Metal Family Tree

This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

The Black Dahlia Murder had the unfortunate problem of starting at the same time as the big metal-core movement of the 2000’s. Although there is plenty of cross over in fan base, many people may have written them off as another metal-core band when in fact they are a death / melodic death band. Guitarist Brian Eschbach has been at the heart of the band since the beginning along side vocalist Trevor Strnad. The other positions have changed over the yeas but often writing credits are shared with the members of that time with lyrics almost entirely written by Trevor.

Brian says he loves neo-classical playing starting with Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple. (also Rainbow) Brian said that Ritchie is his favorite guitarist.

Yngwie is the guitarist that picked up the neo-classical torch that Ritchie Blackmore started and carried it to new places inspiring tons of lead players. Newest lead player Brandon names him as a huge influence and it can be heard for sure in his l… — Yngwie is the guitarist that picked up the neo-classical torch that Ritchie Blackmore started and carried it to new places inspiring tons of lead players. Newest lead player Brandon names him as a huge influence and it can be heard for sure in his leads.

Eddie Van Halen is hugely influential. Brandon names him as probably his biggest influence.

Iron Maiden has been hugely influential to many styles of metal. Brian said of course he’s influenced by Iron Maiden since they are an influence on all the melodic death metal he loves.

Queensryche may just be the first of the progressive metal bands. They have influenced Brandon.

Easily one of the best known and most influential death metal bands, Morbid Angel. Trevor said the Morbid angle influence comes out on their heavier stuff.

King Diamond guitarist Andy Larocoqe has been an influence on Brandon.

Autopsy are an old school death band. Trevor said their vocalist is a hero to him and one of his biggest lyrical influences.

Awesome old school death metalers, Malevolent Creation.

Carcass started as a grindcore band before going death metal and then begin pioneers of melodic death. Brian said that BDM has loved Carcass since the beginning. They are where Trevor picked up layering highs and lows.

One of the most well known metal band if for nothing else other than their gore imagery. Trevor named Cannibal Corpse as perhaps his biggest influence. When it comes to lyrics he loves the gore stuff despite it being cliche. Current Bassist Max also… — One of the most well known metal band if for nothing else other than their gore imagery. Trevor named Cannibal Corpse as perhaps his biggest influence. When it comes to lyrics he loves the gore stuff despite it being cliche. Current Bassist Max also names Alex Webster as probably his biggest influence

Suffocation took death metal into a more brutal and technical place and are hugely influential in the evolution of death metal. Trevor said Pierced from Within is his all time favorite album. — Suffocation took death metal into a more brutal and technical place and are hugely influential in the evolution of death metal. Trevor said *Pierced from Within* is his all time favorite album.

Pantera is the band that kicked off groove metal. Brian named Dime as another favorite guitar player.

Broken Hope is another death metal band “swamped in gore”. They were another death metal band that Trevor got into early on.

At the Gates the true fathers of melodic death metal if there is one band that must be named. They’ve been named as a big influence for Brandon and Brian.

In Flames were one of the early melodic death pioneers. Their early stuff even added some folk elements.

Capharnaum are a technical death band. Trevor said they’ve taken some influence from them.

Necrophagist is a technical death band that had been around since the early 90’s and released a few demos then. They didn’t release their first album till 99 and their second in 04. Despite that they got very popular in the death metal scene. Trevor… — Necrophagist is a technical death band that had been around since the early 90’s and released a few demos then. They didn’t release their first album till 99 and their second in 04. Despite that they got very popular in the death metal scene. Trevor said they was influenced by them.

Goatwhore are basically a modern Venom. They combine thrash, black and a bit of death. Trevor is influenced by their vocalist Ben (also of Soilent Green). He influenced both vocally and from his stage presence.

Brian said the dude from Animals As Leaders is awesome. He also Revocations are really good. Gary Hoey is a hard rock / blues guitarist with a ton of solo albums. Brian says he really likes him despite him being cheesy. In one interview he said St. Anger was is favorite Metallica album because of the sick snare tone… he has a sense of humor.

Trevor said in the early days he started with the big four (Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax), Sepultura, and Pantera. Megadeth was his first love.

John Kempainen is the lead guitarist on the first three albums but I have been unable to find his influences

Ryan Knight is lead guitarist on 4th-7th albums. Some of his biggest influences are Michael Romeo of Symphony X, Richie Kotzen (who has had a ton of solo albums and was a member of Poison and Mr. Big at one time), Per Nilsson of Scar Symmetry (and other bands), and Emil Werstler (of several bands including Dååth). He’s also into Yngwie Malmsteen, Jason Becker, Marty Friedman, and Greg Howe. He also likes Brent Mason, Jimmy Herring, and Guthrie Trapp.

Newest lead guitarist Brandon Ellis’s influences not named above are, Whitesnake, Mattias “IA” Eklundh and Blues Saraceno.

Not listed above, Max Lavelle names Cliff Burton and Dave Ellefson as early influences.

Drummer Shannon Lucas who played on three albums named his top influences as: Thomas Haake, John Longstreth, Nick Barker, Derek Roddy, Dave Haley.

Alan Cassidy, drummer since 2012 influences include: Travis Barker, Joey Jordison, Brann Dailor, Danny Walker, Ben Koller, Jojo Mayer, Nick Barker, Navene Kopperweiss, Kai Hahto, Thomas Haake, Thomas Pridgen, Benny Grebb, Dave Discenso, and Tim Alexander.

Members left out either I couldn’t find their influences or they weren’t important to the band’s sound.

Bands influenced by The Black Dahlia Murder!

As this project advances, bands will be added here…

Sources:
https://www.rocksins.com/2013/07/black-dahlia-murder-interview-17683/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE9C5AygQZY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcJLZ_eO21M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtRf-KZXCMs
https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/the-black-dahlia-murder-frontman-discusses-influences-lineup-changes/
https://loudwire.com/trevor-strnad-the-black-dahlia-murder-how-learned-to-scream/
https://www.guitarmessenger.com/interviews/ryan-knight-interview-the-black-dahlia-murder-part-1/
https://www.jacksonguitars.com/artists/brandon-ellis-bio
https://theseeker.ca/2017/10/interview-the-black-dahlia-murder/
https://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2013/06/11/max-lavelle-of-the-black-dahlia-murder-the-heavy-blog-is-heavy-interview/
https://sabian.com/artist/alan-cassidy/
https://sickdrummermagazine.com/the-drummers/death-grind/shannon-lucas/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxkK-xDRn6U