It finally happened. After a decade of fans screaming into the digital void, Brendon Small and the crew actually closed the loop. For years, the Metalocalypse fandom was basically a ghost town of "what ifs" and "adult swim cancelled it" memes. Then, out of nowhere, Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar dropped. It wasn't just a movie; it was a massive, loud, and weirdly emotional middle finger to the idea that some stories just die in production hell.
Most people remember Metalocalypse as that show with the ultra-violent band members who couldn't even buy their own groceries. Dethklok was a joke about celebrity excess and the absurdity of death metal. But by the time we got to the 2013 special, The Doomstar Requiem, things shifted. We went from "Toki is missing" to "the world is ending and there's a prophecy involving a whale." Honestly, if you didn't follow the lore, you were probably lost. Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar had the impossible task of cleaning up that mess. It had to be a finale, a rock opera, and a high-stakes action flick all at once.
The Chaos Behind the Scenes
Let's talk reality. Adult Swim didn't just "pause" the show back in the day. They pulled the plug. Brendon Small, the creator and the musical brain behind every Dethklok riff, was pretty vocal about the frustration. He even tried to get fans to petition Hulu and other streamers to pick it up under the "Save Metalocalypse" banner. It didn't work. Not for a long time. The fact that Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar exists at all is a testament to the weird, stubborn longevity of cult hits in the streaming era.
The production was a different beast this time around. Titmouse, Inc. stayed involved, which kept the visual DNA consistent, but the tone felt heavier. You could tell everyone involved knew this was the one shot to get it right. They weren't just making another episode; they were crafting a legacy piece. If this failed, the story of Nathan Explosion, Skwisgaar Skwigelf, Toki Wartooth, Pickles, and William Murderface would have stayed stuck on a literal cliffhanger forever.
What Actually Happens in Army of the Doomstar
The plot picks up right where we left off. Nathan Explosion is dealing with some serious PTSD. The guy who used to scream about "mermaider" and "bloodrocuted" is suddenly faced with a cosmic threat that he can't just growl away. He’s tasked with writing the "Song of Salvation."
It’s a classic "hero's journey," but with more spikes and feedback.
While Nathan is having a mental breakdown, the rest of the band is... well, they’re being themselves. But there’s a growth here that feels earned. Skwisgaar isn't just a guitar god; he’s realizing the stakes. Murderface is still a disaster, but his role in the prophecy becomes terrifyingly central. The movie does a great job of balancing the "Tribunal" subplots—those shadowy dudes in the boardroom—with the actual physical threat of the Doomstar.
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The Doomstar isn't just a celestial body. It’s a countdown. It represents the end of everything Dethklok built. The humor is still there, but it’s darker. It’s more desperate. You’ve got cameos from heavy metal royalty like Scott Ian and Gene Hoglan, which adds that layer of authenticity that Small always insisted on. This isn't a parody of metal; it’s a love letter to it.
The Music is the Real Main Character
You can't talk about Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar without the soundtrack. Brendon Small is a legitimate virtuoso. Dethalbum IV was released around the same time, and the integration of those tracks into the film is seamless. The "Song of Salvation" is the centerpiece.
Imagine trying to write a song that is canonically supposed to save the world. How do you even approach that as a composer? Small leaned into the cinematic. He used the "Dethharmonic" style but pushed it further. The riffs are tighter. The drumming by Gene Hoglan is, as always, superhuman.
In the film, the music serves as the literal weapon. It’s a bit of a trope, sure. But in the world of Dethklok, it makes perfect sense. They’ve always been a band whose economy is larger than most countries. Why wouldn't their music have cosmic physical properties? The final sequence is a visual and auditory sensory overload that frankly needs a high-end sound system to be fully appreciated.
Addressing the Critics and the Fandom
Not everyone loved it. Some fans felt the humor took too much of a backseat to the lore. They missed the days when the band was just trying to figure out how to cook a dinner for their parents or accidentally killing their fans by the thousands.
That’s a fair critique.
