What started out as a cartoon has turned into a highly successful and well-respected musical project. DETHKLOK, the virtual death metal band starring in Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim’s animated program, Metalocalypse, has also been brought to life on stage a few times. Created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blancha, the show and the band has become a cult hit. Dethklok is built on a foundation of crushing riffs, pounding drums and stunning lead guitar melodies, which are all in abundance on its third full-length release, Dethalbum III. The album contains music from the series’ second, third and fourth seasons of the show. The music is performed by Small, with journeyman drummer Gene Hoglan and bassist Bryan Beller lending a big hand as well. The songs are more focused than on Dethalbum II, but the same great guitar tone and wonderful guttural vocal remain. Some of the musical passages sound similar to MESHUGGAH (‘Starved’) with its hypnotic rhythms, and some AMON AMARTH galloping (‘I Ejaculate Fire,’ ‘Andromeda’). Dethalbum III is once again co-produced by Small and Dethklok producer Ulrich Wild, while the cover art was also illustrated by previous cover artist Antonio Canobbio. Overall, Dethalbum III is what you’ve come to expect from this “band.” There’s nothing groundbreaking on it, but there’s a familiarity and a cohesiveness to it — and there’s some enjoyable melodic death metal on tap as well.

The limited CD/DVD version of Dethalbum III is available via Best Buy at

this location.