Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem

Studio: Titmouse
Publisher: Madman Entertainment
Formats: DVD (reviewed) / Blu-ray
Release Date: October 21, 2015
Price: $24.95 AUD (DVD) – Available Here / $29.95 AUD (Blu-ray) – Available Here / 29.95 AUD (Limited Edition DVD) – Available Here / $34.95 AUD (Limited Edition Blu-ray) – Available Here / Complete Series Box Set $89.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

Following the events of season four, the monks of the Church of the Black Klok sing a prophecy stating that one person must die before everything is over. Toki and Abigail are being held prisoner by Magnus Hammersmith and the masked assassin. Offdensen and the Klokateers try their best to locate Toki, but in the end, it is up to the four remaining members of Dethklok to save the day.

Story

The members of Dethklok are more interested in partying than saving Toki and Abigail. However, Nathan is still experiencing emotions and laments over the abduction of Abigail. All that came from the attempts to find Toki is a video on a USB drive featuring Magnus with his two prisoners. The subject matter is mostly serious, but there is still humour to be found throughout the special. The use of humour during certain musical numbers is effective and gives the special a bit of the same comedic feel that the early episodes had. The members of Dethklok feel as if there is no way they can save the day. Their attempts to perform without Toki fail, however, so they eventually decide to follow the clue given in Magnus’ video and find him.

Although Toki has been kidnapped and emotionally, if not physically, tortured, he is the star of one of the most emotional scenes in the special and the series as a whole. It was previously revealed that Toki was not originally a part of the band, and it is now revealed how Toki came to be a part of Dethklok. Toki may not always be as brutal as his band mates are, but this flashback shows just how important friendship and a sense of belonging are to him. The theme of sacrifice is also prominent in a couple of scenes, and is used to show just how much the members of the band, and in particular Nathan, have grown since they first met.

By the end of this special, the majority of the plot points have been concluded. It almost ends positively, but the story has not been fully told. It ends on a sinister note with only a couple of clues as to what is going on, so the series will not be complete without another television season. As of the writing of this review, the status of the potential fifth and final season is unknown.

Visuals

Brendon Small stated in the “Making of” extra that he wanted the animation to look theatrical. To achieve this, he asked the animators to add heavy lighting effects. The difference this makes can be clearly seen in the video. The animation has always been decent, certain special features notwithstanding, but the bar of quality has been significantly raised in this special. If the runtime was doubled, The Doomstar Requiem could easily pass as a theatrical feature. The special is comprised of a series of connected song sequences. Accompanying the song “Givin’ Back to You” is a fantastic parody of the music video for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” This dance sequence is well-coordinated, and the level of effort that has gone into the making of this entire special is impressive. Relatively limited animation is suitable for other North American animated series, so rarely does any western 2D animated production look this good.

Audio

As stated in the “Making of” video, it makes perfect sense for there to be a Metalocalypse opera. The score of the Klok Opera was written entirely by Brendon Small and performed by a 50-piece orchestra. The music has been excellent throughout the series, but this score is theatrical from start to finish. A wider variety of musical genres are featured in The Doomstar Requiem, and although the tone of the series has well and truly changed, the choices made are effective in creating a musical score that never becomes dull or repetitive. “The Doomstar Orchestra,” an instrumental song included only on the CD, is an excellent theatrical piece and a fantastic addition to the soundtrack. Strangely, the swearing is censored on the DVD release even though the songs are uncensored on the CD.

There are multiple occasions when the main characters’ singing parts are not sung by their regular voice actors. Toki’s style of speech is retained, but his singing parts are sung by Mike Keneally. Keneally is able to replicate Toki’s voice to a certain extent, but the change is noticeable. Pickles’ singing voice sounds significantly different to his normal speaking voice as well. It is mentioned in the “Making of” video that one of the hardest things for an actor to do is to sing, but Brendan Small’s direction helps make the most of the singing voices sound natural. The decision to change Toki’s voice actor for the singing parts may upset the more dedicated fans, but even though the changes are somewhat jarring, they do not significantly detract from the quality of the special overall. The vocals are also almost impossible to hear at certain points, but the audio mixing could be worse.

Extras

Included on this release is the “Making of” video discussed above. This video features clips recorded during production, such as shots of actors recording their voices in the studio and interviews with the creative team. The physical bonus included with this release is a CD containing the full opera plus an exclusive song produced for this CD. A skull mug is also included with the limited edition DVD and Blu-ray releases of this special.

