Since forming in 2001, The Black Dahlia Murder have committed to raising the profile of melodic death metal in heavy-music circles. Anchored by a pair of cofounding members, vocalist Trevor Strnad and guitarist Brian Eschbach, the Michigan band signed to Metal Blade in 2003 and released their debut album, Unhallowed, that same year. Their breakthrough came in 2007 with Nocturnal, which featured the bruising “What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse” and “Everything Went Black,” both of which feature Strnad’s dynamic, scream-to-bellow vocal approach. The Black Dahlia Murder’s profile soared in the coming years, thanks to the strength of the songwriting on albums such as 2013’s Everblack and a packed touring schedule. The band released the well-received Verminous in 2020 but suffered a terrible loss after Strnad passed away unexpectedly in 2022.