Heavy metal gets a bad rap sometimes. The genre was synonymous with satanism, tattoos, unkempt hair, and a plethora of tinnitus-riddled head-bangers that espoused the praises of their favorite subgenre. However, Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse remains beloved by both metal fans and casual viewers alike, with praise given to its genuine passion for the music and its ability to make fun of it.
The series originally lasted four seasons, concluding with an hour-long rock opera – “The Doomstar Requiem” – that left several important plot lines unfortunately unresolved. Joining the likes of Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm and the Venture Bros. movie, a direct-to-video film was announced in order to finally end the series proper.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Over the course of the series, Metalocalypse has grown from featuring the death-metal band Dethklok to a wide swath of interesting, hilarious, and brutal characters. Some are voiced by famous members of the metal community, while others are voiced by the series co-creators, Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha. Regardless of what the film will cover, these are just a few of the characters we’d like hopefully see in it.
Nathan Explosion (Brendon Small)
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
The lead vocalist of Dethklok, Nathan Explosion, is the main creative force of the group, often serving as a de facto leader in the bizarre scenarios they find themselves in. He is instantly recognizable with his stocky figure, inky hair, and the unmistakable growl in his voice whenever he speaks.
Despite singing about gore and viscera on the regular, he’s arguably the most “stable” member of the band, lacking some major vices that occasionally get the others into trouble. Impulsiveness, however, remains an issue for him.
Pickles (Brendon Small)
The mid-western drummer of Dethklok, Pickles is a drug-addicted, socially-amicable member of the band, originally leading a different metal group by the name of “Snakes ’n’ Barrels.” Despite the constant boozing, his intelligence remains largely intact, being able to grasp basic concepts like “shopping for food at a grocery store” – something that the pampered band can’t quite grasp otherwise. While he’s able to keep his cool when faced with incompetence and misfortune, his anger sometimes has a way of getting out of hand.
Swkisgaar Skwigelf (Brendon Small)
The lead guitarist of Dethklok, Skwisgaar, was dubbed “the fastest guitarist alive,” giving him an arrogance that stands out even among his fellow band members. Hailing from Sweden, he speaks with a humorously thick accent while practicing his craft day-in and day-out, even when it’s not necessary. Despite his cocky personality and overt promiscuity, he hides several insecurities underneath his excellent musicianship.
Toki Wartooth (Tommy Blacha)
The rhythm guitarist of Dethklok, Toki, is – remarkably – the most friendly member of the band. An animal lover with a sweet tooth and an overall pleasant person to be around, Toki, unfortunately, hides a dark past of parental abuse and neglect. His issues occasionally come out in the form of violence or, alternatively, a retreat into his own colorful imagination.
William Murderface (Tommy Blacha)
The bassist of Dethklok, Murderface, is a self-loathing man with a signature lisp. Despite being the frequent subject of jokes and mockery by both the band and its fans, he is secretly sensitive about his appearance, which no doubt feeds his self-destructive behaviors. He has a penchant for collecting morbid curiosities and is generally hostile in most interactions, often acting for in own interests against those of the band.
Dr. Rockso (Tommy Blacha)
Dr. Rockso is a rock n’ roll clown who, in his own words, “does cocaine.” A comedic foil for the band, Dr. Rockso is a flashy friend of Toki’s, despite the rest of the band’s open animosity towards the screeching jester. His personality is just as obnoxious as his clothing, and despite multiple attempts to sober up, he just can’t help but return to his drug of choice.
He’s undoubtedly a dark parody of the hair-metal acts that dominated the ’80s.
Charles Foster Offdensen (Brendon Small)
Charles Foster Offdensen was, at one point, the man behind the success of Dethklok, frequently guiding the band and utilizing their talents to maximize their potential output. Underneath his no-nonsense attitude and business mindset, however, is a man who knows much more than he lets on. Management and financing are just two of his many skills – the others involve the use of deadly force.
Mr. Salacia (Mark Hamill)
The leading member of The Tribunal, an organization that views Dethklok as a part of an ancient Sumerian prophecy, Mr. Salacia has been a primary antagonist of the series ever since the first season. A mysterious man of few words, his past is swamped in strange visions and otherworldly landscapes, implying that his true character is something possibly inhuman in nature. Based on the ending of “The Doomstar Requiem,” it’s possible we’ll see him in his recognizable form or as a manifestation of something far more malicious.
Release Date
The Metalocalypse movie was initially announced in 2021, with little information being released since then. However, during the 2022 Adult Swim Festival, the film’s release date was revealed to be sometime in 2023. Until then, all episodes of Metalocalypse – including “The Doomstar Requiem” – can be watched on HBO Max or as a continuous marathon on Adult Swim’s website.
