Blake Solomon
09/03/07, 05:04 PM
Dethklok – The Dethalbum
Record Label: Williams Street
Release Date: September 25, 2007
I may have bitten off more than I can chew with this one. I am neither brutal nor metal. My absurdist humor usually falls short and will never wind up on any television networks. Dethklok, therefore, are my heroes. They have already accomplished most of my goals, namely creating the biggest band in the universe and eluding various government operatives. There’s just something attractive and entertaining about five dudes doing what they love, even if they love albums made solely for fishes and deadly laser effects. Because I like to state the obvious, allow me to admit: I’m a huge fan of Metalocalypse.
So here I sit with shaking hands and a loose bladder while The Dethalbum sits bathed in an eerie, reddish haze. I need to stop writing reviews in my darkroom. It’s been a long while since season one finished, and I had been itching to hear my favorite songs from episodes gone by. Boy oh boy was I delighted to find 16 hilarious metal anthems from some of my favorite episodes. I am not usually a metalhead, but I could listen to Nathan Explosion’s soft and sultry voice… What the Fu*& am I saying? Explosion is br00tal as Fu&%!
At its core, The Dethalbum might be a comedy record, but if one were to discard the lyrics (more on that later, I promise) and only headbang along to the stop-and-go chugs of “Mermaider,” they would be musically awed. The guys behind Dethklok (Brendon Small and Gene Hoglan) are truly talented musicians, as is evident throughout the mind-bending guitar solos on songs like “Awaken,” GH 2’s “Thunderhorse” and “Briefcase Full Of Guts.” The drums of Pickles (err, Hoglan) should not be discounted either. “Bloodrocuted” features some extremely heavy fills and the stamina put forth in “The Lost Vikings” literally makes my forearms sore. Sure, my main draw to Metalocalypse is the wacky plots and blind fan devotion, but each episode’s chaotic musical performance is what truly differentiates the show from other Adult Swim programming.
Remember those lyrics I mentioned? “RSVP Please / For the death of me / You have little time / You’re running out of life / Happy Birthday! You’re going to die.” Take the time to decipher Explosion’s rough growl, and you will be treated to lines like the ones above (from “Birthday Dethday”). And what other band would write a song with lyrics such as, “You people out there give us something more than just record sales / You give us something to hate / And we hate you, you brainless mutants / Hate (16x),” to describe their relationship with fans? The song is called “Fansong,” after all. Dethklok believe nothing is sacred or worthy, which is well documented when Murderface tries to find a suitable religion. He fails (well, gives up), and instead, the dudes go and get smashed. So religion might not be for Dethklok, but whether you usually jam to metal or not, Dethklok are here for the masses.
“Die! (30x)”
Recommended If You Like: Strapping Young Lad, Snakes N' Barrels, Dr. Rockso, the Rock n' Roll Clown, Fintroll, Megadeth, Berklee
www.myspace.com/dethklok
http://www.adultswim.com/shows/metal/
Record Label: Williams Street
Release Date: September 25, 2007
I may have bitten off more than I can chew with this one. I am neither brutal nor metal. My absurdist humor usually falls short and will never wind up on any television networks. Dethklok, therefore, are my heroes. They have already accomplished most of my goals, namely creating the biggest band in the universe and eluding various government operatives. There’s just something attractive and entertaining about five dudes doing what they love, even if they love albums made solely for fishes and deadly laser effects. Because I like to state the obvious, allow me to admit: I’m a huge fan of Metalocalypse.
So here I sit with shaking hands and a loose bladder while The Dethalbum sits bathed in an eerie, reddish haze. I need to stop writing reviews in my darkroom. It’s been a long while since season one finished, and I had been itching to hear my favorite songs from episodes gone by. Boy oh boy was I delighted to find 16 hilarious metal anthems from some of my favorite episodes. I am not usually a metalhead, but I could listen to Nathan Explosion’s soft and sultry voice… What the Fu*& am I saying? Explosion is br00tal as Fu&%!
At its core, The Dethalbum might be a comedy record, but if one were to discard the lyrics (more on that later, I promise) and only headbang along to the stop-and-go chugs of “Mermaider,” they would be musically awed. The guys behind Dethklok (Brendon Small and Gene Hoglan) are truly talented musicians, as is evident throughout the mind-bending guitar solos on songs like “Awaken,” GH 2’s “Thunderhorse” and “Briefcase Full Of Guts.” The drums of Pickles (err, Hoglan) should not be discounted either. “Bloodrocuted” features some extremely heavy fills and the stamina put forth in “The Lost Vikings” literally makes my forearms sore. Sure, my main draw to Metalocalypse is the wacky plots and blind fan devotion, but each episode’s chaotic musical performance is what truly differentiates the show from other Adult Swim programming.
Remember those lyrics I mentioned? “RSVP Please / For the death of me / You have little time / You’re running out of life / Happy Birthday! You’re going to die.” Take the time to decipher Explosion’s rough growl, and you will be treated to lines like the ones above (from “Birthday Dethday”). And what other band would write a song with lyrics such as, “You people out there give us something more than just record sales / You give us something to hate / And we hate you, you brainless mutants / Hate (16x),” to describe their relationship with fans? The song is called “Fansong,” after all. Dethklok believe nothing is sacred or worthy, which is well documented when Murderface tries to find a suitable religion. He fails (well, gives up), and instead, the dudes go and get smashed. So religion might not be for Dethklok, but whether you usually jam to metal or not, Dethklok are here for the masses.
“Die! (30x)”
Recommended If You Like: Strapping Young Lad, Snakes N' Barrels, Dr. Rockso, the Rock n' Roll Clown, Fintroll, Megadeth, Berklee
www.myspace.com/dethklok
http://www.adultswim.com/shows/metal/