Dethklok

It’s official. Brendon Small, the creator, executive producer, writer, director, voice actor and composer of the animated series “Metalocalypse,” is a rock star.

Any person able to transition a fictional band from a TV show and turn them into an honest-to-god touring band deserves some kudos and any person who is able to get Mastodon, Converge and High On Fire as supporting acts for said fictional band is pretty damn rocking.

Any person who is the front man of a fictional band whose fans exceed that of their openers is a rock star — that’s exactly what Small and company did Tuesday, Oct. 20, at Columbus’ Lifestyle Communities Pavilion.

If there was any question to Dethklok’s popularity, seeing the line of fans wrapping around the block waiting to get in removed any doubt. A snake of black T-shirts coiled for what seemed like forever.

After waiting more than an hour to enter the venue, fans were met with High On Fire’s grungy blend of stoner rock and heavy metal. The trio, led by Matt Pike, started playing while the crowd was still filing in, but they didn’t fail to grab their attention. The pit quickly filled and spirit fingers went up quickly during Pike’s many solos. The band put on a good show and the musicianship was impressive, but more movement would’ve been appreciated.

That quibble was addressed more than adequately with the next band, Converge. Celebrating the release of their newest album, Converge began their set with guitarist Kurt Ballou ripping through the heavily distorted opening riffs of “Plagues.”

Some in the crowd looked either confused or disgusted, but Converge’s fans whipped into a frenzy, knowing the auditory assault to come. When drummer Ben Koller, bassist Nate Newton and vocalist Jacob Bannon joined Ballou, the attack began.

Converge’s live show is akin to a knife fight. It’s an elegant mix of brutality and precision. In the end, no one is safe. Blasting through new songs and old favorites like “Jane Doe’s” and “Concubine,” the band played with a crushing accuracy.

Bannon’s harpy screeches and Ballou’s distortion turned off a lot of first-time listeners. That’s too bad, considering Converge’s track record as one of the most consistent acts in metal. But the fans understood the appeal, and soaked in a hectic mix of punk, hardcore and good, old-fashioned metal.

Following Converge was media darling, Mastodon. The four-piece rolled through their new album “Crack the Skye” from beginning to end, with a massive film projected behind them. Almost immediately, the acrid scent of pot wafted through the air. But it’s unclear whether Mastodon would have provided a good or bad trip. Always masters of elegant transitions, their video matched the melody. Seamlessly twisting from the ethereal to the devious, the music and film took the audience on a ride. I doubt anyone outside of Mastodon truly understood the film’s meaning, but it was impressive nonetheless.
After completing “Crack the Skye,” Mastodon returned to play tracks from their previous releases, showcasing their dingier, crustier sound.

Mastodon was an excellent buildup for Dethklok. The fans were primed and ready for some animated mayhem. And they didn’t have long to wait. During setup, a glorified commercial for Jack Black’s new videogame, “Brutal Legend,” was played. A commercial with Jack Black and Dethklok means it’s going to be hilarious, no matter the subject.
The set began with an animated short, poking fun at metal fans. You could see Metalocalypse’s writers had some amusement with the entire experience.

Dethklok, basically Brendon Small and three other touring musicians, took the stage amid cheers and waves of devil horns. When “Bloodlines” kicked in, the audience knew, it was time for the ’Klok.

Jamming through hits from both Dethalbums, Dethklok too utilized the video screen behind them. Playing choreographed videos to the music, scenes of blood, gore, devils and all things metal flooded the screen. The most often used word of the night had to be, simply, brutal.

During a few moments, various interludes played, keeping the mood light with Dethklok’s brand of humor. Show fans were in for a treat, with returning characters featured in the shorts.

Any reservations held by fans wondering how an animated band would be translated to a real-life tour were surely shattered by Dethklok’s vicious instrumentation. The songs might have spawned from a comedy, but they are anything but funny. In fact, it is some of the mostly tightly constructed pieces of death metal in recent years.

After the set, while the real -life performers were being introduced, Brendon Small, the crazed originator of this tour received the biggest cheer of them all. Waving to the crowd, he handled it just like a rock star.