Introducing what happens when death metal meets cartoons

Even though it is one of the funniest things I’ve seen in years, I’d decided I wasn’t going to blog about Metalocalypse, mainly because it is possibly the niche-est niche programme ever made, takes a fair bit of explaining, and outs me as a metalhead (again).

But having downloaded the first few episodes of the second season this week, the only clear course of action is to spread the word.

The 11-minute episodes follow the generally unsavoury, pathologically gory and authentically metal adventures of the band Dethklok and its members Nathan Explosion, William Murderface, Swedish guitarist Skwisgaar Skwigelf, Pickles the Drummer and Toki Wartooth.

It was created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blancha, the duo behind the fuzzy surreality of Dr Katz in the mid-90s.

Metalocalypse’s Wikipedia entry explains things best and saves me a job: “Dethklok enjoy a popularity level unheard of in reality, being "the twelfth largest economy on Earth."
“It is alluded to on the show that several Washington think tanks specifically related to the band exist.
“The band's concerts are notoriously violent, often resulting in harm to a good portion of the crowd. Even their attempts at charity result in numerous deaths, such as the laser light show that butchered the London Philharmonic orchestra during a benefit concert.

“Despite the obvious danger, however, people love Dethklok's concerts so much that they will sign "pain waivers" at the entrance, signing their lives away and releasing the band from legal liability in the very likely case they are killed or dismembered.”

The joy of this show is its clear love of the subject and the warm, fuzzy feeling Small and Blancha are laughing with and not at the likes of me (they even started gigging as Dethklok). Members of Metallica, Dimmu Borgir and Cannibal Corpse among other major metal bands have done guest voices on the show, and for a little extra ac-torly gravitas Mark Hamill and even Malcolm McDowell voice regular characters.

But is it generally gross and not for the easily offended, I can’t stress that enough. Episode synopses include: “After their chef is severely mangled in a helicopter crash, Dethklok has to figure out how to make their own food”; “During an apology tour (for nearly destroying the country) in Finland, Dethklok accidentally summons Mustakrakish, the lake troll, after replacing the national anthem with a song taken from a necronomic spell book”; and “in order to avoid paying taxes on the ridiculous sums of money they've earned, Dethklok begins doing all the charity work they can find, even adopting a son under the mistaken impression that he can be labelled as a tax write-off”.

Seek it out and enjoy. Perhaps.

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