All Photos By Pat Yukon/@liveshowpix
As I stepped into the abyss of sound and fury that would be the DETHKLOK, DRAGONFORCE, NEKROGOBLIKON concert on April 7th, 2024, I felt like I was entering a realm where music seemed to nerd out. The House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach, SC was playing house mom to the band of misfits invading the stage.
NEKROGOBLIKON opens the festivities with their sharply dressed and whimsically foul-mouthed goblin at the forefront, immediately unleashing songs wrapped in torrents of raw energy. Their musical prowess is overshadowed only by the obvious sexual frustration of the goblin. With multiple references to butthole play, it's clear the poor green fella with the perpetual blue (green?) balls needs some action.
Their performance of "This Is It" to close their set left me wanting another round of tunes before DRAGONFORCE. It's weird. I loved it. The crescendo of excitement from throughout the venue was everywhere. I'm almost convinced the walls of H.O.B. were alive, supernaturally with the spirit of Goblin Metal.
DRAGONFORCE, masters of epic fantasy songs, took the stage with a fervor that was nothing short of legendary.
They demand your absolute attention through songs based on video games, fantastic fantasy journeys and a Giant stuffed Chicken! (It's a don't ask, Don't tell policy). You need to experience it on your own. I can't ruin it for anyone! Their cover of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" was an unexpected surprise for me (as it was my first time seeing them). Once the initial shock and uncomfortable laughter subsided, it was oddly a well-suited tune for them to play. Power & beauty, weaving a tapestry of sound. Metaphorically, it was carrying fans away on a journey beyond the confines of time, space and Myrtle Beach's House of Blues. They are a must see band from the other side of the pond!
And then, there was DETHKLOK. They unleashed infernal anthem after anthem. I found myself consumed by a maelstrom of primal energy and ridiculousness. The sheer intensity of their performance was like a baptism by fire, purifying the souls of the die-hard fans of they've action version of cartoon heavy metal. That's a weird statement to type or read!
But perhaps the most poignant moment of the night came during DETHKLOK's final song. As the final notes of "Go Into The Water" reverberated through the air, I felt a sense of unity and camaraderie amongst the crowd, as if every person in that room was bound together by the unbreakable bonds of metal brotherhood. In the end, NEKROGOBLIKON stole the show. The dynamic of this blended family freak show works! This concert wasn't just a musical event; it was a spiritual awakening of sorts, a testament to the power of music to transcend the boundaries of the mundane and elevate the human spirit to new heights. I left the venue, my ears ringing and my heart ablaze with the fire of a thousand suns. (This is how I assume DRAGONFORCE would say it).
I knew that I had experienced something truly extraordinary that was one hell of a good time!
Check out some more photos from the show!
All Photos By Pat Yukon/@liveshowpix
