Perhaps surpassing their forebears in Spinal Tap and Bad News in sheer musicianship and most certainly eclipsing all cartoon rock bands past and present (sorry Gorillaz), Dethklok continues to be a force to be reckoned with. Their new record ‘Dethalbum IV’ is the first of a trilogy of unholy releases which includes the long-awaited motion picture finale to the Metalocalypse story ‘Army of the Doomstar’ and its soundtrack.
Like all great comedy, the commitment to the joke is clutch. On its surface, Dethklok is a one-trick pony. That is they are an often-hilarious satirical take on the ridiculousness of death-metal. That alone is brilliant; however, when you combine that with the chops and songwriting of its uber-talented master-mind Brendon Small and the incredible drumming of his musical partner-in-crime, the legendary Gene Hoglan, it becomes a multi-dimensional prospect indeed. Small, Hoglan, and Metalocalypse co-creator Tommy Blacha understand the ridiculousness and over-the-topness of heavy metal, and their piss-take on the genre is executed with true love and admiration. Eclipsing this all is the fact that Dethklok as a top-notch live and recording band is absolutely no joke.
The absurdly titled yet relatable “Poisoned by Food” plods along with all the subtlety of a sickly 8-ton mammoth. Its heavy groove is enhanced by pinch-harmonics and descending atmospheric synths and its hyper-melodic guitar lead adds a catchiness rarely heard in death metal.
Small’s ability to interject hooks without resorting to poorly sung or overly-processed melodic vocals is on full display on ‘Dethalbum IV.’ Consider the gloomy textures of the record standout “Deadface.” Its minor key arpeggios is offset by the ebb and flow of its slinky doom riffs, all accentuated by Nathan Explosions’ haunting death growl. “Satellite Bleeding” follows a similarly foreboding path. Its stuttering staccato rhythms are underpinned by angular lead guitar and horror-scape synths.
Elsewhere, the taut rhythms and fleet-fingered leads of “Gardener of Evil” claw their way to the surface and culminate in a chainsaw solo that would make Jesse James Dupree (Jackyl) proud, and “Horse of Fire” somehow adds eighties new wave synths to a pummeling groove to great effect.
On ‘Dethalbum IV,’ Dethklok’s first record in 10 years, William Murderface, Skwisgaar Skwigelf, Nathan Explosion, Pickles, and Toki Wartooth offer up another excellent and uncompromising record. Ultimately, the record is a riveting progressive death-metal record that belies its cartoon roots. Newcomers drawn in by Adult Swim and genre diehards alike should find plenty to like here.
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Songwriting & Lyrics8/10 Very GoodUltimately, the record is a riveting progressive death-metal record that belies its cartoon roots. Newcomers drawn in by Adult Swim and genre diehards alike should find plenty to like here.
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Overall Sound7/10 GoodOn ‘Dethalbum IV,’ Dethklok’s first record in 10 years, William Murderface, Skwisgaar Skwigelf, Nathan Explosion, Pickles, and Toki Wartooth offer up another excellent and uncompromising record.