The Campus

Dethklok, the band from the Adult Swim cartoon Metalocalypse, has just released their latest album Dethalbum II. Just like the previous record, The Dethalbum, Dethalbum II is more than just a soundtrack for the show. The album allows the Dethklok universe to expand and become something real. Like the band Gorillaz, Dethklok has actually gone on tour. They are currently co-headlining their third tour with Mastodon. Co-creator and star of Metalocalypse, Brendon Small, will hit the stage with his touring mates in New York on Oct. 29 and 30, while an overhead projection screen will show the cartoon band in various videos. They will be performing all the songs he wrote.

Dethalbum II is a heavy album to say the least. Anyone who has not heard of Dethklok would get the impression that it is indeed a real band. Dethalbum II starts off well, but loses substance with time. The first five tracks are electrifying, and you can feel the spirit of the show in them. The humor in the lyrics, the speed of the songs, and the general content of the songs are worth noting.

The later tracks, however, lack the uniqueness found in the first half of the album. The lyrics for selections like "Dethsupport" and "Comet Song" do hit home as both humorous and "metallic," but the actual instrumental portion and overall content of the songs lack substance. As far as the second half of the album goes, it feels like generic metal. The last bunch of songs just doesn't feel like anything worth recommending to a friend. The riffs, the drumming, and even the lyrics are forgettable.

The appeal to fans to make Dethklok an immersion experience has fallen short. Despite the show being enjoyable and the music in it wonderful in segments, there is nothing to keep it afloat in the real world. Only fans who truly enjoy the show will appreciate the album. To the untrained ear, Dethklok can very well pass for a real band that any metal-head would listen to. Overall, the album had a great start but failed to complete the experience.

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