Near Deth Experience

BY SAM KRIEG

"Our goal is to make everything metal. Blacker than the blackest black, times infinity."

Thus spoke Nathan Explosion, frontman for Dethklok, the death-metal band on which the "Adult Swim" cartoon series "Metalocalypse" is centered.

In "Metalocalypse," Dethklok is the world's most famous band--on its own, the group is the 12th largest economy in the world.

The show follows the lives and (mis)adventures of Dethklok's five members: Explosion, drummer Pickles, rhythm guitarist Toki Wartooth, lead guitarist Skwisgaar Skwigelf and bassist William Murderface--men literally able to do nothing right except play metal, who somehow have won the admiration of most of the world's population. While its subject matter is hardly mainstream, and it doesn't exactly have a prime-time slot (11:45 p.m. on Sundays), "Metalocalypse" has made waves during its brief life.

Currently, the show is nearing the conclusion of its second season. In between the first two seasons, though, Brendon Small--the show's co-creator, along with Tommy Blancha--got together with famed heavy-metal drummer Gene Hoglan and released "The Dethalbum," a full-length album, mainly comprising songs sampled in show's episodes. "The Dethalbum" debuted at No. 21 on the Billboard charts, making it the highest charting death-metal album of all time.

In between writing, producing and recording character voices for his show, Small has taken Dethklok on the road, along with Hoglan, bassist Bryan Beller and guitarist Mike Keneally (both former partners of six-string master Steve Vai). Dethklok is currently touring the country with metal-core rockers Chimaira and the New Orleans-based Soilent Green.

It seems like such a large number of vocations would make it difficult to explain what one does. However, in a recent phone interview, Small quipped that his super-hectic schedule pretty much prevents any social occasions where he would have to explain himself.

SCREEN AND STAGE

It's nothing short of amazing that Small is able to juggle so many different things at the same time. Things haven't always gone off hitch-free, though. For example, there was a conspicuously large gap in the middle of the now-closing second season. Coincidentally, this gap fell during the Hollywood writer's strike responsible for temporarily shelving primetime favorites like "The Office."

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Nathan Explosion: Nathan is the lead singer and songwriter for Dethklok. Ironically, Nathan also is the band member who has the most trouble expressing his feelings. He is the only member of Dethklok not to have graduated from high school. Nathan's speaking voice is much deeper than normal, possibly a result of his years of vocal cord abuse in Dethklok. Skwisgaar Skwigelf: Dethklok's lead guitarist, Skwisgaar is reputed to be the "fastest guitar player alive." He writes all the band's music, including the rhythm parts and bass lines. He is so single-minded about guitar that he even practices in his sleep. Toki's guitar playing, which he sees as sloppy, is a never-ending source of annoyance for Skwisgaar. Pickles the drummer: Pickles is the only member of the band losing hair, and he tries to cover it with a dreadlock-comb-over hairstyle. In his younger days, Pickles fronted a popular hair-metal band called Snakes 'n' Barrels, much to the amusement of his hairspray-free band-mates. Of all the band members, Pickles is the member closest to possessing common sense. William Murderface: William Murderface Murderface Murderface is the self-declared "fat one" of the group, sporting a "Pobody's Nerfect" tattoo on his round belly. His role in the band is both secure and questionable, as the others refuse to kick him out, but always mix out his bass in album production. If there is someone to be insulted, William is always there, ready to deliver. Toki Wartooth: Toki has the unfortunate distinction of being the "second fastest guitar player alive." Musically, he always plays second fiddle to Skwisgaar and, thus, bears the brunt of Skwisgaar's perfectionist criticism. Toki is the most childlike member of the band, loving things like clowns and candy, and showing a naivete surprising for someone in a band like Dethklok.

--Sam Krieg

What: Dethklok does a 'live animated show' for all ages with openers Chimaira and Soilent Green

Where: Ram's Head Live, 20 Market Place, near Baltimore's Inner Harbor

When: Thursday, June 26; doors open at 7 p.m. Cost: $22.50 to $24 Info: 410/244-1131 Web: ramsheadlive.com

Date published: 6/19/2008

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