The Black Dahlia Murder are almost done crisscrossing North America amidst a monster North American tour aptly titled “Spring Fling.” Promoting their recent album, 2024’s Servitude, while also honoring the band’s 25th anniversary, the fellas in The Black Dahlia Murder have crafted one of the most mouth-watering setlists ever conjured. Playing new gems like “Mammoth’s Hand” and “Aftermath” while going deep into their archives and unleashing a solid chunk of classics from 2005’s Miasma and 2007’s Nocturnal.

The metalcore titans in The Acacia Strain were decimating The House of Blues as we arrived. Members of the Los Angeles and Orange County hardcore scenes came out in droves to show their support and kept the energy level inside the venue ludicrously high for the evening’s headliners. Once the night-bringers themselves, The Black Dahlia Murder, hit the stage, all bets were off. The crowd, a healthy mix of young metal fanatics on the floor and seasoned veterans packed in like sardines across the cavernous House of Blues walkways, all began a long and entertaining night of ritualistic fist pumping, muscle flexing, and joyfully screaming aloud.

The Black Dahlia Murder are easily one of the tightest live bands in all of extreme metal. They sound so much like their albums in concert that one might forgive a newbie for thinking they might employ backing tracks for guitars and drums. No, the band are just that good and incredibly locked in, folks. Vocalist/ringleader Brian Eschbach has grown ever more comfortable in his position as frontman over the last few tours. After spending two decades on the side of the stage playing rhythm guitar, Eschbach now roams freely while screaming into his mic and interacting with fans.

This audience inside The House of Blues was one of the most excited batches of Black Dahlia Murder fans we’ve seen in some time. A killer tour package with your favorite band playing your favorite rare classics [“Warborn” followed by “Nocturnal” straight into “Miasma” is jaw-dropping stuff!] might have been a factor in their fans’ ravenous behavior. We’ll just have to wait for the next Black Dahlia Murder show here in Southern California and see if the frenzied streak continues.

The Black Dahlia Murder

 

The Acacia Strain