Overall

The creative team has managed to pack a large amount of content into a relatively short runtime. This might sound like a bad thing, but the pacing does not suffer because of the ambitious endeavour. Although there are some issues to be had with the audio, The Doomstar Requiem is one of the greatest musical events on television and a fantastic addition to the Metalocalypse series. It is clear that this was never meant to be the end of the series, so one can hope that Small’s plans for a final season are approved so that this story can be told in its entirety. Metalocalypse may not be for everyone, but those who have not seen the series before and are looking for an unorthodox series to watch might enjoy this series.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Metalocalypse Season Four

Studio: Titmouse
Publisher: Madman Entertainment
Formats: DVD (reviewed) / Blu-ray
Release Date: October 21, 2015 / Original Release Date: December 5, 2012
Price: $34.95 AUD (DVD) – Available Here / $34.95 AUD (Blu-ray) – Available Here / Box-Set $89.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

Dethklok has produced a new album. It is shipping around the world on water, an analog format that carries a higher quality sound according to the band. The master copy of the album is destroyed along with all retail copies of the album, forcing Dethklok to record a new album underwater. Tensions rise during the month of recording before the conspiracy surrounding Dethklok is finally revealed.

Story

This season marks the return to the 11-minute format that has been used throughout the majority of the series. A lot happens in this short season, including a significant amount of plot progression and even some unexpected character development. The members of Dethklok act nastily towards each other most of the time, but they have rare moments of compassion. The show was entertaining before when it was almost entirely satirical, but it is more engaging now that the writers have begun developing the main characters.

Despite the the increased amount of drama, satire is still present. The opening episode features an over-the-top satire of what can happen when a fan dates a hugely successful celebrity, while at the same time grossly exaggerating what fan obsession is like. Events become strange and overly dramatic as this situation comes to a conclusion, but the dark humour does not end there. Accusations of racism come into play in another episode, and that episode has an even more shocking ending than the last. Terrorist threats are even parodied just for the sake of shock value. The writers seem to be trying to outdo the dark humour with each episode, but they avoid turning Metalocalypse into a show that is just about shock value, which is exactly what has happened with many other North American animated series over the years.

Tensions have often been high between members of the band, but they rise to a fever pitch towards the end of this season. They may be unaware of the conspiracy surrounding them, but the individual band members have their own problems to deal with. Having to spend a month recording with just one woman in their company, the band’s new producer Abigail, drives some of them mad. Unsurprisingly, two of them compete for her attention with predictable results. As the season draws to a close, the series finally beings to show its emotional side. It ends on a major cliffhanger, but the plot is now well and truly underway.

Visuals

There is a reliance on visual humour in this season. Unlike with season two, however, the visual humour is based on shock value rather than pop-culture references or in-show references. There are multiple sex scenes, as well as visual references to the Ku Klux Klan and Adolf Hitler. One episode also satires the popular trend for people to get plastic surgery in order to ‘improve’ their appearance. This has predictably disastrous and grotesque results. There is still a lot of blood and gore, so fans who particularly enjoy the violent aspects of the show will continue to find a lot to enjoy even as the story gradually moves towards its dramatic conclusion.

Audio

The music is as the same as ever, but there are less Dethklok songs featured than usual. This is not just because of the smaller length of this season in comparison to previous seasons. It is also because Nathan has writer’s block and because of the issues that the band has during and after their month of recording. Those who particularly enjoyed the musical elements of the series may find the significant shift in tone towards the end of season to be a disagreeable change, but this season ultimately does not suffer because of its relative lack of Dethklok songs.

