“Everything Went Black” opens The Black Dahlia Murder’s 2007 album “Nocturnal.” The title can be attributed to the Detroit ensemble’s enjoyment of Euro-styled black metal. But just as likely, it’s a reference to a compendium of early Black Flag material, collected and packaged under the same name. Musically, the influence isn’t overtly reflected, but during the Black Dahlia’s career, enough heavy music’s been assimilated into its work that it’d be difficult to fathom the connection being an accident. Just on that 2007 album, everything from grind to death gets referenced—and sometimes during the same composition. Its title track sports unrelenting tempos and tag-teamed vocals now synonymous with the band. There’s that deep, throaty grunting as well as a more melodic tenor interspersed amid various grooves. During a career that’s purposefully taken in so much of the genre’s breadth, it’s unsurprising to hear some new ideas expressed on the band’s latest “Ritual.” Strings welcome listeners as “A Shrine to Madness” begins to slowly unfold. After the orchestrated portion of the song, the band descends to its more natural thrashy take on metal. The middle portion of the disc roils in the Black Dahlia’s interests, “On Stirring Seas of Salted Blood” sporting everything from startling speed to graceful guitar solos and massive breakdowns. Oddly, it’s all offset by the sound of waves washing up on the shore. And by the time the album reaches its close with “Blood in the Ink,” strings return for a brief introductory passage before the Black Dahlia launches into its most proggy take on metal represented on “Ritual.” Nile and Skeletonwitch are to open at a very un-metal time—just after dinner. (Dave Cantor)
March 27 at Bottom Lounge, 1375 West Lake, (312)666-6775, 6pm. $17.
Cooling It: A Preview of Colleen Green at Cole’s Bar When Green strums power chords or chiming notes on top of her backing track, you might think you’re at Ramones karaoke night and Madonna is taking her turn.
Brutal Finesse: A Preview of King Crimson at Ravinia There have been few new compositions from King Crimson these past two decades, but the live arrangements of songs from its catalog are often strikingly different than the recorded versions.
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