As humans, we love repetition. Even if we know something is so bad for us, the fact that it’s familiar is better than the scary unknown. So we do the same things over and over until one day we take that leap of faith and try something new. The bright side is that there’s always the possibility for development; with that, life can never be boring. Philly’s Queen of Jeans have returned with their first new music since their great 2024 album All Again, with new single “Still Learning” to remind us that change has never been easy.
Where they from?
Philadelphia, PA. I’ve been sort of, kind of, following the World Cup, and by that I mean I bet $1 on whoever the underdog is and hope they win. I don’t watch the actual game, I just monitor it through the betting app as I rewatch WWII documentaries on Hulu. It’s not much, but it’s an honest day’s work.
Why the hype?
CREEPY CRAWLERS! Remember that play kit from the 1990s or am I dating myself here? You would put this weird ass gelatinous goo in a metal tray and cook it until it became hard. That’s kind of what this band reminds me of. Gelatin-like bursts of groovy goregrind with pitch-shifted vocals that sound like a german shepherd passing a kidney stone. Oh, and the oompa beats? They are ubiquitous and quite tasteful. Love me an oompa beat.
Latest release? Split w/ Posthumous Regurgitation, Headsplit. This shit sounds like it was recorded in a dungeon in West Philly, far enough away from Drexel so none of their hipster-influence could spoil the ignorant manifestations of these true goregrinders. And for all we know, it was. Oh look at that, Cape Verde almost won me $17. ALMOST!
French black metal force DARK PLAGUE is proud to announce that their new album “Masquerade” will be released on the 7th of August via Fetzner Death Records. Composed of 8 tracks for over 40 minutes of musical experience, “Masquerade” is available as digipak, cassette, and digital. You can have a foretaste of what you might expect from the album with the song “Modern Lament,” available as a lyric video […]
Michigan melodic death metal veterans The Black Dahlia Murder have officially broken the silence on their next massive international cycle, unrolling the blueprints for a staggering 2027 European headlining tour titled “Two Decades Of Nocturnal”. The monumental trek is engineered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their genre-defining 2007 masterpiece, Nocturnal, marking a triumphant milestone for a band that refused to let sudden, heartbreaking tragedy destroy their vital musical legacy.
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THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER: “NOCTURNAL” HISTORICAL MATRIX
Resurrecting a Masterpiece: The 20-Year Legacy of Nocturnal
Originally unleashed upon the extreme music landscape on September 18, 2007, through Metal Blade Records, Nocturnal stands as an undisputed, monumentally influential pillar of 21st-century American metal. Recorded under the clinical direction of Eric Rachel at Trax East and mixed by Jason Suecof at Audiohammer, the record completely bypassed mainstream sonic trends to debut at an impressive No. 72 on the Billboard 200.
The album’s vicious combination of flesh-searing riffs, technical neo-classical guitar solos, and disgustingly poetic lyricism rapidly garnered critical acclaim across Europe, earning the band Metal Hammer’s Golden Gods Award for “Best Underground Band”.
Two decades later, current frontman Brian Eschbach is prepared to push those foundational tracks back to the live arena, confirming that the upcoming winter setlists will pull heavily from the historic third full-length album alongside traditional catalog favorites.
Forged from Loss: Continuing the Mission After Tragedy
The announcement of the anniversary tour carries immense emotional weight, given the existential hurdles the Waterford, Michigan outfit has had to conquer. The heartbreaking passing of beloved co-founder and iconic lyricist Trevor Strnad in 2022 threatened to permanently end the group’s run. Instead of folding, the remaining members chose to honor Strnad’s towering legacy by executing a brave internal restructuring. Eschbach laid down his guitar to assume the role of lead vocalist, leading directly to their critically adored tenth studio album, Servitude, in September 2024.
European metal media outlets like Kerrang! and Distorted Sound universally lauded the transition, noting that Eschbach steps into the spotlight as a commanding, venomous presence that avoids feeling like a hollow recreation of his fallen friend. Backed by the elite addition of technical guitar virtuoso Wes Hauch (Alluvial, ex-The Faceless), the group returns to Europe functioning at the absolute peak of their technical powers.
The Complete 2027 “Two Decades Of Nocturnal” European Itinerary
The exhaustive headlining run will see the band cross through Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, France, and beyond. Every verified stop of the winter commemorative tour is listed below:
FAQ: The Black Dahlia Murder ‘Nocturnal’ 2027 Tour
What is the focus of the “Two Decades Of Nocturnal” tour? The headline tour celebrates the 20th anniversary of the band’s landmark 2007 extreme metal classic Nocturnal, featuring setlists packed with tracks from that specific record.
Who is singing for The Black Dahlia Murder on this tour? Co-founder Brian Eschbach will handle all lead vocals, continuing his role as frontman following the tragic passing of Trevor Strnad in 2022.
Is guitarist Wes Hauch a permanent member of the band? Yes, the acclaimed guitarist has officially joined the lineup full-time, reinforcing the group’s signature dual-guitar extreme metal attack.
The Tour: The Black Dahlia Murder has announced a massive 2027 European headlining tour named “Two Decades Of Nocturnal”.
The Hook: The setlists will draw heavily from their legendary 2007 melodic death metal masterpiece Nocturnal to honor its 20th anniversary.
The Resilience: This marks a major milestone for the band as they continue to honor late vocalist Trevor Strnad under the vocal leadership of Brian Eschbach.
The Roster: The tour showcases their current razor-sharp lineup, complete with elite shredder Wes Hauch locking down guitar duties.
The anniversary routing is official, the tracking logs are set, and one of the finest death metal bands on earth is ready to claim absolute dominion over the European winter landscape.
What is your honest assessment of the “Two Decades Of Nocturnal” tour announcement? Do you believe Nocturnal stands as the absolute greatest melodic death metal album ever forged on American soil, and which specific deep-cut tracking track are you hoping Brian Eschbach unearths live on stage? Sound off with your ticket strategies, record rankings, and commentary in the comments section below!
Billy Strings stays busy. Despite suffering a broken leg in April while skateboarding on tour, the bluegrass superstar still has a bunch of shows coming up this summer and fall, including his own hometown music festival Ionia Freak Fair, which boasts a metal stage alongside all the twangy, rootsy, jammy stuff. The fest is going down Aug. 28-29 in Ionia, Michigan, and now we know it will coincide with the release of a new Billy Strings album.
(Today we present Comrade Aleks’ interview of Spyros, aka Declwa, guitarist/bassist for the UK band Unmother, whose second album was released in February of this year and was reviewed by us here.) The second album of London-based project Unmother, State Dependent Memory, depicts a disturbing urban atmosphere of isolation and unsafety in post-black metal tones. […]
Tampa Death Fest returns to the legendary Brass Mug for its 8th annual edition on September 4th and 5th, 2026, delivering one of the strongest underground death‑metal weekends […]
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