Nekrogoblikon in Rochester

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 + Rochester

Nekrogoblikon rolled through Montage Music Hall on a September evening, pulling from their catalog with the kind of precision you'd expect from a band that's mastered the art of absurdist metal. They opened with "Powercore" and kept things moving through deep cuts like "We Need a Gimmick" and "The Magic Spider"—the kind of tracks that reward actual fans. "Dressed as Goblins" landed somewhere in the middle of a 14-song set that closed out with "This Is It," a fitting capstone to a show that managed to be both ridiculous and genuinely tight.

Nekrogoblikon in Rochester News

• NEKROGOBLIKON enter studio with Jason Suecof Lambgoat · Jul 2, 2024
• NEKROGOBLIKON announce Fall North American tour with ENTERPRISE EARTH and DEAD ICARUS Lambgoat · Jun 22, 2024
• Metal Injection Presents Winter Warriors Tour feat. BATTLECROSS, HAVOK, NEKROGOBLIKON & BLACK FAST Metal Injection · Apr 4, 2019
• Battlecross to honor veterans on the 2015 “Winter Warriors Tour” with Havok, Nekrogoblikon and Black Fast Metal Blade Records · Nov 10, 2015

Live Music in Rochester

Rochester has always been more known for its jazz heritage and indie rock credentials than metal, but the city's underground scene has quietly developed a tolerance for heavier stuff. Death metal and its various flavors exist here in the margins, supported by dedicated fans who travel for bigger shows. Nekrogoblikon's theatrical approach might actually appeal to Rochester's artsy side—they're not just brutality, there's genuine musicianship underneath the goblin nonsense.

Rochester road trip to see Nekrogoblikon?

Stay in the Park Avenue neighborhood, where the tree-lined streets and historic homes create a genteel atmosphere without feeling stuffy. Dinner at Citrine, where the wine program is thoughtful and the kitchen respects its ingredients, sets the right tone. Before or after the show, spend an afternoon at the George Eastman Museum—the photography collection is world-class, and the house itself is a masterclass in early-20th-century design. It's the kind of place that makes you think differently about composition and light, which isn't a bad headspace before hearing Bilmuri's intricate arrangements.