Live_JJ review_NN1 :_: high_JJ on_II fire_NN1 ,_, coverage_NN1 ,_, mastodon_NN1 and_CC dethklok_VV0 The_AT most_RGT animated_JJ act_NN1 (_( think_VV0 :_: Adult_JJ Swim_NN1 )_) grabs_VVZ the_AT spotlight_NN1 at_II a_AT1 metal_NN1 mash_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 's_VBZ telling_VVG that_CST the_AT most_RGT orthodox_JJ act_NN1 on_II one_MC1 of_IO the_AT season_NNT1 's_GE most_RGT anticipated_JJ metal_NN1 package_NN1 tours_NN2 was_VBDZ the_AT one_PN1 composed_VVD of_IO cartoon_NN1 characters_NN2 ._. 
The_AT sprawling_JJ quadruple_JJ bill_NN1 of_IO High_JJ on_II Fire_NN1 ,_, Converge_VV0 ,_, Mastodon_NP1 and_CC Dethklok_NP1 --_NN1 the_AT last_MD a_AT1 Gorillaz-like_JJ animated_JJ band_NN1 project_NN1 for_IF self-aware_JJ Hessians_NN2 --_NN1 proved_VVD Thursday_NPD1 night_NNT1 at_II the_AT Hollywood_NP1 Palladium_NP1 that_CST while_CS the_AT heaviest_JJT strains_NN2 of_IO rock_NN1 music_NN1 are_VBR very_RG much_DA1 thriving_JJ ,_, the_AT rule_NN1 book_NN1 for_IF what_DDQ constitutes_VVZ metal_NN1 today_RT has_VHZ been_VBN burned_VVN at_II the_AT stake_NN1 ._. 
Booked_VVN at_II the_AT distinctly_RR un-metal_NN1 hour_NNT1 of_IO 6:30_MC p.m._RA ,_, High_JJ on_II Fire_NN1 's_GE druggy_JJ ,_, swaggering_VVG and_CC dread-laden_JJ metal_NN1 had_VHD to_TO compete_VVI with_IW the_AT brutal_JJ reality_NN1 of_IO playing_VVG a_AT1 dinner-time_NNT1 set_VVD prefacing_VVG a_AT1 very_RG long_JJ night_NNT1 of_IO difficult_JJ music_NN1 ._. 
No_UH matter_VV0 the_AT strength_NN1 of_IO their_APPGE bleak_JJ grooves_NN2 and_CC tooth-cracking_JJ clatter_NN1 --_NN1 and_CC they_PPHS2 're_VBR strong_JJ indeed_RR --_JJ that_CST 's_VBZ a_AT1 tall_JJ order_NN1 ._. 
The_AT wonkish_JJ post-hardcore_JJ act_NN1 Converge_VV0 had_VHN a_AT1 slightly_RR easier_JJR time_NNT1 of_IO it_PPH1 ._. 
The_AT Massachusetts-based_JJ band_NN1 was_VBDZ one_MC1 of_IO the_AT early_JJ adopters_NN2 of_IO the_AT metalcore_NN1 genre_NN1 ,_, in_II which_DDQ the_AT speed_NN1 and_CC ferocity_NN1 of_IO '80s_MC2 American_JJ punk_NN1 gets_VVZ applied_JJ to_II the_AT precision-cut_JJ riffs_NN2 and_CC polyrhythms_NN2 of_IO thrash_NN1 ._. 
Converge_VV0 's_VBZ new_JJ album_NN1 ,_, "_" Axe_NN1 to_II Fall_NN1 ,_, "_" expertly_RR refuses_VVZ to_TO put_VVI more_DAR than_CSN one_MC1 foot_NN1 in_II any_DD camp_NN1 of_IO heavy_JJ music_NN1 --_NN1 guitarist_NN1 Kurt_NP1 Ballou_NP1 is_VBZ equally_RR at_II home_NN1 squealing_VVG off_II pinch_NN1 harmonics_NN2 in_II a_AT1 throwback_NN1 solo_NN1 or_CC a_AT1 sub-sonic_JJ churn_NN1 of_IO contemporary_JJ white_JJ noise_NN1 ._. 
At_II times_NNT2 the_AT restless_JJ pummel_NN1 of_IO drums_NN2 even_RR leans_VVZ toward_II something_PN1 Sun_NP1 Ra_NNA could_VM nod_VVI to_II ._. 
Speaking_NN1 of_IO deep-space_JJ exploration_NN1 freaks_NN2 ,_, the_AT Atlanta_NP1 band_NN1 Mastodon_NP1 has_VHZ become_VVN a_AT1 bit_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 Lil_NP1 Wayne_NP1 figure_NN1 for_IF modern_JJ metal_NN1 --_NN1 an_AT1 inventive_JJ ,_, genre-beloved_JJ act_NN1 that_CST has_VHZ crossed_VVN over_RP into_II hipper_NN1 media_NN favor_VV0 and_CC much_RR wider_JJR sales_NN even_RR as_CSA longtime_JJ fans_NN2 wonder_VV0 what_DDQ exactly_RR they_PPHS2 're_VBR up_II21 to_II22 anymore_RR ._. 
