Written By Tom Wilke
A Brief History of Metalocalypse and Dethklok
Before Dethklok took the stage by storm in flesh and bone, they were born from the animated chaos of Metalocalypse, the cult Adult Swim series created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha back in 2006. The show followed the absurd, hilariously brutal, and strangely lovable fictional band Dethklok. A death metal outfit so powerful their concerts caused natural disasters and stock market crashes.
But Dethklok didn’t stay confined to the screen. Brendon Small, the mastermind behind the music, brought the band to life with real world releases like The Dethalbum series, featuring the thunderous drumming of Gene Hoglan. Over the years, Dethklok evolved from an animated parody into a legitimate metal force with legions of loyal fans.
After a long silence following the show’s cancellation, the band roared back in 2023 with Dethalbum IV and Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar, a feature length film that wrapped up the band’s apocalyptic saga in true metal fashion. And now, they’re back onstage. No longer just a animated series, but a crushing immersive experience.
The line to the venue wrapped around five or six blocks outside Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, a turnout that more than justified the venue upgrade. Inside, the place was packed wall to wall with eager fans who had waited nearly two decades for this moment.
Kicking off the night was rising Australian death metal act Freedom of Fear, and they absolutely crushed it. Their set was a wild ride through many metal subgenres, thrash, groove, technical death, brutal death you name it, they hit it. Each track felt like a new band had taken the stage, keeping the crowd on its toes. Frontwoman Jade Monserrat was a revelation. From the back of the room, most assumed those vicious growls were coming from a man until she spoke between songs and stunned everyone around us. Draped in flowing black and moving with eerie grace, she had major Morticia Addams vibes, but with a fierce, commanding stage presence. Her vocal range is jaw dropping, and her performance was unforgettable. Guitarists Matt Walters and Corey Davis, along with drummer Liam Weedall, delivered a tight, pummeling performance that left my group and the entire crowd buzzing. If you haven’t heard Freedom of Fear yet, fix that immediately!
Then came the moment we’d all been waiting for. The stage went dark, and a video featuring Metalocalypse villains asked, “Is Dethklok back?”
As the band’s silhouettes emerged, the room erupted and they tore into the iconic Dethklok theme song. Brendan Small wasted no time showing off his chops, ripping through “Happy Dethday” and “Mutilation on a Saturday Night” with flawless precision. A giant screen behind the band played synced footage from the show, adding a layer of visual madness to the sonic assault. Small’s vocals were spot on, channeling Nathan Explosion with every guttural roar while somehow nailing every complex guitar riff. The man’s a machine.
The setlist was packed with bangers: “Awaken,” “The Gears,” “Castratikron,” “Hatredcopter,” “Dethsupport,” and of course, the almighty “Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle.” Between songs, Facebones popped up with hilarious public service announcements, drawing massive laughs with messages like “try showering once in a while” and “don’t do so many drugs that your friends have to babysit you.” His unhinged descent into madness ended with his face melting on screen, much to the crowd’s delight.
Despite the high energy, the crowd was respectful and smooth all night. A few crowd surfers added to the chaos, but nothing got out of hand. When they dropped “Aortic Desecration,” “I Ejaculate Fire,” “The Duel,” and fan favorites like “Mermaider” and “Thunderhorse,” the place went ballistic.
As the show seemed to end, the lights went dark, but Brendan Small reemerged, swapping between voices of Nathan Explosion, Skwisgaar, and Pickles. In true Dethklok style, they poked fun at how it took 20 years to reach Australia. They showed love for Mad Max and Freedom of Fear while riffing in character. Then Charles, their animated manager, chimed in to “end” the show only to greenlight one more round.
The band returned for a three song encore, “Fansong,” “S.O.S.,” and “Go Into the Water” and closed the night in epic fashion. Brisbane finally got its long overdue taste of Dethklok, and it was every bit as brutal, hilarious, and unforgettable as fans hoped it would be.
Dethklok Setlist
at Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, Australia
Is Dethklok Back?
Play Video
1.Deththeme
Video
2.Briefcase Full of Guts
Video
3.Birthday Dethday
Video
4.Mutilation on a Saturday Night
Video
5.Bloodlines
Video
Concert Tips with Facebones
(Concert Hygiene)
Video
6.Awaken
Video
7.The Gears
Video
8.Castratikron
Video
9.Hatredcopter
Video
10.Dethsupport
Video
11.Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle
Video
Concert Tips with Facebones
(Drinking and Drug Use)
Video
12.Aortic Desecration
Video
13.I Ejaculate Fire
Video
14.The Duel
Video
15.Murmaider
Video
Thunderhorse
16.Play Video
Encore:
16.Fansong
Video
17. SOS
Video
18. Go Into the Water
Videos By Tim Wilke
