Dethklok - The Most Popular Fake Band Since Spinal Tap

Their album sold thirty-four thousand copies in its debut week, according to Billboard.com, (1) and the deluxe edition of their album has already sold out. On the official album site Dethalbum.com, the lead singer Nathan Explosion promised that they were printing more copies of the deluxe edition. (2) The success of their album has lead to a tour, and as Blabbermouth.net reports, they will open for ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Our Dead and "will include free shows at twelve U.S. colleges". (3)

Not bad for a band that doesn't technically exist.

Dethklok is an animated band that is the focus of the Adult Swim series Metalocalypse, the channel's most popular show since Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The band consists of five sadistic, stupid, metal musicians who deal with typical band situations (creating albums, dating, jealousy, product endorsements) and bizarre ones (raising ancient demonic trolls, replacing employees who have died violent deaths, being the most popular band of all time). The band's unusual popularity (fans willingly sign "pain waivers" releasing the band of any responsibility of any injuries they might get during a show; IGN.com has a copy of the "official waiver") (4) has led to a tribunal council to track their every move and attempt to destroy or at least undermine the band.