The Black Dahlia Murder

The Black Dahlia Murder are an American melodic death metal band formed in 2001 in Waterford, Michigan, taking their name from the unsolved 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short. Fronted for over two decades by vocalist Trevor Strnad, the band became one of the most consistent and influential acts in American extreme metal, blending harmonized twin-guitar leads in the Gothenburg melodic death metal tradition (At the Gates, In Flames) with blast-beat-driven American technicality and Strnad's distinctive shrieked vocals.

Releasing albums at a steady pace since their 2003 debut Unhallowed, the band built a reputation through relentless touring and records such as Nocturnal, Ritual, and Everblack, which brought them into the upper tier of the American death metal scene, sharing festival bills like Ozzfest and Mayhem Fest. Songs including «Nocturnal» and «Deathmask Divine» are considered genre highlights.

The band suffered a profound loss with the death of Trevor Strnad in 2022, prompting an outpouring from the extreme metal community that underscored his influence as both a vocalist and a beloved figure in the scene. The surviving members continued the band's legacy, with guitarist Brian Eschbach later stepping into vocal duties, carrying forward the group's melodic death metal tradition.