Interview Trevor Strnad Black Dahlia Murder

Lineup: Trevor Strnad - Vocals Brian Eschbach - Guitar David Lock - Bass John Kempainen - Guitar Zack Gibson - Drummer

Suffocation BLACK DAHLIA MURDER Behemoth DevilInside Cattle Decapitation HOB 2/13/05 Interviewer: Sharita Lumpkin

"The new album is so tight and has so many intricacies it makes Unhallowed seem elementary."

Trevor described the name album as being evil and very personal, something the Unhallowed, the band's first release could only partially capture. Miasma however, will be a different beast that Trevor loves the hell out of and thinks that new drummer Zack Gibson has a lot to do with it. In this interview Trevor talks about his love for the band Carcass, his obsession with Megadeth, and the bands silly antics while waiting to play a show. They also relay a message to the good folks at their label Metal Blade. On an even lighter note, he speaks about his guilt for loving the Cardigans. Maybe hunger is distorting his brain because he was waiting to join his band mates in a delicious feast provided by the good ol' folks at the HOB. Read on to find out more about Black Dahlia Murder as told by Trevor Strnad!

Sharita: What inspires you to write songs?

Trevor: Well it might be a little different with the new album but traditionally, a lot of it is influenced by horror.  It's kind of old classic metal topics, you know? I like storytelling so, it will kind of always be part of the lyrics. I take my song writing very seriously and a lot of the bands that play our style are from the states so, we have kind of a different flavor, lyrically from those other bands. [A lot of it comes] from the classic horror stories and put my own spin on it, I guess. The new album is more personal kind of stuff but still evil. (laughs)

Sharita: Is there any particular story you have in mind, like Stephen King?

Trevor: I like Stephen King but his stuff is not too fearful. I like his books and the ideas he's had, [not really] the way he writes [books]. He revolutionized horror stories and he's one of the big writers [in the industry]. One of the songs on Unhallowed is kind of a confusing story by HP Lovecraft. Definitely like his style too, something I really couldn't grasp when I was younger. It's not about showing the monsters, it's the talk of their existence, so it seems more realistic. It definitely scared the hell out of me for a while so I wanted to work it into a song. Another answer to the previous question, some of the songs on Unhallowed are kind of stalker in nature. A lot of bands just try to shock you but, the stalker stories and the idea that someone's watching you will always be kind of scary because it's a real thing. We obviously have the fantasy lyrics about werewolves and stuff but that's what made that one so scary because it really could happen.

Sharita: I read about the changes in the band since you started from Michigan in 2001. Did these changes put pressure on you when you went to record Unhallowed? 

Trevor: I mean it was pressure but not environmentally. It is our first record for a label that we couldn't dream of being on, we just kind of did it on a whim. It was like well let's try some big labels too and lets see what happens. We sent out like thirty demos and twenty-nine of them came back rejected and they called last out of anyone, we thought it was a joke by that point. [However], with the lineup changes and stuff that was an early period and there's a lot of the band members we didn't talk about because we weren't touring at the time so a lot of it didn't exist on paper. It's kind of like it was part of our band [history] that no one cares to hear about.

I mean we had like six different bass players or something like that but not since the first EP. The lineup now is like a family and we take it very seriously and we're definitely friends first. I mean when we changed drummers, letting Cory (Grady) go and getting Zack (Gibson) was really hard. I mean we had become friends but he had become so hard to deal with and he wasn't playing as good as he should've been playing and it just kind of came to a boil. So we got lucky and got to know Zack, he's a younger than us but we knew he played in a couple of different bands around Detroit. We had him come try out a couple of different times and we’re like wow, there’s really hope for this band, we got Zack and kept movin’. We have a new record and I love the hell outta’ him, how he plays, and what he’s done to our band. [Meanwhile], Cory and I are friends and have reconciled because ultimately that’s what we wanted to be in the first place. He told me that he wanted the band to be gone than our friendship.

