Dethklok works in the context of a TV show, but they paled on stage when compared with the incredible tightness and power of Mastodon (above). Photos by Tina Hagerling.

Mastodon and Dethklok define the self-aware, hipster metal scene. By combining mythical and cerebral concepts with animation and humor, they target more than your average blue collar metal-head. At their Fillmore Auditorium show on Saturday, each band offered something for metal-heads and irony-loving indie-rockers alike. And while each had undeniably brutal chops, Mastodon’s dynamic set proved difficult to follow for Dethklok’s monotonous parody-metal.

Mastodon’s set focused on their latest release, “Crack the Skye,” a concept album that explores astral projection, wormholes, spirituality and Russian mystic Rasputin through the framework of a paraplegic’s out-of-body experience. Despite a low vocal mix, the live version of the album (played in sequence) was absolutely mind-melting. The band defined instrumental precision, playing largely in silhouette against an animated backdrop that related the protagonist’s conceptual journey.

It was breathtaking to watch the band attack each song with such collected confidence, from the incinerating interplay of guitarists Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher through a flanked pair of monolithic Marshall stacks, to drummer Brann Dailor’s explosively complex fills. When the set teetered on the verge of overheating, keyboardist Rich Morris and the groups’ four-part harmonies floated in to help capture the dramatic passages on “Crack the Skye.” And after their dexterous performance of “Crack the Skye,” Mastodon capped off their flawless set with a few tracks from their previous two efforts “Leviathan” and “Blood Mountain,” before vacating the stage for headliners Dethklok.

Made famous on Adult Swim’s animated comedy “Metalocalypse,” Dethklok started off as a fictional metal band that gradually became a touring virtual band (e.g. Gorillaz) as the show grew in popularity. The charm of the show is in seeing Dethklok fail at every aspect of their lives despite having an army of fans and making enough money to be considered “the seventh largest economy in the world.”

The band’s music (written and mostly performed by co-creator Brendan Small) is sprinkled throughout the show and serves as a perfect compliment to the band’s hilarious journey through a satirical world full of metal clichés. On stage at the Fillmore and removed from the secure confines of “Metalocalypse,” Dethklok were stripped of a vital element in their appeal.

While the metal-god avatars from the show followed the band seamlessly through their set on the screen behind them, the near-removal of the music’s context revealed a talented-yet-tedious metal band whose reliance on incessant double bass and strobe lights proved one-note. And, despite a few funny videos, this theme would prevail throughout the remainder of their set.

Granted, Dethklok were in the unenviable position following Mastodon, who have had an amazing run with critical praise heaped on “Crack the Skye” and tours supporting Slayer in 2008 and Metallica this year. Both bands displayed impressive technical ability, but it was no surprise that Mastodon’s depth and diversity would outshine a band that started off as a joke.

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Paul Custer is best known for inventing the Herky Jerky, the Backwards Hopscotch and the Funky Zombie, among other popular dances. His moves and life have been the subject of the biopics “The Flailing Whirlwind — A True Story” and “Liquid Vertebrae.” When he’s not busting dance-move burglars he can be found passing on dessert, identifying scent combinations and talking to cats.

Tina Hagerling is a Denver photographer and regular contributor to Reverb. Check out more of her concert photography online and more photos of this show on the next page.

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