Scrawl from The Saw’s Butcher Shop: Dethklok — HEAVY BREAKDOWN

/ THE SAW

Welcome to The Saw’s Butcher Shop! Your Master Butcher, The Saw, is fascinated by the phenomena known as Dethklok – a fictional band, on a TV show, that is so (as they say) “on the nose” concerning all things Death Metal. Dethklok has released, Dethalbum IV, obviously their fourth studio album, on August 22, 2023 via Turner Music Publishing in conjunction with Cartoon Network and Metalocalypse, Adult Swim. The fictional band became so beloved that the creators had to come-up with a live (real life) band to tour! 

In 2006, an adult animated series premiered on Adult Swim entitled, Metalocalypse. Created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blanca, the show featured the exploits of Dethklok, a macabre Death Metal band (“the most successful and famous in the world”), and centers around violence and death; incorporating hyperbolic black comedy and parody. Its portrayal of Heavy Metal was intentionally and purposely “on the nose” – over-the-top imagery, reduced to absurdity; all the things an outsider would assume such a lifestyle would contain. Dethklok live in a castle, are incredibly rich, and perform in dangerous locations where their “millions” of fans frequently die in attendance. When not performing together as Dethklok, the members of the band are portrayed as completely incompetent in every aspect of their lives. All are emotionally broken – scarred either biologically or environmentally; because their parents were insane, passing-on the psychotic traits (or tediously “normal” and not brutal) or because of being a witness to the brutal death of one parent by the murder/suicide plot of the other. The whole concept was satirical. And it became wildly popular!

The musical mastermind behind Metalocalypse, and Dethklok, is Brandon Small (actor, comedian, musician, animator, writer and producer). The music performed in the series was performed by Small, with help from other musicians for studio albums and live shows. In 2007, Gene “The Atomic Clock” Hoglan (Dark Angel, Death to All, ex-Testament, ex-Strapping Young Lad, ex-Death, ex-Fear Factory, ex-Old Man’s Child) became the studio and live drummer. Also in 2007, Bryan Beller (The Aristocrats, ex-Joe Satriani, ex-Steve Vai, ex-Dweezil Zappa) became a live member on bass, and has been a studio member since 2012. In 2019, Peter Griffin took over live bass playing, and Nili Brosch came in as a second live guitarists.

Dethklok has four studio albums:

The Dethalbum – 2007

Dethalbum II – 2009

Dethalbum III – 2012

Dethalbum IV – 2023

Though Dethklok came about in a tongue-n-cheek parody, the music of the band is pure and simple – straight-forward Death Metal, mostly of the melodic sort. You can get a sense of what the band is about by the album titles – “Death Album” 1, 2, 3, or 4. They don’t take themselves too seriously, obviously, but their music is no joke. Small’s lyrical delivery is deep register gutterals and screams; his lyrics are always audible, and clearly enunciated, even if they (and the song titles) are purposely “on the nose.” The stringed instruments are performed perfectly – great riffs; melodious, and pure chainsaw crunch. Do I even need to comment on Gene Hoglan’s drumming? Come on! He is one of the premiere drummers in all of Extreme Metal! And he (specifically) has a great ear for Death Metal drumming, too. 

Dethalbum IV is a continuation of Dethklok’s status-quo (though it comes 11 years after its predecessor). I am not saying that this record is boring – quite the opposite – but it is simply OSDM, with some acoustic guitar for accent on a couple tracks, and a little (blackened) fast tremolo picking on “SOS.” BTW, this song is extremely dramatic – the composition and performance, as well as the choral harmonizing, are emotionally charged – just a great song! The opener, “Gardener of Vengeance,” has a recorded power tool for emphesis, and the album closer, “Murmaider III,” has some ironic sounds of the sea. Other than that, all 11 tracks are spot-on; 42 minutes in length, every song is a great specimen for OSDM – no more, no less. Where Dethalbum IV sets itself apart from the previous records by Dethklok is in its production. This album sounds really good! This, as you already know, is important to Ya Girl! Over the last three albums, all of the riffs, drum beats, and gutterals seem to have been placed in a blender; recorded carnage that mimicked the intent of the band and their albums. But the newest offering is incredibly clean! A real pleasure to hear!

Dethalbum IV (stereotypically named) Track Listing:

  1. Gardener of Vengeance
  2. Aortic Desecration
  3. Poisoned by Food
  4. Mutilation on a Saturday Night
  5. Bloodbath
  6. I am the Beast
  7. Horse of Fire
  8. DEADFACE
  9. Satellite Bleeding
  10. SOS
  11. Murmaider III

Rating: 9/10! “On The Nose” Old School Death Metal; intentional and purposeful

Favorite Songs: Aortic Desecration, Horse of Fire, DEADFACE, SOS

Stay Metal,

THE SAW