A few weeks back mxdwn covered this year’s installment of the Mayhem Festival in San Bernardino. While we were there, we took the time to speak with Metalocalypse/Dethklok mastermind Brendon Small. Small was casual and frank about the state of his mega successful Cartoon Network show Metalocalypse, explaining to us how the show itself might be coming to an end. He quipped at one point dryly of the band’s technically cartoon status, “We don’t exist. I think I do exist.”
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By Raymond Flotat Posted in Features adult swim, Brendon Small, Dethklok, Metalocalypse

In the aftermath of The Big 4’s first ever appearance together in Indio just over two months ago, a metal fest without a true headliner feels a bit lacking in heavyweight power. Mayhem Festival 2011 fell into this trap, putting together a respectable lineup—and thankfully one far better than this year’s Epicenter lineup—though not one strong enough to incite real shock and awe. The tour itself at least had the bounty of Megadeth as its official headliner, but on this Saturday stop and beginning of this year’s festival, Megadeth was curiously not present. In their place the semi-fictional band Dethklok (whom some of you might know as the cartoon band from Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse) took the spot at the top of the bill. Did Dethklok have the goods to finish off the night and make sure the fans enjoyed their day?

All photos by Raymond Flotat
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By Raymond Flotat Posted in Reviews, Show Reviews Dethklok, Disturbed, Godsmack, Kingdom of Sorrow, Machine Head, Testament, Trivium

Sophisticated Ridiculousness

Dethalbum II is the second release by fictional metal band Dethklok, from the Adult Swim cartoon comedy show Metalocalypse. Part Spinal Tap and part decent heavy metal band, it’s kind of amazing that Dethklok had a first album, let alone a second one considering that they aren’t even real. But Dethklok’s first album was one of the best-selling metal albums of all time so there is obviously more to this band than just jokes. Read more…

By Colette Claire Posted in Reviews Brendon Small, Dethklok, Metalocalypse

When it comes to seeing a live performance by Dethklok, the cartoon stars of the Adult Swim show Metalocalypse, one might wonder how such a band does a live performance. For starters they are not even real, and the musicians actually playing the music look nothing like their cartoon counterparts. Those who are familiar with Gorillaz, currently the only other successful virtual band out there, may have some clue. Big projection screens will be involved that will most likely obscure the real life musicians on  stage.  Although some people are interested in seeing how the music is actually played and that’s why they attend a concert, so why obscure the musicians? On Dethklok’s first tour a couple years ago, a compromise for this quandary was reached; a projection screen was used but it was above the band so you could also see the musicians playing. Well sort of.  They were practically shrouded in darkness. This time around though,  at the Hollywood palladium on November 19th and 20th 2009, the compromise was perfected as the band was better lit and actually seemed like a part of the show. Read more…

By Colette Claire Posted in Reviews, Show Reviews adult swim, Brendon Small, Colette Claire, Dethklok, Gene Hoglan, Mastodon, Metal, Metalocalypse, Nathan Explosion

Mastodon and Dethklok head out on a 34-city North American tour beginning on October 2nd, 2009. Oakland’s High On Fire and Converge will open each show. The show is formally called Adult Swim Presents Dethkolk and Mastodon. Pre-ticket sales start Tuesday, August 4th at 10 AM EST, while general sales begin on Friday, August 7th, 2009. Information is at Adult Swim 
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By Jennika Ingram Posted in News Dethklok, Mastodon

Williams Street Records has announced the soon-to-be-released second album from Dethklok of Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse. On September 27, the animated band will release Dethklok: The Dethalbum II – an album featuring 12 full-length tracks detailing Dethklok’s exploits in murder, mayhem and all things brutal. The album was written by series co-creator Brendon Small and was recorded alongside legendary drummer Gene Hoglan and will be released as both a standard edition and a two-disc deluxe edition on CD and digital download beginning September 8.  Additionally, a limited edition vinyl of the album will be released to local record shops on November 24, just in time for the holidays.

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By Ashley Campbell Posted in News Dethklok