Fictional metal outfit Dethklok have made a very real return, performing their first show in five years over the weekend.

Back in 2006, the world was introduced to the world of Dethklok thanks to the television program Metalocalypse.

Created by Home Movies‘ Brendon Small, the animated series focused around the fictional metal outfit Dethklok, and drew its humour from over-the-top parodies of metal culture and the music industry, while frequently poking fun at the perils of fame and fortune.

Lasting a total of 61 episodes and one special, the series was eventually cancelled in 2015, by which point it had boasted a list of guest musicians that included the likes of James Hetfield, Slash, Scott Ian, ZZ Top, Steve Vai, and even King Diamond of Mercyful Fate and Diamond Head.

Check out ‘Thunderhorse’ by Dethklok:

YouTube VideoPlay

To coincide with the program though, Small kicked off the existence of Dethklok as a real touring entity, performing their first live shows in 2007 alongside …And You Will Know Us by The Trail Of Dead.

Describing their live shows as being “like Gorillaz, with the animated characters”, Brendon Small performed a number of shows across the next few years, all but wrapping up touring in 2012 before a one-off concert took place in 2014.

Now, this weekend has seen the live iteration of the fictional band take to the stage for the first time in five years, appearing at the Adult Swim Fest in California.

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Kicking things off with a brief video intro, the performance featured a collection of some of the band’s most iconic tracks, along with live premieres of tunes like ‘Comet Song’ and ‘Impeach God’.

At this stage, there’s no word if Dethklok will perform any more life shows, or if they might one day venture outside of North America, but we can only hope there’s more to come from this legendary metal outfit.

Check out Dethklok performing at the Adult Swim Fest:

YouTube VideoPlay

Dethklok @ Adult Swim Fest, California 15/11/19 Setlist

‘Deththeme’
‘Briefcase Full Of Guts’
‘Birthday Dethday’
‘Awaken’
‘Bloodlines’
‘The Gears’
‘Black Fire Upon Us’
‘Dethsupport’
‘Duncan Hills Coffee Jingle’
‘Impeach God’
‘Comet Song’
‘Andromeda’
‘I Ejaculate Fire’
‘The Duel’
‘Murmaider’
‘Thunderhorse’

Encore:

‘Castratikron’
‘Go Into The Water’
‘Fansong’

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