Metalocalypse

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Metalocalypse

The characters of Metalocalypse in a promotional poster.
From left to right: William Murderface, Skwisgaar Skwigelf, Nathan Explosion, Pickles, and Toki Wartooth.
Format Animated Comedy
Created by Tommy Blacha
Brendon Small
Starring Brendon Small
Tommy Blacha
Mark Hamill
Victor Brandt
Malcolm McDowell
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 30 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time 11 min. (approx.)
Broadcast
Original channel Adult Swim
Teletoon
Original run August 4, 2006 – present
External links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Metalocalypse is an American animated television series on Adult Swim created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha. It has been described as "Spinal Tap meets Scooby-Doo meets Norway".[1] The show's first season consists of twenty eleven-minute episodes, the first of which premiered on the Adult Swim Video on August 4, 2006 and on Adult Swim proper the following Sunday. Metalocalypse was renewed for a second season consisting of twenty episodes which began airing September 23, 2007, two days before the CD release of The Dethalbum. An updated version of the Deththeme was featured in the second season as well. The Metalocalypse premiere was the #1 rated show in its time slot among males aged 18-34, and earned the network's best premiere delivery and ratings to date in 2006. Among the top ad-supported basic cable programs of the week, Metalocalypse ranked #12 among men 18-34 and #6 among men 18-24. The series premiere ranked #30 for the week among adults 18-34.[2]

Contents

[edit] Overview

Metalocalypse follows the exploits of the part-American/part-Scandinavian death metal band Dethklok. They enjoy a popularity level unheard of in reality, ranking just above Belgium as the twelfth largest economy on Earth. They are so popular that impressionable fans will often do anything their songs tell them, even if it means death, which is usually the case. If Dethklok endorses a product or service, it quickly drives every competitor out of business. Employed by Dethklok are a devoted army of black-hooded employees willing to die or commit heinous acts for the sake of the band. Their monumental wealth allows them to get away with and avoid responsibility for just about anything, and they are recognized by the United Nations as having an independent police force. The band members reside together in a vast mansion called Mordhaus, German for murder house, upon an expansive, privately-owned property known as Mordland. The billion-acre estate is located in a stormy and mountainous region of ambiguous location.

In addition to their uncanny ability to command worldwide attention and effortlessly persuade masses of people, the band members indirectly cause death and bad luck to those near them. It is hinted that this is related to an as-of-yet unexplained curse beyond the members' awareness or control. They also frequently summon natural disasters, severe weather phenomena, and paranormal anomalies through the live performance of their music. As a result of this, the band's concerts are notoriously violent, often resulting in the physical injury and fatality of many or all of the crowd. Even their attempts at charity result in tens of thousands of deaths, such as a laser light show, actually a Soviet laser-based weapon, which butchered the entire London Philharmonic Orchestra during a benefit concert, and an attack on an entire island population by "wayward kitties." The premiere episode gives an example of this: a giant metal box that serves as the band's stage is airlifted and parachuted onto location, but misses the landing area and crushes much of the audience, both by virtue of its landing and by its subsequent opening. Several searing hot coffee and cream pitchers are also poured on the crowd, melting their skin off (to fit with the death metal styled coffee jingle being played by the band). Despite the obvious danger, 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 maimed.

The band's unnatural popularity and trail of destruction has attracted the attention of an Illuminati-style group, known as the Tribunal, dedicated to monitoring Dethklok's activity. The Tribunal works off the premise that Dethklok's unusual powers are the result of an ancient prophecy, and that their existence will lead to a worldwide Apocalyptic event. Each episode sees this group attempt to covertly thwart the band by calling in various "specialists", such as "military pharmaceutical psychotropic drug manufacturers," "celebrity depression experts," or various psychopaths who attempt to infiltrate the group. It is alluded to on the show that several Washington think tanks specifically related to the band exist.

The members of Dethklok are portrayed as generally sociopathic and inept in all things non-musical except for negotiating their own contracts. Although they are not shown to have directly committed murder, they have an unconcerned, apathetic and often oblivious attitude toward the violence that occurs around them. The band members share an obsession with the dark and morbid, often choosing whether or not to do something based on how "brutal" or "metal" they believe it to be. The band also show a great love of money and are wasteful and depreciative with material possessions. The episode "Fatklok" shows the band perform a variety of charitable acts in order to avoid paying taxes. Similarly, in the episode "Murdering Outside the Box," the band is shown to care very little about how they spend the money just as long as they have it, with Nathan Explosion emptying a bag of expensive watches onto a table and smashing them, yet subsequently screaming when he discovers someone is embezzling from the band. All members of the group suffer from extreme alcoholism, and references to drug use are not uncommon.