Extras

This set does not contain any hidden extras. Nathan Explosion’s reading of Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors can be found in the special features menu on the first disc. Several extras can be found in the special features menu on the second disc. These include: “Pickles Flyby,” “StaresDown” Parts 1-3, “MurderThoughts,” “The Prophecy,” “Dr. Rockzo’s Greatest Hits,” “CFO Raps,” Dethklok fan art and “The Dethgame.” As always, the entertainment value of the extras will vary. It would have made more sense for the fan art to be included as a gallery instead of as a video, but viewers can pause the video if they want to look at a certain image more closely. The previous videos featuring Nathan Explosion reading Shakespeare’s plays have been somewhat entertaining and interesting despite the limited animation, but even the most dedicated fans will have issues with this fourth reading. It is monotonous and extremely tedious to watch; the PAL version has a runtime of over 84 minutes. This means that it is technically a feature film according to the scrolling text at the end. If the production did not seem so poorly planned, then the length might not have been a problem, but the final version could have several whole minutes cut out of it and not suffer at all. Sounds and even whole dialogue segments are looped for minutes at a time. This extra features an attempt at humour through repetition, and although it is successful on a few occasions, the repetition is taken so far that it seems as if the existence of this extra is a cruel joke. The scrolling text in all of Nathan’s Shakespeare readings may sarcastically suggest something to that effect, but this time around, it is difficult to believe that this was produced sarcastically.

Overall

This season is significantly shorter than the previous ones. In spite of this, however, the satire is as clever as ever. The two story arcs in this season are well-paced and well-written. It is difficult to see how the series could conclude with just a single television special, but it will be worth finding out what happens next.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Metalocalypse Season Three

Studio: Titmouse
Publisher: Madman Entertainment
Formats: DVD (reviewed) / Blu-ray
Release Date: October 21, 2015 / Original Release Date: December 1, 2010
Price: $34.95 AUD (DVD) – Available Here / $34.95 AUD (Blu-ray) – Available Here / Complete Series Box Set $89.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

Following the attack on Mordhaus, Dethklok has to live without the help of Charles Offdensen. The members of the band have no idea how to manage money and subsequently find themselves in even more trouble when their lack of legal knowledge puts them at great risk. Meanwhile, the mysterious Falconback Project commences in the shadows.

Story

All episodes in this season are 21-minutes long. The previous format did not allow for particularly in-depth plots or character development, so this format provides an opportunity to alter the tone of the show. The shift towards plot-driven drama began with the previous season, but this shift is so far proving to be nothing but a positive change. Metalocalypse may not be exactly the same show it started out as, but the episodes are more meaningful and engaging than ever before now that they are longer.

One of the more meaningful events in this season is the band’s decision to start acting like a group of normal people instead of a bunch of celebrities. They learn what life is like for people less successful than themselves, although this unfortunately does not result in them learning what sympathy is. They are still as incapable of looking after themselves as they were before; despite being incredibly successful, they still need Offdensen as a guardian figure in their lives. One episode deals with Skwisgaar’s father abandonment issues surprisingly seriously and carefully, although the drama is still interrupted by grotesque humour. The character development that occurs in this season makes it possible to see the band members in a different light. While this development may have added a level of depth to the show, very little plot progression actually occurs. The mystery of Charles’ death is left unintentionally unanswered by the end of this season. This suggests that the reveal of the true nature of the conspiracy involving Dethklok is being saved until quite late in the series, and it is clear that the band members have a long way to go before they work out exactly how to sort out their lives regardless of what comes their way.

Visuals

The episodes are now animated within the 16:9 aspect ratio. Additionally, the visuals are now uncensored, excluding a brief shot in which Murderface imagines that he is surrounded by two topless women. There is still plenty of violence, death and destruction, but there are fewer visual gags than before. Although they were an entertaining touch to the series, this season does not suffer as a result.

Audio

The swearing is no longer censored. The writers seem to have recognised this in the fourth episode, based on an intentional attempt to avoid swearing in this episode. There is still just as much variety in the music as before, so fans who have enjoyed the music so far will continue to enjoy what is on offer here. Fans of Dr Rockzo in particular will enjoy hearing a song performed by his old band Zazz Blammymatazz.

Extras

Once again, there are many extras included. The music videos for the songs “Bloodlines,” “Burn the Earth,” “Black Fire Upon Us” and “The Gears” are available in the ‘Special Features’ menu on the first disc, as is Nathan Explosion’s reading of Shakespeare’s Othello. There are numerous pop culture references and even North American sports references in this 38-and-a-half-minute extra. The animation is extremely limited; the sound of pages turning can be heard despite Nathan’s hands remaining motionless. There is no possibility of gaining an understanding of the play from this reading, but Nathan does make a couple of interesting critiques of it. This long video may not interest people who are not interested in Shakespeare’s works, but it may otherwise be entertaining for viewers. There are two hidden extras on the first disc. A chilling teaser for General Crozier and the Falconback Project can be found by pressing up four times when the ‘Special Features’ button is highlighted. Another video featuring Offdensen ‘palling around’ can be found by pressing up or right when the previous hidden extra is highlighted.

