Hey everyone, Andy Synn here.
I’m sure, by now, you’ve all seen/heard the awful news about Trevor Strnad.
And while I’m not usually one for hero worship, nor am I a fan of overly-performative emotional outbursts, I felt like I needed to write and share a few things to acknowledge his passing.
Because, whether or not you were a fan of his band, he was a huge part of our scene and touched a lot of lives in his all too brief time on this earth. And all of us here at NCS are saddened by his loss.
It was just over a year ago that I last wrote one of these “in memoriam” posts mourning the death of legendary Entombed frontman LG Petrov, an event which still resonates throughout the Metal world even now.
And while Strnad‘s death will undoubtedly leave a similar hole in the scene – just a quick glance online will show you how much he was loved and respected, both by the band’s fans and by his peers – the manner of his passing makes this particular death even more of a shock.
Look, I don’t know the details… nor do I need to. What I know is that this was a human being, one who spent a lot of his life championing the music and the genre(s) that he loved – although, ironically, considering I’m the one who has settled down to write this obituary for The Obituarist, he didn’t seem to like my band at all – and now he’s gone, and a lot of people out there are going to be struggling to process exactly what that means.
While I/we have written about The Black Dahlia Murder a lot here at NCS over the years (we’re all big fans, even if we disagree about what the band’s best album is) I only actually met Trevor the once, many years ago, after a show they played in Manchester, where we spent a good amount of time chatting about life in general and our shared love of Metal – he was, effectively, a walking, talking Encyclopaedia Metallum – and had a good laugh about people calling the band “Metalcore” or “Deathcore” or accusing them of just ripping off At The Gates when, to paraphrase the man himself, “no-one ever talks about how much we rip-off Dissection too!”.
And from what I’ve seen, and what I’ve been told, he was still that same guy right up until the end – friendly, humble, and endlessly effusive about other bands (far more than he ever was about his own) – even if, as he acknowledged just last year, he often found himself struggling to live up to the “persona” that had been built around him over the years.
I truly can’t imagine what his band-mates, his friends, and his family are going through right now. As shocked and devastated as the band’s fans must be it will be so, so much worse for those who were truly close to him.
So, please, if you’re reading this, make sure to check in on your friends now and then. You can never be sure what they’re going through, even if they have a smile on their face.
And, if you’re struggling, don’t be afraid or ashamed to reach out. There’s always someone out there willing to listen, willing to help, even if it doesn’t always seem like it.
Suicide prevention (USA): 800-273-8255
Samaritans (UK): 116 123
9 Responses to “RIP TREVOR STRNAD (1981 – 2022)”
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This hits me hard. Only album I have of his is miasma, but I always followed his doings. He was a riot on stage!
Goddamn, I am so sad. I used to work alone in a basement, with lots of time to listen to audio. I started getting more into metal because it was more interesting. The Black Dahlia Murder was one of the first where I would listen to every album start to finish. Really one of the big bands that got me into extreme metal. What a loss.
I first found them when someone broadcast a pirated stream of MTV2 over the ariwaves and I saw the Contagion video. I was jealous that dudes my age were headbanging in a church and I was pretending to go to school.
I saw them t a New England Death and Hardcore Fest he said music saved him and he wouldn’t be around without it, and that resonated with me.
Like you said, it is important to check on those around us and be there for each other
All of my friends are closer to ending it than I am, it’s something that hangs over the three of us (no pun intended) and in time, and not too long from now, one of us will end it either suddenly or a slow death through alcoholism. So there’s no hope for my scumbag crew. My pointless advice is find people who are doing better than you mentally, else you just feed into each other’s darkness.
Patrick take your own advice cause when it’s over it’s over. Figure out some shit that brings joy – metal, ribs, a vegan shawarma, sleeping – whatever the hell brings you a decent moment. And while it might not be a lot it’s something. And think maybe it’s worth kicking around for another spin. Even if it isn’t you never know what’s going to happen. But like I said before – when it’s over it’s over end of story. I saw Black Dahlia a bunch of times and had a blast at every show. Trevor was a gift. Was glad I was there. But I know there’s some other good stuff coming my way. I wish Trevor had felt that way. He will be missed.
Hey Patrick, I hope you are doing ok and find things to love and care about. I am 45 and I have had multiple moments of despair and wondering about the future and being flippant about my health and safety. One thing I can assure myself of, and hopefully you too, is that there’s always something surprising waiting. Every rough patch has an island to land on. I hope you find some solace in this tough time and I hope you do whatever you can to see the light of a new day.
Well stated, Andy. Thank you for this. Such a sad thing… my condolences to his family, friends, and fans. Take care of yourselves, everyone (and heed the wise words of Dudeguy Jones).
I still can’t believe it; what a huge loss
Metal World Has Lost Its Favorite Son…He Can Never Be Replaced, The Kinda Work He Has Done All Through His Years Is Immaculate.