Sharita: So is Cory in another band now or is he not playing music?

Trevor: Yes, he plays with Premonitions of War, a band from Toledo not too far away from us. They’re one of our brother bands that we toured with when we first started out. They’re really cool guys and for him to be with them it just makes perfect sense. I mean, he got the late-altering shock that he’s got to take things a little more seriously and I heard he’s been doing well. I went to see them when they came out to Detroit. They are probably my favorite band that is still recording. For him to be in a band I really like is cool and I’m kind of jealous. (laughs) I have dreams I’m in Premonitions of War, they are so hard and I could just break stuff. (laughs) They’re cool guys, I know them, but the entity that is Premonitions of War is scary to me. One time I was drunk at a party where they were playin’ Premonitions of War and I headbanged into the ceiling, so know I have this huge scar on my eye in the name of Premonitions of War.

Sharita: How is the scene in Detroit?

Trevor: It’s a lot smaller scale in Detroit where national and international bands will come through. The underground scene has some bands with the screaming and gurglie voices, the really heavy and sick shit, but the kids get no exposure to it because there’s no record stores there that carry that kind of stuff. Unlike here, there are some all-metal stores here in Chicago so kids can find out about cool shit ya’ know? I mean, kids my age that were going to metal shows with me, I don’t see em’ anymore. They might have gone and played in other bands somewhere else but we been lucky because we didn’t play to anybody in Detroit for years. Four days before our record dropped, we played at this place and there was seriously like five people there. (laughs) I was like I can’t wait another day, we have to get out of this town.

Sharita: I was reading that the band is heavily influenced by Swedish death metal, At the Gates one of the really big bands and we actually interviewed The Haunted where they mentioned possibly getting back together…

Trevor: They always say that shit. (laughs) We actually played with them.

Sharita: Really? Tell us about that?

Trevor: It was an off-date where their tour kind of combined with our tour just for a show. We played with them once and I have a funny story behind that. Brian Slagel, the CEO from Metal Blade, flew out to see us after we were signed and we recorded Unhallowed. It was our first time in a bigger venue, we wanted to impress him so bad, and we hadn’t even toured yet. So we’re playing with The Haunted, Darkest Hour and Kataklysm and all these awesome bands that I really like, I was freakin’ the fuck out. We played so bad. (laughs) So horrible, [he was probably like], what was I thinkin’ signing this band? (laughs) It was just a bad luck thing. He’s seen us play shitty a lot of times, man. It’s like we got too drunk and every time he’s there [watching], the shows ruined. (laughs) It’s like a curse. Mike Faley he’s the other head person at the label and he’s another bad luck bringer. I mean…

Sharita: Tell him to stay away. (laughs)

Trevor: Yeah we told him to and we told people if he comes just don’t tell us he’s at the show, till afterwards. (laughs)

Sharita: So, the last tour was with Unearth and Terror, I missed you guys on that one, how were the shows?

Trevor: Oh it was cool. It's great that we can kind of cross over between two genres of metal; hardcore and death metal. The guys in Terror were really scary on stage and they look so tough, dude, just brutal. I mean they are the best at what they do, it would be a lie to deny them. Their singer, Scott Vogel is a living legend as far as that genre is concerned, as a person and as a vocalist on such a small level. We were honored to be on tour with them. Off stage, they were just genuinely fun and nice guys. I mean, we were constantly just hanging out and being ridiculous so it was cool. 

Sharita: So how’s Metal Blade been to the band?

Trevor: They been awesome and they work real closely with their bands. Half the staff are girls our age and we hang out. So I feel like Metal Blade is someone we can count on.  I mean they’re our record label and they’re really cool people. Everything is good on that end.

Sharita: Is the label looking to get BDM on Ozzfest?

