Dethklok / Chimaira / Soilent Green

There’s a reason people are more interested in going to see a fictitious cartoon heavy metal band than flesh-and-blood ones: they fucking rule. Proving their television show Metalocalypse is no fluke, Dethklok — a band of musicians performing as a backdrop to the artistic renderings of "the world’s most powerful heavy metal band” — tore a packed Kool Haus a new one with a shockingly tight, aggressive show. Warming up the crowd, death metal goons Soilent Green were enthusiastic, stalking the stage with confidence and intensity. Performing songs from their deep catalog yet focusing on latest effort, Inevitable Collapse in the Presence of Conviction, they were primed and focused, utilising the minimal stage room and lighting perfectly. Engaging the appreciative crowd, they confirmed that while more imposing in a club, they step up to large halls and hold their own. Bridging the gap between Soilent Green and Dethklok was not the easy feat fellow death metallers Chimaira had expected. One could set a watch to how often these guys hit Toronto and it shows. Their stage demeanour was positive and modestly upbeat but the show hasn’t changed. While that ensures tautness of performance, it also reeks of by-rote, resulting in mediocrity and inevitably, a forgettable encounter. Not knowing exactly what to expect with Dethklok, the crowd was instantly pleased as the crew took the stage. While performing favoured tunes from the television series including, "Go Forth And Die,” "Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle” and "Awaken,” three massive screens projected clips from the show interspersed with fresh material. However, while the band were spot-on with Dethklok’s meticulous death-meets-black metal, hitting every cue set to the visuals, they were second to the same: projections of band members, lyrics interpreted visually and other various inside gags specific to the program. In essence, a capacity crowd watched cartoons while an amazing band provided the soundtrack. Still, the band raged on as if they were the primary focus, creating an incredible sensory overload. The end result was a massive production; a mixed-media experience that was close to perfect both sonically and aesthetically.