Fortunately_RR ,_, in_II Mastodon_NP1 's_GE case_NN1 ,_, the_AT band_NN1 made_VVD a_AT1 landmark_NN1 album_NN1 this_DD1 year_NNT1 ,_, the_AT daffy_JJ yet_RR uncannily_RR haunting_VVG and_CC ambitious_JJ "_" Crack_NN1 the_AT Skye_NP1 ._. "_" 
Tracks_NN2 from_II "_" Skye_NP1 "_" grind_VV0 a_RR21 bit_RR22 slower_RRR and_CC have_VH0 more_DAR breathing_NN1 room_NN1 than_CSN older_JJR efforts_NN2 "_" Leviathan_NP1 "_" and_CC "_" Remission_NN1 ,_, "_" and_CC snatches_NN2 of_IO ambient_JJ synthesizer_NN1 and_CC delicately_RR arranged_VVN vocal_JJ harmonies_NN2 added_VVD an_AT1 unexpected_JJ resonance_NN1 to_II the_AT music_NN1 ._. 
Mastodon_NN1 is_VBZ one_MC1 of_IO the_AT few_DA2 bands_NN2 in_II metal_NN1 that_CST can_VM have_VHI enormous_JJ choruses_NN2 without_IW being_VBG remotely_RR pop-inclined_JJ ,_, and_CC that_CST made_VVD for_IF some_DD unexpectedly_RR powerful_JJ climaxes_NN2 on_II cuts_NN2 like_II "_" Crack_NN1 the_AT Skye_NP1 ._. "_" 
They_PPHS2 still_RR made_VVD time_NNT1 for_IF old-fashioned_JJ cackling_NN1 and_CC bludgeoning_VVG on_II "_" Oblivion_NN1 ,_, "_" but_CCB the_AT set_NN1 cemented_VVD Mastodon_NP1 as_CSA one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT restless_JJ bands_NN2 in_II heavy_JJ music_NN1 ._. 
Dethklok_VV0 ,_, however_RR ,_, is_VBZ simultaneously_RR both_RR a_AT1 loogie_NN1 in_II the_AT eye_NN1 of_IO the_AT self-serious_JJ corpse_NN1 paint_NN1 set_NN1 and_CC an_AT1 adoring_JJ love_NN1 letter_NN1 to_II the_AT inherent_JJ absurdity_NN1 of_IO the_AT rock-god_JJ psyche_NN1 ._. 
In_II the_AT Adult_NN1 Swim_NN1 comedy_NN1 "_" Metalocalypse_NN1 ,_, "_" Dethklok_NP1 is_VBZ the_AT world_NN1 's_GE 12th-largest_JJT economy_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 favored_JJ target_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 shadow_NN1 government_NN1 spy_NN1 team_NN1 and_CC routinely_RR responsible_JJ for_IF fans_NN2 killing_VVG themselves_PPX2 with_IW adoration_NN1 for_IF singer_NN1 Nathan_NP1 Explosion_NN1 ,_, yet_RR they_PPHS2 're_VBR barely_RR functional_JJ as_CSA human_JJ beings_NN2 ._. 
The_AT show_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT best_JJT deadpan_NN1 sendup_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 genre_NN1 since_CS "_" Fear_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 Black_JJ Hat_NN1 ,_, "_" but_CCB the_AT best_RRT parody_VV0 always_RR comes_VVZ from_II love_NN1 ,_, and_CC that_DD1 's_VBZ certainly_RR the_AT case_NN1 here_RL ._. 
The_AT live_JJ incarnation_NN1 of_IO Dethklok_NP1 --_NN1 helmed_VVD by_II show_NN1 creator_NN1 and_CC singer-guitarist_JJ Brendon_NP1 Small_NP1 --_NN1 would_VM be_VBI a_AT1 considerable_JJ force_NN1 in_II metal_NN1 in_II its_APPGE own_DA right_NN1 ._. 
Beneath_II a_AT1 show-length_JJ animated_JJ sequence_NN1 plotted_VVD vaguely_RR around_II a_AT1 military_JJ conspiracy_NN1 to_TO render_VVI Dethklok_NN1 fans_NN2 unable_JK to_TO spend_VVI money_NN1 on_II Dethklok_NP1 merchandise_NN1 (_( thus_RR destroying_VVG them_PPHO2 )_) ,_, Small_NP1 growled_VVD and_CC wailed_VVD with_IW a_AT1 serious_JJ technical_JJ precision_NN1 ._. 
The_AT performance_NN1 was_VBDZ laden_VVN with_IW genre_NN1 in-jokes_NN2 returned_VVN by_II the_AT sold-out_JJ crowd_NN1 ;_; they_PPHS2 knew_VVD good_JJ and_CC well_RR they_PPHS2 were_VBDR being_VBG ribbed_JJ ._. 
In_II a_AT1 way_NN1 ,_, Dethklok_NP1 was_VBDZ too_RG perfect_JJ on_II paper_NN1 to_II not_XX become_VVN a_AT1 real_JJ band_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT group_NN1 's_GE existence_NN1 also_RR underlines_VVZ how_RRQ real_JJ bands_NN2 in_II today_RT 's_GE metal_NN1 scene_NN1 rarely_RR come_VV0 with_IW scripts_NN2 anymore_RR ._. 
