2008 Woodie Awards
Album by Adult Swim cartoon band Dethklok is heavy and entertaining
Andy Bockelman
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Entertainment
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With all the intensity of a booming amplifier, the music of the satirical cartoon "Metalocalypse" has hit the stores of the real world, taking the fervor of heavy metal to new levels of insanity.
The album titled "The Dethalbum," features the work of Dethklok, the animated stars of "Metalocalypse" from Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming.
Dethklok consists of five characters so bizarre they could only be cartoons. The virtual band is a force of nature. On lead guitar is Swedish virtuoso Skwisgaar Skwigelf, an extremely egotistical and promiscuous rocker, whose speed on the instrument is unparalleled, though Dethklok's slightly more subdued rhythm guitarist Toki Wartooth of Norway holds the title of second-fastest guitarist alive. Playing bass, and usually getting mixed out of every song, is the self-loathing sociopath William Murderface, who gives the group much of their edgy image. Providing percussion and occasional background vocals is Pickles the Drummer (no surname ever given) whose musical career has involved so many drugs that he is completely immune to the effects of all illegal substances. Last, but not least, is lead singer Nathan Explosion, a moody, gravel-voiced vocalist, whose disturbed mind drives the group's songs with more power than one would believe possible.
Show co-creator, comedian Brendon Small, voices Nathan, Pickles and Skwisgaar, and does the guitar and bass work, while multitalented drummer Gene Hoglan provides all the drum lines. Although he appears little in the album, Small's fellow co-creator Tommy Blacha is the voice of Toki and Murderface.
Also making a cameo is fusion violinist Emilie Autumn, surprisingly enough. Nearly all of the songs on the album have appeared on episodes of the show, but this is the first instance in which they are available in full, uncensored. The dark mindset that is synonymous with the metal genre is hugely perceptible; the majority of the CD is about death and/or hatred. With song titles such as "Briefcase Full of Guts," "Birthday Dethday" and "Go Forth and Die" it is clear that the album is not for the lighter crowd. As if the names were not enough, hearing the lyrics of some of the songs may send some listeners running straight for church.
The album titled "The Dethalbum," features the work of Dethklok, the animated stars of "Metalocalypse" from Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming.
Dethklok consists of five characters so bizarre they could only be cartoons. The virtual band is a force of nature. On lead guitar is Swedish virtuoso Skwisgaar Skwigelf, an extremely egotistical and promiscuous rocker, whose speed on the instrument is unparalleled, though Dethklok's slightly more subdued rhythm guitarist Toki Wartooth of Norway holds the title of second-fastest guitarist alive. Playing bass, and usually getting mixed out of every song, is the self-loathing sociopath William Murderface, who gives the group much of their edgy image. Providing percussion and occasional background vocals is Pickles the Drummer (no surname ever given) whose musical career has involved so many drugs that he is completely immune to the effects of all illegal substances. Last, but not least, is lead singer Nathan Explosion, a moody, gravel-voiced vocalist, whose disturbed mind drives the group's songs with more power than one would believe possible.
Show co-creator, comedian Brendon Small, voices Nathan, Pickles and Skwisgaar, and does the guitar and bass work, while multitalented drummer Gene Hoglan provides all the drum lines. Although he appears little in the album, Small's fellow co-creator Tommy Blacha is the voice of Toki and Murderface.
Also making a cameo is fusion violinist Emilie Autumn, surprisingly enough. Nearly all of the songs on the album have appeared on episodes of the show, but this is the first instance in which they are available in full, uncensored. The dark mindset that is synonymous with the metal genre is hugely perceptible; the majority of the CD is about death and/or hatred. With song titles such as "Briefcase Full of Guts," "Birthday Dethday" and "Go Forth and Die" it is clear that the album is not for the lighter crowd. As if the names were not enough, hearing the lyrics of some of the songs may send some listeners running straight for church.
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