Trevor: Yeah, we’ve talked about it. I mean, I had to look at it on a couple of different levels. Part of me was like I was selling out. I try to look at my band from an outsiders standpoint the way I look at other bands as a fan. Someone else out there like me, their opinion would matter to me the most, someone who is just a junkie for fuckin’ death metal. There’s no place for someone like that at Ozzfest, spending a hundred bucks when they want to go see a band that only five people showed up to their show. (laughs) I mean it’s awesome, there’s so many great bands out there that people like. So, I just had to start thinkin’ that I wanted to play to our fans, at shows that are cheap.  Because that’s what we want and we’re all fans first and [foremost]. But then I thought if we don’t do it that we’re not trying to put ourselves out there.

When I think of Ozzfest, it’s like a big corporate thing and it’s about as big as you can get for a heavy band. So for us to pass that up it would be selling ourselves short. I mean the times now are a lot like when I first started liking metal seeing Carcass all the time. Now, there are just so many shitty bands that we get lumped in with, the sort of corporate rock but people like us because we are the first band they heard and they can relate to.

Sharita: So as far as touring, I read you guys went to Japan, what was that like how are the audiences over there?

Trevor: I mean the kids over there are so dedicated to everything. When they play an instrument, they won’t play it in front of anybody until they’ve mastered it. Every local band over there that we’ve played with are shredding us in the fuckin’ pits. (laughs) I mean they were really cool to us because they thought it was cool that we were there.  It was crazy, we made like a whole bunch of friends and there’s like three thousand David Bowie look-a-likes walking around with hair lookin’ like a match someone lit. (laughs) It’s like being in the future over there.

Sharita: So you mentioned the new record earlier, tell us what it sounds like so far?

Trevor: The new album is so tight and has so many intricacies it makes Unhallowed seem elementary. The lineup we have now has played together so long and then with Zack coming in that was a plus, it really made the album better than anything we'd done. I love the hell out of it and can't wait to record it and then tour. I been sitting at home writing songs for too long so these five days have been awesome. Then, I don't have anybody to answer to when I get too drunk. (laughs)

Sharita: What's the new album going to be called?

Trevor: Miasma. The way I imagine it is the cover art, the songs, and the production is more varied and a lot more intense [in my opinion]. The idea is it's kind of like a clusterfuck. We hope that we can kind of catch that jarring effect in the studio so that everything is tight lyrically and visually. It's a more thought of record, more developed. We want this record to be the best get the right cover art, make sure that we pick the right song for the first video, and want it to be out by the summer. We just anal retentive and always try to out do ourselves.

Sharita: You mentioned earlier that you grew up listening to Carcass, are they the top influence or is there another band that was bigger?

Trevor: No, Carcass is like my all-time favorite band. All the albums they did were classy and played exactly what they wanted to play. The reinvented themselves several times, they signed with Columbia which can sometimes be dangerous. But, they earned the respect of a lot of people here and [abroad]. That's how I want BDM to be respected and have albums that stand the test of time. I don't want to be another buzz bin band, but we have a name that people will remember and we're new and young. Some bands make music with the idea that they just want to be rock stars and that totally sucks.

Sharita: Ok, we have what's called a Speed Round of Questions but I'm only going to ask a few because I know you're hungry...

Trevor: No go on ahead ask a few more. 

Sharita: Ok, what was the first record you bought?

Trevor: (pauses) The first record I bought, it had to be a Megadeth record I think it was a tape.

Sharita: Which one?

Trevor: Countdown to Extinction.

Sharita: Not one of my favorites but actually...

Trevor: Yeah there's a lot of people that like the thrashy stuff more. But, you gotta' understand I was so diehard about this band. It was a good thing I couldn't get tattoos back them because I'd get some janky prison man tattoos. I was obsessed with Megadeth.

Sharita: Well I'm a big fan as well but my faves are Peace Sells Who's Buying and So Far, So Good, So What.  The old stuff because I'm older than you. (laughs)

Trevor: Oh yeah, the old stuff was good. Those remixed remasters sound so awesome. Glorious! I love Megadeth, love the shit outta' em. They wronged me so bad, they made some of the most crappiest albums but I still love em'.

