Nekrogoblikon is an American melodic death metal band based in Los Angeles, California. The group was formed in 2006, by Tim Lyakhovetskiy and Nicky Calonne. The band has released five full-length albums, Goblin Island, Stench, Heavy Meta, Welcome to Bonkers, and The Fundamental Slimes and Humours, and one EP, Power. The band's music centers on goblins. As of 2023, no original members remain in the band while lead guitarist Alex "Goldberg" Alereza remains as the longest serving member.
Nekrogoblikon | |
|---|---|
 Nekrogoblikon at Rock am Ring 2013 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Santa Barbara, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | Mystery Box |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | nekrogoblikon |
History
editFormation and Goblin Island (2006–2010)
editNekrogoblikon was formed in 2006 by Nicky Calonne and Tim Lyakhovetskiy in Palo Alto, California.[1] The two of them recorded Nekrogoblikon's first album, Goblin Island, in Lyakhovetskiy's basement. On his return to school at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Lyakhovetskiy found Ashleigh Carracino, Alex Duddy, Spencer Bartz, Alex Alereza, and Austin Nickel to form the rest of the band. The group played eleven shows before Bartz moved to Japan, and was replaced by Eddie Trager.[2]
Stench (2011–2012)
editOn July 19, 2011, the band released Stench. Stench was reviewed positively by "Pop and Hiss", the Los Angeles Times music blog, which praised its technical proficiency and songwriting, and described its inclusion of electronic elements as working "surprisingly well."[1] Metal Sucks also praised the album with a 4.5/5 rating, describing it as more professional than Goblin Island, and complimenting its technicality.[3] Blistering gave the album a 9/10 rating, calling it "fun and entertaining."[4]
In September 2012 the band released a music video for "No One Survives," directed by Brandon Dermer. The video depicts a goblin (played by Dave Rispoli) who tries, and fails, to win the affections of a coworker (played by Kayden Kross). The video became a viral hit and was viewed more than 1.5 million times in the first 3 months.[5][6]
Power (2013)
edit
In June 2013, Nekrogoblikon went on a European tour to perform at several venues and festivals, including Download Festival in England and Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in Germany.[7]
In August 2013, Nekrogoblikon released an EP titled Power, produced by Nekrogoblikon and mixed by Matt Hyde.[8] The album received a 2/5 review from Metal Sucks, which criticized the songwriting and described the band as a "lame joke."[9] Sputnikmusic gave the album a 3.5/5 review, describing the album as "ridiculous," and praising the instrumentation and technicality but criticizing the vocals and inconsistency.[10]
In 2014, Nekrogoblikon performed on the Kerrang! Tour, along with Limp Bizkit, Crossfaith, and HECK (then Baby Godzilla).[11]
Heavy Meta (2014–2015)
editIn January 2014, Nekrogoblikon announced through their instagram account that they were working on a new release.[12]
On March 9, 2015, the band released the first track, "Full Body Xplosion", on their YouTube account. They also announced on Facebook that the album Heavy Meta would be released via Mystery Box, the band's own label.[13]
On June 2, 2015, the album was released.[14] Heavy Meta is a concept album, consisting of 10 songs that when listened to in succession, tells the story of an immortal goblin race seeking a way to finally die. The album received fairly consistent reviews with the band's previous offerings scoring a 3.5/5 on Angry Metal Guy. Metal Injection offered substantive praise for the album saying "Heavy Meta is the best album Nekrogoblikon has released so far in their career".
Welcome to Bonkers (2018)
editNekrogoblikon released their fifth album Welcome to Bonkers, on April 13, 2018.
Instagram photos in April 2019 show members working on new music, presumably for the sixth Nekrogoblikon album at Audiohammer Studios in Florida.
"Chop Suey!" (2020)
editNekrogoblikon released their cover of System of a Down's "Chop Suey!" on July 3, 2020.[15]
The Fundamental Slimes and Humours (2022)
editOn July 7, 2021, Nicky and Alex appeared on The Vanflip Podcast, and revealed the title of their sixth album as The Fundamental Slimes and Humours. [16]
On November 12, Nekrogoblikon released the first single and music video from their new album, entitled Right Now, [17] named after the talk show hosted by their "hype-goblin," John Goblikon.
On January 5, 2022, Nekrogoblikon released a second single and music video titled "This Is It", [18] from the upcoming album The Fundamental Slimes and Humours, once again directed by Brandon Dermer.
On April 1, 2022, Nekrogoblikon released their sixth studio album The Fundamental Slimes and Humours.
On May 18, 2022, Nekrogoblikon released a third single and music video titled "Bones", [19] from their recently released album The Fundamental Slimes and Humours, once again directed by Brandon Dermer.
On December 29, 2022, Nekrogoblikon released a single, "Bodom Beach Terror", a cover of a Children of Bodom song.
