Dethklok

Dethklok is a virtual death metal band from the Adult Swim animated series Metalocalypse, and also a real band formed in 2006 to perform its music live. It is a comedy and metal group from Los Angeles, United States, and remains active.

Origins and concept

The project is created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha. In the animated series, Dethklok is presented as an immensely successful death metal band with a huge fan base and major commercial power. Its fictional status gives it a mythology of extreme popularity, corporate influence, and disastrous consequences around the band’s behaviour.

Fictional lineup

In Metalocalypse, the group’s core members are Nathan Explosion on vocals, Skwisgaar Skwigelf on lead guitar, Toki Wartooth on rhythm guitar, William Murderface on bass, and Pickles the Drummer on drums. Magnus Hammersmith appears as the original rhythm guitarist. The series often shows the band as inept at ordinary tasks outside music, with their manager and lawyer Charles Foster Ofdensen regularly intervening to stop poor decisions.

Live band and performers

The music used in the series is performed by Brendon Small, with others added as needed. For live shows, the real-world lineup includes Brendon Small on vocals, guitar, bass and keyboards, Gene Hoglan on drums, and Bryan Beller on bass. Live performances also include Mike Keneally on guitar and backing vocals, Pete Griffin on bass, and Nili Brosh on guitar.

In the series

Dethklok’s storyline includes an enormous and often reckless fan culture, lucrative sponsorship deals, and an economy-scale level of success. The band’s actions and repeated misfortune draw the attention of The Tribunal, an Illuminati-like council that monitors them throughout the series. The Tribunal describes Dethklok as a major cultural force, while its leader Mr. Selatcia often tells the others to let the band act as it will.