There are several extras in the Special Features menu on the second disc, the majority of which are extended scenes from various episodes. They include: “Dimmu Burger Drive Thru,” “Places,” “House Cleaning,” “Furniture,” “Immortal Records,” Klokateer Recruitment videos 1-4, “Escort Services,” “Drunk,” “Snacks” and “Two Swedish Dads Extended Cut.” Most of these extras are of a reasonable length, but the extended scene of Pickles’ drunk nonsense is tedious to watch due to its long length, pointless dialogue and both limited and repeated animation. There are three hidden extras on the second disc. A strange and poorly animated three-and-a-half-minute dance sequence featuring three Murderfaces can be found by pressing up four times from the ‘Special Features’ button. An eight-minute video of a janitor cleaning a room for the Tribunal can be found from the previous hidden extra by pressing up or left to highlight a window on the left building. Very little happens during the first three minutes of this video, and there is no incentive to watch the rest of it. A whack-a-clown video can be found by pressing up or right from the previous window to highlight a different window on the same building. The entertainment value of the extras included with this season will vary for each individual.

Overall

The style of the show has changed, but it is clear that the writers know what they are doing. The members of Dethklok are still as ignorant and immature as ever, yet there are moments when they exhibit human qualities and almost seem like normal people. That they are not in fact normal people is a point that is driven home on multiple occasions, but the clever satire of fame and other topics such as religion, drugs and political tensions makes the series feel as if it could somehow take place in the real world. It will be interesting to see how the plot progresses with just twelve episodes and one television special left, but the series has been going strong thus far and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Metalocalypse Season Two

Studio: Titmouse
Publisher: Madman Entertainment
Format: DVD (reviewed)
Release Date: October 21, 2015 / Original Release Date: December 3, 2008
Price: $34.95 AUD – Available Here / Complete Series Box Set $89.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

The Metalocalypse has begun, but the members of Dethklok remain unaware of everything that is going on around them. The mysterious organisation seen in the first season is still participating in some kind of conspiracy involving Dethklok, but they are waiting patiently until it is time to enact their plan. Characters previously thought to have been kidnapped and held hostage at Mordhaus reappear as the plot thickens.

Story

As opposed to the majority of the episodes from the first season, individual episodes are now relevant to the overarching plot. Many episodes of the first season ended ambiguously, and it is now clear why those endings were inconclusive. Characters who previously appeared to be insignificant return to play a more important role. This generally means trouble for Dethklok even if they do not realise it, but not every returning character is an antagonist. The therapist, Dr. Twinkletits, returns with robotic arms and is much calmer now, for example. Things are more serious and the stakes are higher, but Dethklok rises above all hardships they face, usually through sheer brutality. Certain scenes are more grotesque than they are humorous. However, some of these sequences are important to the plot. There is even a very small amount of character development; Toki is given an opportunity to be as brutal, if not more so, than his fellow band mates.

It was not uncommon for television series to satire illegal music downloads during the time of original broadcast. The third episode of this season takes this issue and combines it with a satire of the way in which celebrities seem to be somewhat exempt from the law. This season may be more plot-driven than the first season, but it maintains the same level of satire and ramps up the grotesqueness that is characteristic of animated Adult Swim series. It may become too creepy for some, but the satire of politics, drug rehabilitation services and charity, among other things, helps make Metalocalypse more meaningful and engaging.

Visuals

Visual humour is abundant in this season. At least one pop culture reference makes it way into the visuals, and Toki’s manner of speaking also makes its way into the visuals when Toki is seen reading a fictional book titled “Hows to Records.” Although the product information states that the episodes are in the 4:3 format, they display in a format close to the 16:9 aspect ratio.

Audio

Individual band members get a chance to play their instruments on their own and even sing on their own in this season. The style of the Dethklok songs is the same, but the band does step outside of its comfort zone in an episode about the blues. The variety of music makes each episode equally worth listening to and watching.

