Nekrogoblikon in Chicago

About Nekrogoblikon

Nekrogoblikon are a death metal band that refuse to take themselves seriously, which is basically their entire thing. They're from Los Angeles and they've been making aggressively technical music with goblin-themed artwork and lyrics that range from genuinely dark to absurdly silly without much warning. Their songs sound like they could destroy you, and also make you laugh, sometimes in the same verse. They've built a weirdly devoted fanbase by being legitimately good musicians who just happen to treat metal like it's supposed to be fun. Albums like 'Heavy Meta' and 'Welcome to Boneville' proved they could write actual songs with hooks and structure while still maintaining the chaos. They're not a parody band exactly—they're just tired of metal taking itself so seriously, and their fans appreciate the permission that gives them to enjoy heavy music without the gatekeeping.

Nekrogoblikon shows are packed with people who came ready to lose it. The crowd is there to move, the energy is surprisingly tight for a band this silly, and there's a genuine sense that everyone knows they're in on the joke together. No pretense, just metal fans having the time of their lives.

Known for Goblin King, We Are Skeletons, Power of the Bone, Taco's Song, Dressed in Pink

Nekrogoblikon + Chicago

Nekrogoblikon brought their particular brand of goblin-core chaos to Concord Music Hall in October, running through a setlist that showed they're not just here to play the hits. They opened with 'Darkness' and 'Dressed as Goblins,' but the real meat was in deeper cuts like 'The Many Faces of Dr. Hubert Malbec' and 'The Magic Spider'—songs that reward the people who've actually listened to their records. 'No One Survives' landed hard in the back half, and they closed things out with 'This Is It,' which felt appropriately final for a band that treats their catalog like a genuinely weird concept album.

Nekrogoblikon in Chicago News

• News: Nekrogoblikon and Enterprise Earth Announce US Tour Dates New Noise Magazine · Dec 12, 2025
• Nekrogoblikon and Enterprise Earth announce March mini-tour with Wretched Lambgoat · Dec 2, 2025
• Nekrogoblikon and Enterprise Earth Announce Spring Tour Dates with Wretched MetalSucks · Dec 2, 2025
• HANABIE, NEKROGOBLIKON & ENTERPRISE EARTH Announce North American Tour Metal Injection · Nov 11, 2025
• Gig Review : Nekrogoblikon Slays the Stage: A Goblin-Fueled Metal Assault with Powerglove, BRAT & Summoning the Lich at Chicago’s Concord Music Hall Metal Planet Music · Oct 28, 2025

Live Music in Chicago

Chicago's metal scene has always been willing to let things get weird — from the Butthole Surfers to more recent acts pushing against genre conventions. Nekrogoblikon fits that lineage well. The city's DIY venues and established metal spots have both proven receptive to bands that don't take themselves too seriously while still maintaining actual musicianship. It's a place where you can be brutal and funny simultaneously.

Chicago road trip to see Nekrogoblikon?

Stay in Lincoln Park or Wicker Park depending on your vibe—both neighborhoods have real character and plenty of late-night options. Book dinner at Alinea if you're feeling ambitious, or hit RPM Italian for something excellent and less impossible to get into. Spend an afternoon at the Art Institute, then walk along the Lakefront. The city's got enough to fill a weekend without feeling like you're checking boxes. Catch the show, eat well, and remember why you liked this band in the first place.