Dethalbum II (Music from the TV Series Metalocalypse)

iTunes Review

It’s equally funny and disconcerting how a fictional death metal band created for the Adult Swim animated comedy series Metalocalypse can record an album that sounds more brutal and bludgeoning than many modern tangible groups who take their craft so seriously. But that’s half the humor of Dethklok. What’s even funnier is that compared to their debut, the “band’s” second album shows growth in musicianship, songwriting and production. Of course these songs were written and performed by living humans Brendon Small (who juggles vocals, guitars, bass and keyboards) along with Gene Hoglan on drums — although the thunderous roar of opening song “Bloodlines” plays like it took an American/Scandinavian quintet of metal gods to birth something this evil. The guitar solo on “The Gears” plays with such hyper-dexterity that it’s hard to believe humans could pull it off without their fingers exploding into bloody splintered fragments. “Burn The Earth” grinds and punches the hardest, while “Black Fire Upon Us” soars into the cosmos with flawless guitarmonies and a pummeling rhythm section that hits like Thor’s almighty hammer.