Extras

There is no special features menu on the first disc; all extras are hidden. Rapidly pressing down four times from the ‘Episodes’ button will reveal a menu from which the episodes “Dethecution,” “Dethvengeance,” “Dethdoubles,” “Dethfashion” and “Cleanso” can be viewed with uncensored audio. The production information does not mention that any uncensored episodes are included in this set, and the same problem occurs with the original release of this season in 2008. An extended version of the boat-pulling scene from “Dethcarraldo” can be found by pressing up three times from the ‘Episodes’ button or by manually highlighting the Dethklok logo. An extended version of the scene from “Dethcarraldo” in which a group of Klokateers clear the area for the Dethboat can be found by going left from the Dethklok logo or by highlighting Pickles’ right eye. A video featuring the members of Dethklok listing all of the band names they remember can be found by going up from Pickles’ eye or by highlighting Skwisgaar’s right eye. An 11-minute video of Offdensen making telephone calls can be found by going right from Skwisgaar’s right eye or by highlighting his left eye. A video featuring Facebones showing various items from around Mordhaus can be found by going up from Skwisgaar’s left eye or by highlighting Nathan’s right eye. A news report about the Klokateers can be viewed by going right from Nathan’s right eye or by highlighting his left eye. An eight minute video of Murderface’s trip to an opera can be found by going right from Nathan’s left eye or by highlighting Murderface’s right eye. The “Murmaider” music video can be found by going right from Murderface’s eye or by highlighting Toki’s right eye. A short clip of Toki playing an arcade game can be found by going right from Toki’s right eye or by highlighting his left eye.

All of the extras on the second disc are hidden as well. As with the first disc, rapidly pressing down four times from the ‘Episodes’ button will reveal a hidden menu featuring the episodes “The Revengencers,” “Klokblocked,” “Dethsources” and “Dethdad” with uncensored audio. The “Bloodrocuted” music video can be found by pressing up three times from ‘Episodes’ or by highlighting the Dethklok logo. This video is letterboxed and presented in the 4:3 aspect ratio. A video featuring Dethklok watching a NASCAR race can be found by going left from the Dethklok logo or by highlighting Skwisgaar’s left eye. A video of Offdensen ‘palling around’ with the band can be found by going up from Skwisgaar’s eye or by highlighting the left unicorn’s legs. A video of fans dying violently can be found by going up from the unicorn’s legs or by highlighting the left unicorn’s eye. “Klokateers: In Memoriam” can be viewed by going right from the left unicorn’s eye or by highlighting the right unicorn. A video featuring Edgar Jomfru training in a swimming pool can be found by going right from the right unicorn or by highlighting Nathan’s left eye. Nathan Explosion’s reading of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus can be found by going right from Nathan’s eye or by highlighting Murderface’s left eye. A video featuring Dethklok producer Dick Knubbler interviewing Murderface and Toki about their song “Takin’ It Easy” can be found by going down from Murderface’s eye or by highlighting Toki’s right eye. A video featuring a couple of people editing a video can be found by going right from Toki’s right eye or by highlighting his left eye.

Overall

This season has a more serious tone than the first one, but it is still entertaining and just as hilarious as before. Shows that try to become too serious and do away with their comedic roots tend to rapidly decrease in quality, however, so whether or not that fate falls upon Metalocalypse remains to be seen. So far, the balance between drama and comedy is being maintained. The only major issue with this release is the lack of important product information on the back cover.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Metalocalypse Season One

Studio: Titmouse
Publisher: Madman Entertainment
Format: DVD (reviewed)
Release Date: October 21, 2015 / Original Release Date: December 5, 2007
Price: $34.95 AUD – Available Here / Complete Series Box Set $89.95 AUD – Available Here

Overview

Dethklok is the biggest death metal band in the world. Nathan Explosion is the lead vocalist and lead songwriter. Skwisgaar Skwigelf is the lead guitarist. Toki Wartooth is the rhythm guitarist. Pickles is the drummer. William Murderface is the bass player. Charles Foster Offdensen is the band’s manager and CFO. They do not always get along, even though they all live together. The members of Dethklok are ignorant of the fact that a mysterious conspiracy surrounds them, the details of which are only known to a select few.

Story

Metalocalypse presents many exaggerated stereotypes of music fans. One scene features fans signing a waiver that releases Dethklok from any responsibility or liability in the event that anyone dies at their concerts, and this is not the only way in which the series takes the term ‘die-hard fan’ literally. Many fans commit suicide after having to wait for what they consider to be too long for the next Dethklok album to come out, an hyperbolic representation of fans who demand that there is always more content for them to enjoy.

