Dethklok’s Milwaukee show turned into a real-life episode of Metalocalypse on May 16 when the band’s signature theatrical smoke and fog effects triggered the venue’s fire alarm system, cutting the performance short at Landmark Credit Union Live *. The band was right in the middle of “Black Fire Upon Us” — ironically perfect timing — when the alarms went off and venue staff killed the power †. No actual fire broke out and everyone stayed safe, but the 4,500-capacity room had to shut it down while Dethklok was only about halfway through their set *†.
Here’s the kicker: co-headliners Amon Amarth and opener Castle Rat had already played their full sets earlier that same night without setting off a single alarm *†. Apparently Brendon Small and company brought the fog machine budget that Amon Amarth left on the table. The venue is now working with the band to figure out compensation for ticket holders who got a truncated dose of cartoon death metal *†. Small himself announced the venue would be reaching out via email to make things right †.
The Amonklok Conquest tour kicked off April 15 in Phoenix and is rolling through festival stops at Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple before wrapping May 21 in Las Vegas *†. This tour marks Dethklok’s 20th anniversary — two decades since the fictional band from the Adult Swim series became a legitimate Billboard-charting death metal act with three Top 20 albums, including one that hit number 10 and became the highest-charting death metal record in Billboard history *. After years of silence, the project roared back in 2023 with a new album, animated film, and their first tour in over a decade *.