Despite the band's immense success and talent, all of the members have self-esteem issues which manifest through various behaviors and surface to varying degrees during the show. All members are also shown to have repressed issues with their families which greatly affect their emotional state and psychological health. They all display a discomfort with emotional intimacy and keep each other at a distance through the use of insulting comments and demeaning jokes. Despite their difficulty in admitting they are even friends, the members of Dethklok do care for one another and are shown to have an insular and notably codependent relationship with each other, rarely spending time apart or making decisions on their own, and feeling jealous and threatened by other people in each other's lives. Scandinavian guitarists Toki and Skwisgaar share a somewhat brotherly rivalry and have a distinctively sarcastic manner of bickering with each other throughout the series, although they appear to have a particular friendship amongst the band members.

The utterly clueless band only functions in that it is managed by a clean-cut, ordinary-looking business agent, Charles Ofdensen. As the "brains" behind the band, Ofdensen appears small, nerdy and extremely business-like, dressed in an unassuming business suit, tie and glasses. A highly intelligent man, he is remarkably patient and professional when dealing with Dethklok despite their ignorance and frequent rudeness toward him. The band thinks that he only handles their business, legal matters, and public relations; however, he is shown to be heavily involved in protecting the band from any danger or harm. Unlike Dethklok themselves, Ofdensen often gives specific orders to assault, torture, and kill those who threaten Dethklok with no hesitation or remorse. Ofdensen is later revealed to have an extensive military background, being an expert in espionage, combat, strong-arm tactics, electrical torture, and martial arts. General Crozier even alludes to there being more to Ofdensen than meets the eye when briefing a spy, warning, "Stay away from this guy -- he means business."

[edit] Characters

Main article: Characters in Metalocalypse

[edit] Voice cast

[edit] Episodes

Main article: List of Metalocalypse episodes

[edit] Series development

The series was originally pitched as Deathclock, but the name could not be used due to an existing trademark. The show and the main characters' band were then renamed Dethklok. The show's title was then extended to Dethklok Metalocalypse, although the starring band still retained the name Dethklok. The crew finally shortened the title to Metalocalypse because the extended show title was too complicated.

[edit] Guest Stars

  • Laraine Newman ("The Curse of Dethklok") – "News Reporter," "Grandma," "GMILF," ("Dethfam") – "Rose Explosion", "Pickles' Mom," "Skwisgaar's Mom" ("Deth Wedding") - "Pickles' Mom" ("P.R. Klok") - "Liz Bane" ("Dethcarraldo") - "Nathan's Grandma"
  • Jon Schnepp ("Birthdayface or Happy Dethday") - "Dr. Gibbits," ("Skwisklok") – "Video Director"
  • Laura Silverman ("Girlfriendklok") – "Rebecca Nightrod," ("Dethstars")
  • Andy Richter ("Dethstars") – "J.F. Amarth"
  • Richard Christy ("Dethgov")