Sharita: Have you seen them live?

Trevor: Yeah, my dad took me when I was really young, twelve or thirteen.

Sharita: What was the last CD you bought?

Trevor: Circle Jerks. Buying CD's is my addiction. I have to have CDs coming in all the time. What's exciting to me is the initial listen, it's just mind-blowing. Lately I been expanding my horizons, so I been checkin' everything out.

Sharita: What's you guilty pleasure band or CD?

Trevor: Oh man I have so many. First, I rock some serious ass power metal shit. Guys dressed in capes kind of stuff with all seriousness. A lot of people can't see the humor in that, I can because I can look at it from both sides. Metal is such a funny, colorful thing. But, one of my favorite bands who people would think I'd be ashamed of but I'm not is that Cardigans.

Sharita: Oh wow, you threw me there.

Trevor: Another band would be the early Saves the Day records. It has to be the most fruity band, I mean they have a stylist that tours with them. (laughs) They are the most emo and wishy washy band. I would never want to meet them or hang with them but I love em'. GlassJAw is another. I respect a lot of what they do but a lot of it was treading into nu-metal territory and I was starting to feel some tremendous guilt but then I said fuck it! Then Harry Connick Jr., my dad was bumpin' that shit. I know all the words to "We Are In Love".

Sharita: Spiritual or Religious?

Trevor: Not at all. I definitely not even agnostic. I just believe that you have to look at after yourself and the way that you treat people.  After I get done playing metal everyday, drinking beer, eating, shit like that, when I think about my life I think about shit comin' around; kind of karmatic I guess. I believe in doing the best that you can, being the best to people, because it's so rewarding.  I mean, so many people walk around living with a lot of guilt about different kinds of things and to not do that is I guess means that you should watch what what you see and do. It's kind of mind blowing to me because I'm interested in that kind of psychology stuff and I'm against any kind of learning or school of thought but it's just interesting.

Sharita: If you were stranded on a desert island who would you take with you?

Trevor: See, my mind says Dave Mustaine right away. I don't know If I want to hang out with him because I know he's an asshole. (laughs) That's part of Dave Mustaine he's contradictory and you can find interviews where he said the exact opposite things. He lies all the time.

Sharita: You wouldn't take a girlfriend with you?

Trevor: Uh no, because we are in a band that has a no girls allowed rule because we're just stupid boys out opening our ass in public. I mean, we want to have our times to talk like babies and smoke a ton of weed, stuff like that and be assholes. I mean, I didn't want to grow up yet and I was three college courses away from having to do it. (laughs) I very thankful for this time and use it [wisely].

Sharita: Ok, who is your favorite cartoon character?

Trevor: Hmm, I have so many of them. When I was really young I was really down with Inspector Gadget.

Sharita: Oh, I loved Inspector Gadget.

Trevor: He was such an asshole, he daughter and the dog used to do everything for him. I though he solved crimes, really funny cartoon. I mean he was basically a puppet but he just needed to be there to be some kind of figurehead for the crime community. Pretty hilarious.

Sharita: Any recent cartoons?

Trevor: Oh, I love adult swim. It's awesome. I feel like it's made by people I would hang out with, they have the same kind of absurd sense of humor. I mean the whole band is like that, if you would hang out with us you'd see that we just act [silly]. We're gonna' try to put Black Dahlia life on DVD so we [can show] some of the stupid shit we do. I mean we love playin' but that's only a tenth of your day, waiting around is totally boring.   

Sharita: Ok, I'm going to let you eat. Thanks for doing the interview.

Trevor: Well thank you I enjoyed it.


Thanks to Brian Esbach and to Michelle Ferraro at Metal Blade Records for setting up the interview

Click here for photos of the band from tonight's show