The Dethalbum
Metalocalypse is an animated television show on Adult Swim which debuted in 2006. The show is about the fictional, yet much praised American-Scandinavian death metal band, Dethklok. Voices are provided by series creators Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha among others. The Dethalbum is all the songs from Season 1 of the show in longer form than they were originally featured on TV. It also provides some newer material from the “band”.
As far as death metal goes, it definitely fits in the genre even though they are not a real touring band… yet. Brendon Small wrote all the, sometimes comical, lyrics and surprisingly good music. He also performed all vocals, guitar, and bass. Well known REAL death metal musician Gene Hoglan performed drums. He has performed with Death, Dark Angel, Devin Townsend, and Strapping Young Lad in the past.
Like I said before, it fits the genre. Smalls provides good low pitched death metal growls. Guitars are on par with what you would hear in most bands of the genre. The Dethalbum is actually a pretty good death metal album considering where the roots come from, a cartoon. It seems like a death metal fan that got creative was able to make his dream band in animated form. Even the track titles almost parody the death metal style, such as “Bloodrocuted”, “Go Forth and Die”, “Briefcase Full of Guts”, and “Hatredcopter”.
This album came out in September 2007 and debuted on the Billboard 200 Chart higher than any death metal album EVER, ranking in at #21. So they definitely have a cult following and it’s not only because the show is good. The actual music created strictly for the show is good. Death metal fans will enjoy The Dethalbum for sure. I suppose fans of Metalocalypse on Adult Swim will also get a kick out of it. It’s like when Spinal Tap made real albums and started touring after the movie came out. You definitely have to be into the music or the show to get into them though. It’s not for everyone.