The childhood experiences of the Dethklok members are unusual and violent, but the writers make an interesting point about what it is like to raise children. Therapy and psychological validation are explored comically in one episode while the effects of drugs are explored seriously in another. Religion in particular is the subject of harsh satire in one episode. There is a lot of satire present, much more than what is outlined here. Some scenes are simply random or dramatic, but this series is more than just mindless entertainment. The satire is generally used for humour, but there are times when it is chillingly accurate about certain things, including how children are raised.

A mysterious organisation is introduced at the beginning of the series. This organisation remains nameless throughout the first season, but actively engages in secret missions to uncover information about Dethklok. Although some members of this organisation do pose a significant threat to Dethklok, it is not until the last episode of this season that there is any plot progression. At the same time, the final episode of this season is the first in which there is any continuity between episodes; nothing that happens in the first 19 episodes seems to be particularly significant in regards to the plot.

Visuals

Metalocalypse features a significant amount of violence and grotesqueness. All nudity is censored in this season, but uncensored versions of scenes featuring nudity are included as hidden extras. The episodes are letterboxed, but if they are zoomed in, they can be viewed in a format close to the 16:9 aspect ratio.

Audio

Given that this is a series about a death metal band, death metal songs are featured prominently. It can be difficult to make out the lyrics on certain occasions, so it is recommended to listen them at a higher volume if possible. There are many guest stars from real bands, some of whom appear in multiple episodes, and all voice actors do a fantastic job of bringing their characters to life. All swearing is censored.

Extras

The extras included on the first disc include the Murderface Bass Solo, an extended version of a scene from the episode “Birthdayface,” and the Skiwsgaar Skiwgelf instructional video. There are also several extras hidden in the main menu. Nathan’s reading of Shakespeare’s Hamlet can be viewed by going up from the ‘Play All’ button or by manually highlighting Skwisgaar’s eyes. An extended and uncensored version of Murderface playing the fictional game “Wheelchair Bound” can be viewed by going up from the ‘Episodes’ button or by highlighting Nathan’s eyes. A 90-second video featuring Ravenwood playing an acoustic guitar while watching Skwisgaar’s instructional video can be found by going down from the ‘Set Up’ button or by highlighting the Dethklok logo. Uncensored outtakes from Skwisgaar’s music video “Thunder Horse” can be found by going up from the ‘Extras’ button or by highlighting Toki’s eyes.

The extras included on disc two include nine band interviews, all of which appear to play at a lower volume than everything else, a Mordhaus Tour given by Facebones and the Murder Reel, a compilation of the most violent scenes from this season. There are also hidden extras in the main menu. The uncensored version of the scene featuring Toki’s ‘codpiece’ from “Murdering Outside the Box” can be found by going up from the ‘Play All’ button or by highlighting the inside of the ‘D’ in ‘Dethklok.’ The food menu for Burzum’s can be found by going up from the ‘Episodes’ button or by highlighting the Dethklok logo. A Selatcia teaser can be viewed by going up from the ‘Set Up’ button or by highlighting the ‘o.’ A video featuring Pickles incoherently rambling about various things while drunk can be found by going up from the ‘Special Features’ button or by highlighting the top-right tip of the second ‘k’ in ‘Dethklok.’ An uncensored version of the scene featuring Nathan’s groupies from the episode “Girlfriendklok” can be found by going down from the ‘Extras’ button or by highlighting the tip of the right axe in the Dethklok logo. The entertainment value of these extras will vary for each individual viewer; they are not all worth watching.

Overall

It is commonly believed in western culture that animated series are only for children. There are a few animated series produced in North America that are aimed at adults, but except for few exceptions such as South Park, most of them are just a collection of crude jokes and are pointlessly random. Metalocalypse may feature some crude humour, and may occasionally be a little random, but many episodes do have a purpose. There is a moral point to be found in the crazy things that happen because of and to the members of Dethklok. Similarly to South Park, Metalocalypse is hilariously entertaining because it offers a harsh satire on many aspects of western society and of human nature. It may be censored and too violent and grotesque for some, but its brutal satire and clever jokes make every episode entertaining.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.