Departure of Calonne; new vocalists (2023)
editOn December 15, 2023, it was announced that vocalist Nicky Calonne would be leaving the band on amicable terms to "pursue a new life path" and that John Goblikon and Dickie Allen of Infant Annihilator would take his place as lead vocalists. Prior to this announcement, Allen had been touring with the band as a fill-in lead vocalist in Calonne's absence throughout their 2023 tour dates.[20][21]
In April and May 2024, Nekrogoblikon opened for Dethklok's Mutilation on a Spring Night tour, also featuring DragonForce.[22]
Band members
edit
Current
edit- Alex "Goldberg" Alereza — lead guitar, backing vocals (2007–present)
- Aaron "Raptor" Minich — keyboards, backing vocals (2011–present)
- Eric W. Brown — drums (2016–present)
- Joe "Diamond" Nelson — rhythm guitar (2013–2015, 2018–present)
- Dave "John Goblikon" Rispoli - clean vocals (2022-present), hype man, backing vocals (2012-2022)
- Dickie Allen — harsh vocals (2023-present; touring 2022-present)
Former
edit- Nicky "Scorpion" Calonne — lead vocals, keyboards, sequencing, programming (2006–2023)
- Eddie Trager — drums, percussion, xylophone, glockenspiel, marimba (2007–2016)
- Brandon "Fingers" Frenzel — bass (2011–2015)
- Tim "Timbus" Lyakhovetskiy — rhythm guitar, backing vocals, drum sequencing (2006–2013)
- Anthony DeLorenzi — keyboards (2007–2011)
- Alex Duddy — drums, backing vocals (2007–2011)
- Austin Nickel — bass (2007–2011)
- Aaron "Zoot" VanZutphen — bass, backing vocals (2015–2019)
- Ashleigh Carracino — keyboards (2007–2010)
- Spencer Bartz — drums (2007)
- Jason Kaye — lead guitar (2007)
- Bryan Kaye — drums (2007)
Timeline
edit
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2007 | Goblin Island |
| 2011 | Stench |
| 2015 | Heavy Meta |
| 2018 | Welcome to Bonkers |
| 2022 | The Fundamental Slimes and Humours |
EPs and Singles
edit| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Power[23] | EP |
| 2020 | Chop Suey! | Single - cover song |
| 2022 | Golden Future | EP |
| 2022 | Bones (Live) | Single |
| 2022 | Bodom Beach Terror |
Music videos
edit| Year | Song | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | "No One Survives" | Brandon Dermer |
| 2013 | "Powercore" | |
| 2015 | "We Need a Gimmick" | |
| 2016 | "Nekrogoblikon" | Randy Edwards |
| 2018 | "Dressed as Goblins" | Brendon Small[24] |
| "The Many Faces of Dr. Hubert Malbec" | Anthony Gonzalez | |
| "Darkness" | Kyle Fallon | |
| 2020 | "Chop Suey!" | Brandon Dermer |
| 2021 | "Right Now" | |
| 2022 | "This Is It" | |
| "Bones" |
References
edit- ^ a b Siegal, Daniel (July 8, 2011). "L.A. Unheard: Nekrogoblikon's marauding metal". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ "Nekrogoblikon". Santa Barbara Independent. January 22, 2009.
- ^ Mustein, Dave (December 2010). "We Love the Stench of Nekrogoblikon". Metal Sucks.
- ^ Heitman, Sara. "Nekrogoblikon - Stench (Self-Released)". Blistering.
- ^ Jones, Danko (December 18, 2012). "The Best Music Video of 2012 Wasn't Gangnam Style". The Huffington Post.
- ^ Barkan, Jonathan (September 4, 2012). "[Premiere] The Nekrogoblikon "No One Survives" Music Video Is Here". Bloody Disgusting.
- ^ Barkan, Jonathan (June 7, 2013). "Nekrogoblikon Post European Tour And EP Teaser Video". Bloody Disgusting.
- ^ "Interview: Nekrogoblikon Talk Goblins, "Beautiful Former Models," and Power". Revolver Magazine. September 11, 2013.
- ^ O'Hagar, Sammy (August 23, 2013). "Nekrogoblikon's Power Outage". Metal Sucks.
- ^ Davis, Robert. "Nekrogoblikon Power". Sputnikmusic.
- ^ Copeland, Jodie Luke (December 18, 2013). "Baby Godzilla to join Limp Bizkit on sold out Kerrang! tour". Mintsouth.
- ^ "Nekrogoblikon Announces New Full Length Album". Bloody Disgusting. January 9, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
- ^ "Nekrogoblikon - Timeline". Facebook. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
- ^ "Heavy Meta by Nekrogoblikon". Itunes.apple.com. June 2, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
- ^ "Chop Suey! - Nekrogoblikon Bandcamp".
- ^ "#064 - Nicky & Alex of Nekrogoblikon". The Vanflip Podcast. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ "Nekrogoblikon Twitter".
- ^ "Nekrogoblikon Youtube". YouTube.
- ^ "Nekrogoblikon Youtube". YouTube.
- ^ "Nekrogoblikon amicably split with vocalist Nicky Calonne, Dickie Allen announced as replacement".
- ^ "Nekrogoblikon Officially Instate John Goblikon & Infant Annihilator's Dickie Allen As Their Vocalists".
- ^ Enis, Eli. "DETHKLOK ANNOUNCE 'MUTILATION ON A SPRING NIGHT' 2024 TOUR". Revolvermag.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ "Nekrogoblikon - Power". Discogs. 2013.
- ^ "Nekrogoblikon Teams Up with Metalocalypse's Brendon Small for New "Dressed as Goblins" Video - MetalSucks". Metalsucks.net. March 14, 2018. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
External links
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