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However, you can’t have a finale that stays in the status quo. If the stakes don't raise, the ending feels hollow. Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar chose the path of the "Epic." It traded the episodic gag-per-minute style for a cohesive, 82-minute narrative arc. It was a gamble.
Also, the character of Charles Offdensen. He’s always been the "glue" of the show. His evolution into the High Priest of the Church of the Black Klok is fully realized here. He’s no longer just the manager; he’s a mystical protector. Some found this transition a bit too "fantasy," but it’s been teased since the very first season. The clues were always there in the background art and the cryptic dialogue of the Tribunal.
Why the Ending Actually Matters
The ending of Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar is surprisingly poignant. Without spoiling the literal final frames, it deals with the idea of ego. Dethklok has always been five of the most egotistical people on the planet. For them to face something that requires genuine vulnerability is a huge shift.
It’s about the burden of being "The Chosen One." Nathan Explosion isn't a traditional hero. He’s a guy who wanted to drink and play loud music. Being told the fate of the universe rests on his vocal cords is a lot. The movie handles his "ego death" in a way that feels consistent with his character. He doesn't become a different person; he just becomes a more complete version of the idiot we’ve loved for years.
The Technical Specs and Animation
Visually, the film is a massive step up from the TV show. The lighting is more complex. The "camera" moves are more dynamic.
- The Color Palette: It shifts from the drab, grey tones of Mordhaus to vibrant, cosmic purples and reds during the Doomstar sequences.
- Character Detail: You can actually see the wear and tear on the band. They look tired. They look like they’ve been through a decade of hiatus.
- The Gore: Don't worry, it’s still there. It’s just "prettier" now. The "Army of the Doomstar" itself is a terrifying visual concept that leans into body horror and heavy metal album cover aesthetics.
The animation team at Titmouse really flexed here. There are sequences involving the "fanzones" and the global riots that have a scale the original show could never have afforded on its budget. It feels like a movie. It doesn't just feel like a long episode.
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How to Experience it Now
If you haven't seen it yet, don't just stream it on a laptop. This is one of those rare animated features where the sound mix is half the experience.
- Audio Setup: Use decent headphones or a soundbar. The low-end frequencies in the Dethklok songs are designed to be felt.
- Rewatch the Requiem: Seriously, go back and watch The Doomstar Requiem (the rock opera special) before diving into the movie. The emotional beats in the film hit way harder if the songs from the special are fresh in your head.
- Check the Disc: The Blu-ray release has some "Behind the Metal" features that are actually worth your time if you're interested in how Small and Hoglan tracked the drums.
Final Verdict on the Dethklok Legacy
So, where does this leave us? Is Dethklok done?
Brendon Small has been somewhat coy about the future, but Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar feels like a definitive "the end." It wraps up the prophecy. It settles the score with the Tribunal. It gives the characters a moment of genuine peace, or as much peace as a group of death metal icons can have.
It’s rare for a show to come back after so long and actually deliver an ending that satisfies the core audience. Usually, these revivals are cash grabs. This wasn't that. It was a labor of love that took years of fighting with networks and legal red tape.
If you grew up watching the show at midnight on a school night, this movie is a gift. It’s loud, it’s gross, and it’s surprisingly beautiful. It reminds us that even in a world of cosmic horror and corporate greed, a really good riff can still save your soul.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Listen to Dethalbum IV: It contains many of the motifs found in the film and stands alone as a top-tier metal album.
- Follow Brendon Small on Social Media: He’s the most reliable source for whether Dethklok will ever tour again or if this truly is the final curtain.
- Support Physical Media: Buying the Blu-ray is the most direct way to show networks that there is still a market for high-quality, adult-oriented animated storytelling.
- Explore the Galaktikon Project: If you’re craving more Brendon Small sci-fi metal, his Galaktikon albums (especially II: Become the Storm) act as a spiritual sibling to the Metalocalypse lore.
The Doomstar has come and gone. The prophecy is fulfilled. All that's left to do is crank the volume to eleven and appreciate the brutality.