The multi-media virtual death metal powerhouse Dethklok delivered a massive headlining performance at the Hollywood Palladium on May 22. The night featured direct support from extreme metal outfit XCOMM and Los Angeles-based melodic death metal act Thrown Into Exile. Each band delivered exactly the kind of chaos metal fans were hoping for — loud, theatrical, and absolutely relentless. From start to finish, the evening felt like a celebration of modern heavy music, and we were there to capture some exclusive shots.
Thrown Into Exile kicked things off with raw energy and a crushing wall of sound that immediately got the crowd moving. XCOMM followed with one of the strongest sets of the night, delivering aggressive vocals and a commanding stage presence that turned the packed Palladium floor into a nonstop pit. Their performance carried the intensity of a headliner and proved why the band continues to build momentum within the metal scene.
Then came Dethklok — and the entire venue erupted. Few bands blur the line between fiction and reality as effectively as Dethklok. What began as the animated centerpiece of the Metalocalypse series has evolved into one of the most unique live experiences in modern metal. Created by Brendon Small and Tommy Blacha, Dethklok combines melodic death metal brutality with dark humor, cinematic visuals, and a stage production that feels more like a full-scale multimedia event than a traditional concert.
Backed by massive visuals, blinding lights, and the signature absurd brutality fans expect from the Metalocalypse legends, the band tore through their set with machine-like precision. Every song landed hard, from the crushing guitar work to the thunderous drumming, while the crowd screamed along as if the animated band had stepped directly into reality.
What made the show especially memorable was how immersive the entire experience felt. The combination of humor, theatrical visuals, and legitimately tight musicianship created something far bigger than a standard concert. For longtime Metalocalypse fans and newer metalheads alike, the Hollywood Palladium became a massive celebration of everything over-the-top and heavy about Dethklok’s world. By the end of the night, sweaty fans poured onto Sunset Boulevard knowing they had witnessed one of the most entertaining metal shows to hit Los Angeles this year.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.