Dethklok

Dethklok is a virtual melodic death metal band created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha for the television cartoon Metalocalypse. The band is sometimes cited as an example of "comedy rock" on par with bands such as GWAR or Spinal Tap, though the overtly comedic aspects of the band are usually reserved for show episodes. Dethklok released their first album in 2007, and the music itself is relatively straightforward (melodic) death metal. The band's less common typeset moniker, Dëthkløk, includes the heavy metal umlaut. Their debut album, released September 25, 2007, was entitled The Dethalbum. Creator Brendon Small wrote the lyrics and music and also performed the guitar, bass, and vocals; former Death/Dark Angel/Testament/Devin Townsend/Strapping Young Lad drummer Gene Hoglan performed drums on the album. The album debuted at #21 on the Billboard Top 200 list, making it the highest charting (melodic) death metal album ever. In the summer of 2008, Dethklok, the animated band from Adult Swim's Metalocalypse, hits the road on a 28-city headlining tour kicking off June 2 in Portland, Or. Tommy Blacha (Toki, Murderface) does not participate in the (onstage) band. It's Brendon Small and Mike Keneally (Of Zappa fame) on guitars, Bryan Beller on bass (tours with Steve Vai) and Mean Gene Hoglan (Zimmer's Hole, Strapping Young Lad, The Devin Townsend Band, Death, Fear Factory) on drums. In September 29, 2009, they released their second album called Dethalbum II, all songs written and composed by Brendon Small.