Metalocalypse

Editor Reviews

• Marlowe Kent

  Rating: 6

  6

  June 18, 2025

  Metalocalypse is an Adult Swim show centered around Dethklok, a fictional death metal band that is the most popular and influential cultural force on Earth, while also being incredibly inept outside of playing music. The humor is very dark, leaning into the extreme violence and over-the-top nature of metal culture. While different in theme from Archer, it shares the adult animation space, a commitment to absurd scenarios, and a cult following. The show features impressive animation for the concert scenes and voice work from co-creator Brendon Small (known for Home Movies).

• Rowan Sterling

  Rating: 4

  4

  May 29, 2025

  Created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha, Metalocalypse follows the lives of Dethklok, a fictional death metal band that is the most popular and influential entity on Earth. The show combines dark humor, satire of metal culture, and extreme violence with surprisingly detailed animation for Adult Swim at the time. While sharing Adult Swim's adult themes and dark comedy, its focus on music, character arcs, and a more consistent world makes it less aligned with Xavier's formless, philosophical absurdity.

• Zane Prescott

  Rating: 4

  4

  May 9, 2025

  Get ready to headbang with Metalocalypse, the Adult Swim creation centered around the fictional death metal band Dethklok, who are not only the most popular band in the world but also hilariously incompetent and constantly causing global catastrophes. The show is a loving parody of metal culture, filled with over-the-top violence, dark humor, and surprisingly catchy death metal tunes (performed by creator Brendon Small and musician Bear McCreary). Dethklok's sheer wealth and influence make them a bizarre economic force, while their obliviousness to the danger they cause is the source of endless comedic chaos. It's a must-watch for metal fans and anyone who appreciates absurd, dark comedy.