Verminous

Verminous is The Black Dahlia Murder's ninth album, on which incisive guitars and monstrous storytelling run wild. The lineup, featuring Brandon Ellis on lead guitar, boldly took in elements of thrash, doom and even black metal, stepping into their most colorful and experimental record yet. Frontman Trevor Strnad called it "the biggest evolutionary leap from one album to the next," and true to his words, its aggression and expressive range widen greatly. Their ninth full-length, it was released in April 2020, amid the global pandemic, becoming a record many listeners sat with closely at home. The lead single and opener "Verminous," depicting a world of those teeming underground, is a signature song full of drive. From "Godlessly," which sings of a zombie apocalypse, to "The Leather Apron's Scorn," drawn from Jack the Ripper, varied songs line up. Strnad's expressive roars and Ellis's brilliant guitar work drive the whole record. This proved to be the last album to feature him. Released at the peak of their maturity, it is one of the band's finest works.