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Dethklok

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Band Timeline

2006

Formation and Premiere of Metalocalypse Animated Series

Dethklok was formed as a fictional melodic death metal band for the Adult Swim animated television series Metalocalypse, created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha. The show introduced Dethklok as the world's most popular death metal band, depicted with extravagant and satirical elements, including vast wealth, a fortress-like home called Mordhaus, and an enormous fan base. The band's fictional narrative includes their outsized cultural impact and ongoing struggles with normal life outside music. This unique combination of animation and metal established Dethklok's identity and set the foundation for a crossover music and media phenomenon.
2007

Release of First Album: The Dethalbum

Dethklok's debut album, The Dethalbum, was released on September 25, 2007. As the first official release from the fictional band, it featured music composed and performed primarily by Brendon Small with heavy melodic death metal influences. The album was commercially successful, debuting at number 21 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking a significant achievement for a band originating from an animated show. This release solidified Dethklok's presence in the music world, blurring the lines between fictional and real band experiences, and led to the establishment of a real-life band lineup for live performances.
2009

Release of Dethalbum II and Touring

On September 29, 2009, Dethklok released their second album, Dethalbum II. This release continued the success and popularity from their debut, featuring more melodic death metal tracks tied to the Metalocalypse series. Around this time, the band also embarked on live tours alongside well-known metal acts such as Mastodon, High on Fire, and Converge. These tours helped Dethklok transition from a fictional show band to a recognized force in the metal music scene, with live performances bringing their animated music to actual audiences.
2012

Release of Dethalbum III

Dethklok continued their musical output with the release of their third album, Dethalbum III, on October 16, 2012. This album further expanded the band's musical themes developed in conjunction with the Metalocalypse series and maintained their signature melodic death metal style. The ongoing album releases reinforced the band's dual existence as both fictional characters and performing musicians, attracting fans of both the animation and metal music genres. The release helped sustain Dethklok's cultural presence and musical relevance.
2013

Release of The Doomstar Requiem Soundtrack

In October 2013, Dethklok released the soundtrack for Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem, a special musical episode connected to the TV series, on October 29. The Doomstar Requiem was a rock opera-style episode that featured the band prominently and was notable for its continuing storyline and musical depth. The soundtrack’s release coincided with this special event, further intertwining the band's musical and animated personas. This project stood out as a creative expansion of the Dethklok universe.
2017

Brendon Small’s Solo Album Related to Dethklok

On August 25, 2017, Brendon Small, the creator and primary musician behind Dethklok, released his second solo album titled Brendon Small's Galaktikon II. Although this album was released under Small’s name due to Adult Swim holding rights to the Dethklok band name, it has been unofficially referred to as a new Dethklok album by fans, due to its musical style and composition echoing the band. This release indicated continued creative activity related to the Dethklok sound and served as a bridge during the band's hiatus from releasing official albums.
2019

Return to Live Performances at Adult Swim Festival

After a five-year absence from live shows, Dethklok's real-world band reemerged to perform at the Adult Swim Festival in 2019. This marked the band's return to the stage, reigniting fan excitement and marking a new chapter in live performances. The festival appearance reinforced the band's enduring popularity and the strength of its cross-media presence, linking the animated series' legacy with real concerts and audience experiences.
2023

Release of Dethalbum IV and Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar Soundtrack, Followed by USA Tour

In August 2023, Dethklok released their fourth studio album, Dethalbum IV, ending an over-decade-long gap since their previous album. Concurrently, they released the soundtrack album for the film Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar, further expanding their musical narrative beyond the TV series. To promote this resurgence, the band embarked on a USA tour from August to October 2023, co-headlining with Babymetal and supported by Jason Richardson. This extensive touring and album release confirmed Dethklok’s continued influence and vitality in the metal music scene, as well as their unique position bridging animation and live metal performance.

Albums

dethklok_1st_album
The Dethalbum
20 tracks
2007
dethklok_2nd_album
Dethalbum II
12 tracks
2009
dethklok_3rd_album
Dethalbum III
12 tracks
2012
dethklok_4th_album
Dethalbum IV
11 tracks
2023
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Members

Current

Name
Begin
Occupation

William Murderface

N/A

Bass guitar

Skwisgaar Skwigelf

N/A

Guitar

Nathan Explosion

N/A

Lead vocals

Toki Wartooth

N/A

Keyboard

Guitar

Pickles the Drummer

N/A

Membranophone

Story of Dethklok

Dethklok: The Metalocalypse's Reign of Parody

Dethklok, the fictional melodic death metal band from Adult Swim's animated series "Metalocalypse," is a masterclass in satirical metal mayhem. Known for their over-the-top lyrics and tongue-in-cheek humor, Dethklok quickly became a cult favorite, capturing the spirit of the genre with an unapologetic dose of absurdity.

Their debut album, "The Dethalbum," dropped on September 25, 2007, making a splash on the Billboard charts, landing at number 21. The band continued their reign of musical terror with "Dethalbum II" in 2009, hitting the road with fellow metal giants Mastodon, High on Fire, and Converge. Dethklok's third album, "Dethalbum III," saw the light of day in 2012, solidifying their position as a force to be reckoned with.

To bring their music to life on stage, a real-life band was formed, capturing the raw energy and monstrous sound of Dethklok. The brainchild of Brendon Small (creator of "Metalocalypse") and Tommy Blacha, this collaboration made the fictional band's musical dreams a reality. Small himself lends his talents to the music heard in the show and on the albums, recruiting a cast of seasoned musicians for live performances.

In 2017, Small released "Brendon Small's Galaktikon II," a solo album widely considered a continuation of Dethklok's legacy, a testament to the enduring power of the band's sound, even if the name itself remains under the control of Adult Swim. Dethklok has become more than just a fictional band; it's a cultural phenomenon, a testament to the enduring power of metal and the infectious humor that comes with it.

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