With the Army Of The Doomstar arriving last fall, Dethklok are continuing their return to slaughtering, this time bringing Dragonforce and Nekrogoblikon. Seeing the end of Metalocalypse in a true fashion last year brought a satisfying conclusion to an amazing concept and act that was Dethklok. Hearing Brendon Small and company take stage and give live to a range of songs from the four album discography and TV soundtracks confirmed that Dethklok’s music is not gone. If anything, it’s more appreciated than ever.
The Filmore was beyond crowded. To describe the venue as having people spill out into the hall and sidewalk would only paint part of the picture as the sold-out building was filled with fans wanting to praise Metalocalypse. Oversold? Possibly. Satisfied? Definitely.
Dethalbum IV released in Fall 2023 and was an honorable mention on our Top 10 BEST Albums of 2023. Hearing some of the new songs like “Aortic Desecration” is somehow more impressive than the studio performance, and matches up with long running material from Dethalbum and Dethalbum II. The sardine-packed crowd knew every song from what I could tell. Night three of The Mutilation On A Spring Night Tour 2024 was less of a metal concert and more of a reunion for metal fans to have fun while Nathan Explosion sings about blood and death.
Supporting Dethklok on their 2024 leg is power metal and nerd heroes Dragonforce, fresh off the release of Warp Speed Warriors which arrived earlier this year. Surrounded by dual video game cabinets and getting the crowd to chant FUS ROH DAH between songs, it was clear Dragonforce knew their audience. It’s nice to hear a band embrace what makes them happy WHILE making sure the audience gets what they expect. Throwing a stuffed animal chicken around during a song dedicated to Zelda and the Triforce was not expected (or at least not by me).
This was my second time seeing Dragonforce live, and first in a concert venue. In every way, Dragonforce relished in participation with the crowd and having fun with the music. Metal doesn’t have to be funeral-serious at all times. You can enjoy performing and go wild singing about fantasy characters.
I was lucky to talk with Alicia and Marc from Dragonforce before the doors opened. Click below to hear a a good dad joke and see footage from the performance, and what Dragonforce has going on in 2024.
Nekrogoblikon opened The Filmore with screaming and an attempt to make fun of the town. The issue was that according to the head goblin, “This is normally where we would make fun of the town but I don’t know anything about Silver Spring. I don’t think anyone does.” The Filmore and Silver Spring, MD escaped scorn due to not being known in goblin geography.
The Mutilation On A Spring Night Tour 2024 will continue through May, ending in Portland, OR. Check out https://dethkloklive.com/ for tickets and more information.
