Review Summary: Heavy Meta is the moment when Nekrogoblikon proves that behind the goblin there’s a razor-sharp extreme metal band — and that the joke only works because the music is taken seriously.
Wow… Goblin Metal. Who would have thought metal would still have room for a “subgenre” practically created by a single band? Well — here we are. And what a band.
Heavy Meta (2018) is Nekrogoblikon’s third studio album. Formed in California, the band emerged by blending melodic death metal, keyboards (WTF!?), and an openly comedic goblin-centered aesthetic — a combination that could have easily turned into a disposable joke. But that humor was never a substitute for the music. Sharp riffs, well-thought-out structures, and above-average execution have always supported the concept.
Heavy Meta sounds like a record of maturity. The album preserves the energy and exaggerated identity of the band’s earlier work, but channels it into more focused, more melodic songs with a stronger sense of groove. It’s the kind of evolution that makes sense (at least for me) within extreme metal — less chaos, more intent.
This shift becomes clearer when looking back. The debut Goblin Island (2007) was recorded with extensive use of programmed instruments — especially drums and bass parts — which makes it a pretty tough listen nowadays. And by the way… FVCK YOU, AI-generated bands!
Stench (2011), on the other hand, goes all in: too many ideas, too much energy, everything happening at once. Fun, but a bit exhausting. Heavy Meta lands squarely between those two extremes, not as a rupture, but as a refocusing.
That more focused approach helps explain why Heavy Meta is, up to that point, the most “commercial” release in Nekrogoblikon’s career. Commercial here doesn’t mean watered down — it means precise. The songs are shorter, the choruses more obvious, and the ideas better organized. Still, the album fully retains the band’s weight, aggression, and creativity, proving that clarity and impact don’t have to come at the expense of artistic ambition.
The production follows this direction with confidence. Heavy Meta sounds sharp and direct, prioritizing impact and definition without excessive polish. The guitars dominate the mix with clarity, the drums have punch and presence, and everything serves the dynamics of the tighter compositions. The bass ends up somewhat buried — something entirely normal in metal and hardly surprising. There are no major innovations here: the mix follows a familiar genre standard, functional and effective. The keyboards, meanwhile, are perfectly placed, stepping forward when they need to shine and, most of the time, adding atmosphere without getting in the way of the guitars.
Heavy Meta opens with “The End of Infinity,” an atmospheric instrumental introduction that sets the album’s tone without leaning on overt humor, featuring a mildly elaborate riff and a well-defined percussive middle section.
“We’ve Had Enough” follows with an introduction and a staccato riff loaded with groove before picking up speed. It’s one of my favorites. The track works as a proper calling card for the album, balancing weight, velocity, and swing.
But the standout is “We Need a Gimmick.” Driven by groove and anchored by an instantly memorable chorus, the lyrics deal with the goblins’ need to create a gimmick to conquer the human race. The music video diverges from the lyrics, but it’s absolutely hilarious and features another guest appearance by Kayden Kross. Enough said.
“Bring Us More” delivers an “oh oh ooohhh” choir straight out of Iron Maiden’s playbook, with keyboards pushed well to the front. “Nekrogoblikon,” on the other hand, works almost as a manifesto: simple, direct, and self-referential, reinforcing the band’s identity and closing the album with a sense of resolution — more conceptual than technical.
In the end, Heavy Meta is the album where Nekrogoblikon finds balance. It doesn’t abandon humor, soften its heaviness, or try to sound more “important” than it actually is. Instead, it organizes its ideas, writes better songs, and knows exactly where it wants to go. It may be the band’s most accessible album up to that point, but it’s also one of their most consistent — proof that a strong identity, a sense of fun, and well-executed extreme metal can not only coexist, but actively strengthen each other.
If Goblin Metal needed a definitive manifesto, Heavy Meta comes very close.
