of Black Dahlia's overall best songs IMO. The rest of the album is just really blah and like a bunch of Nocturnal b-sides.

Those are the other two songs I'd point out as being good, but that's probably because they're at the beginning of the album.

Deflorate had A Selection Unnatural as a kick ass short song. Just kick ass compact death metal.

Why is it called 'Everblack'? =/ I shall revisit 'Ritual' and 'Deflorate' to remember how their sound has changed. 'Unhallowed' is still a record I listen to quite often till today.

I'm stoked for Everblack. After having owned Miasma since it's release (bought it at show BDM was opening and they didn't really impress me that much) I recently gave them another try and enjoyed Miasma more than before. Then I listened to both Nocturnal and Ritual after hearing nothing but good about both releases.

I must say that these guys have really improved album by album and play some of the sickest tremolo riffs I have heard in a long time for a newer band, but definitely with a modern flavor, but sick none the less. Actually even Miasma is a good record as well, except for the out there cover art (probably a major turnoff for some, including me). I think their image was a major turn off to me at first. I have read somewhere that Trevor Strnad mentions that people think they are a "core" because of how they look and that people need to get past that and listen to the music. I have to agree.

Pretty stoked, but I'm skeptical about the new drummer. I love Shannon Lucas.

I'd really like to see one or two more songs in the vein of Carbonized in Cruciform (my favorite song off Ritual). They can seriously pull off some awesome Dissection worship when it comes to melodies and tremolo picking. I also wonder what the new album cover will look like, as Ritual's was pretty cool, and it'll be hard to top it.

Ha, just read the news about Everblack over at Blabbermouth and sure enough the discussion is well underway here...Anyway, I am cautiously optimistic about the new one. For me, they haven't ever done anything wrong, but I have been noticing that they perhaps are burning themselves out a bit releasing stuff so often and touring non stop. That would probably explain their constant line up issues. My fave album from them is Miasma. I responded to your post because I notice that many didn't like this album or it's cover. Im the complete opposite. I loved Zach's drumming on Miasma, the riffs, the subject matter, the production, and the cover art. It's one of the few death metal albums that doesn't boringly focus on demons/devil/gore. Dave Goes To Hollywood slays.

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Agreed. That song is sinister as hell, and I'm hoping they deliver more tracks in that "blackened" vein. I also loved the grinding madness of "Den of the Picquerist". Trevor posts a whole shitload of relatively obscure black metal, grind and death metal (much of which I'd imagine some of their fanbase thinks is "weird" or "too heavy, bro") via their FB page, so I wouldn't be surprised if they continue to further remove themselves from whatever sound that stigmatized them as -core in the past. I'm looking forward to the new album.

Yeah, the guys in TBDM (or at least Trevor) are into underground extreme metal by the fuckton, so I wouldn't be surprised to see more and more influences creeping into their sound.

I was actually thinking about this before I even read your post. Ritual was pretty damn good, it would be shame once again to release a meh album after it.

I definitely agree that Miasma is a killer record, accidently rediscovering it after simply shelving it the first time, was a real treat. Actually I was boxing up my music collection during a move and left it out, along with a few other CDs that weren't considered "essential" just to listen to while packing and Miasma blew me away. Maybe it was a case of Stockholm syndrome. Hahaha. Just kidding I have enjoyed it ever since and liked both Ritual and Nocturnal, which I bought shortly thereafter. Miasma is still in the top 2 for me from TBDM. Still can't get past the strange cover though. Just created a weird vibe that really doesn't fit the music. I mean what is going on here. A pic of New York New York Casino in Vegas, that does not really do the music inside justice IMO. Sorta weirdly cool now, but looking back I was like wtf. Anyone know the reasoning behind this. I know the layout was designed by Trevor, so I doubt he simply picked it for no reason.

The cover I believe is to signify the symbolism of Vegas with Sin. The whole album deals with topics such as addiction, betrayal, and madness. I think the cover is perfectly fitting.

Makes perfect sense. Thanks FJ.

haven't caught up with this band since the lackluster Miasma, but anyone else feel like name screams mall goth poetry?

You mean as opposed to a name like Headless420?

Huh, I wonder if they've ever heard of the Mercenary album of the same name.

I was thinking the exact same thing. Oddly enough, I'm listening to it now as I first read of this news.

Deflorate was the only album that really did anything for me, gave me the impression that TBDM didn't suck. I've found all the other albums average and forgettable. I felt the short nature of the songs really benefited TBDM tremendously because the songs were direct and to the point, way more powerful in general. The newest one was such a let down after all the hype and praise, it mostly sounds like a b-sides collection where even the solos are tired and predictable, like they rushed the writing process.

The self-referential album title actually does have me kindof worried. Gives me the idea that they're about to start playing death n roll or some sort of equally lame watered down style. I can just imagine some terribly goofy chorus "wooOOAAHHH FOREVAH EVAH BLAAAAAHHHCKCKKK"

Death n Roll is great when done right. Wolverine Blues = Proper death n roll. Graveyard Classics II = Why?

Im not really sure why but I feel like they will try to pull a unhallowed sound with this album

What a dumb album title...

I look forward to hearing it.

I thought Nocturnal, Deflorate and Ritual were all pretty good.

The album cover does give that impression, but I think we have a better chance of seeing a djenty TBDM than a return to the Unhallowed sound. Not that that would ever happen, I hope.

I don't think this is the actual album cover guys. Just a promo pic to show they have an album on the way. Given how in depth Ritual was with it's packaging I doubt they'd revert to a simple gradient for the next album.

http://www.metalblade.com/bdm/order.php

Looks like they've revealed the cover art (which is stellar, in my opinion), but they've also released the song "Into The Everblack". I'm not sure about how I feel about the track quite yet. I can't say with a good conscious that it's better than Ritual thus far, but I like it for sure. The track does introduce even more influences yet unseen, though, which is cool.

well that certainly sounds different. It sounds more brutal and not as melodic as say Nocturnal or Miasma. Sick stuff