[edit] Musician cameos

  • James Hetfield of Metallica, ("The Curse of Dethklok") – "Goat," ("Birthdayface" or "Happy Dethday") – "Sniper," ("Dethtroll") – "Mustakrakish," ("Dethkomedy") – "Lorkey" (the sailor) ("Dethecution") - "Inmate"
  • Kirk Hammett of Metallica, ("The Curse of Dethklok") – "Two-Fingered Fan," ("Birthdayface" or "Happy Dethday") – "Queen of Denmark," ("Dethtroll") – "Barkeep"
  • Jeff Loomis of Nevermore, ("Performance Klok") – "Murderface's Dad"
  • Steve Smyth of Nevermore, ("Snakes 'n' Barrels") – "Snizzy Snazz Bullets"
  • Warrel Dane of Nevermore, ("Snakes 'n' Barrels") – "Sammy Candynose Twinskins"
  • King Diamond of King Diamond and Mercyful Fate, ("Skwisklok") – "Ronald Von Monoldburg," ("Murdering Outside The Box") – "Employee 421," ("Go Forth and Die") - "Dimmu Burger Manager," ("Bluesklok") - "The Devil"
  • Michael Amott former guitarist of Carcass and currently in Arch Enemy, ("Snakes 'n' Barrels") – "Antonio Tony DiMarco Thunderbottom"
  • Emilie Autumn (solo artist), ("Dethharmonic") – All violins (as "played" by the London Philharmonic Orchestra)
  • War of Apocalyptic Visions, (Guest vocals), ("Metalocalypse Television Commercial")* George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher former vocalist of Monstrosity currently in Cannibal Corpse and also in Paths of Possession, ("Go Forth and Die") – "Dimmu Burger Customer," ("Bluesklok") – "Depressed Fool's Cap Hippie"; ("Dethkids") "Football Player"; ("The Metalocalypse Has Begun", "Dethvengence") "216's Brother/Metal-masked Assassin"
  • Silenoz of Dimmu Borgir, ("Dethecution") – "Aftermath Person With No Arms"; ("Dethwedding") - "Seth's friend"; ("Dethcarraldo") -
  • Mike Keneally, ("Dethecution") - "Condemned Prisoners", "Barbecue Dad"
  • ICS Vortex of Dimmu Borgir ("Dethdoubles") - "Nathan's Double"; ("Dethwedding") - "Seth's other friend"; ("Dethcarraldo") -
  • Trym Torson of Zyklon and Emperor ("Dethfashion") - "Weichlinghammer's assistant"
  • Ihsahn of Emperor ("Dethfashion") - "Eric Von Weichlinghammer"
  • Samoth of Zyklon and Emperor ("Dethfashion") - "Weichlinghammer's assistant"
  • Devin Townsend of Strapping Young Lad and The Devin Townsend Band ("Cleanzo") - "Bink Bonk Blammymatazz"; ("Dethwedding") - "Dr. Mil-miniman Lanillim Swimwamly"; ("P.R. Klok") - "Zit-faced Fan";

[edit] The Dethalbum

Main article: The Dethalbum

The Dethalbum was released on September 25, 2007, in both standard and deluxe editions. The album is a combination of full length tracks from the series and completely new songs. The album debuted at #21 on the Billboard 200 chart with 33,741 copies sold in its first week. This makes Metalocalypse: Dethklok's The Dethalbum the highest charting death metal album ever.[3] The Dethalbum was also streamed 45,000 times when it went live on AOL Music during the week of its release.

[edit] Endorsements

Dethklok, the in-show band, also endorses several real-world music products, including Krank Amplification, Gibson guitars, EMG pickups, David Eden Amplification, Universal Audio, M-Audio, Dunlop Manufacturing/MXR, and Line 6 gear. On Dethklok's MySpace page, an entry attributed to Nathan Explosion announced that the band was making a real album, called The Dethalbum, featuring drummer Gene Hoglan; it was released on September 25th, 2007 in both standard and deluxe (two-disc) versions. The Dethalbum features songs from the show in full length, rather than the shortened versions released via the band's MySpace page. The Dethalbum also features never-before heard songs. One of these songs, titled "Hatredcopter", can be found on the European release of the Saw III soundtrack. According to the official Dethklok MySpace, the Gibson Guitar Corporation was also planning on making a Dethklok signature guitar, and Shocker Toys made the San Diego Comic-Con 2007 exclusive figures which sold out.[4] and are now making the 5.5" action figures along with a new SDCC 2008 Dethklok action figure set of the whole band.[5] The song "Thunderhorse" is featured in the game Guitar Hero II by Harmonix and Red Octane as a bonus song.

[edit] Touring History

Dethklok does have a touring band, although there are no actual human counterparts to the characters on the show. The band consists of show co-creator & vocalist Brendon Small, who writes & sings most of the music for the show, alongside drummer Gene Hoglan, bassist Bryan Beller, and guitarist Mike Keneally. Dethklok is on tour with Chimaira and Soilent Green in June 2008 (Announced on adult swim)

[edit] DVD Release

DVD name Release date Ep # Special Features
Season 1 October 2, 2007 20

Disc One

  • Swis Instructional Video
  • Bass Solo
  • Skwisgaar Thunderhorse Reshoots
  • Nathans Shakespeare Metal Reciting
  • MurderFace's Wheelchair Madness

Disc Two

  • Band Interviews
  • Music Video Collaboration
  • Mordhaus Tour

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://talk-show.livejournal.com/52216.html
  2. ^ Turner Broadcasting ratings information
  3. ^ Blabbermouth.net
  4. ^ Adult Swim national TV bump
  5. ^ Dethklok 2008 action figure set

[edit] External links

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