Some bills announce themselves quietly. This one arrives with a goblin, a battalion of Star Wars characters, and a satirical metal band that has made a career out of making heavy music funny. Nekrogoblikon headlines Buffalo Iron Works on Wednesday, May 13 — alongside Psychostick and Galactic Empire — for a triple-threat Wednesday night that is genuinely unlike anything else on the spring calendar.
About Nekrogoblikon
Los Angeles-based Nekrogoblikon has been building a devoted following since 2006 by doing something almost no one else does: playing melodic death metal fronted by an actual goblin. John Goblikon — the band’s on-stage goblin persona — anchors a live show that draws comparisons to GWAR and Dethklok in its theatrical commitment. Melodic death-metal riffs, keyboard flourishes, and a frontman who is, at all times, fully in character.
The timing is right: the band’s new EP The Boiling Sea dropped April 17 — just weeks before this show — introducing a dual-vocal format with John Goblikon on clean melodies and Dickie Allen of Infant Annihilator on extreme vocals. New material on the road is always interesting, and Nekrogoblikon is clearly in an expansive moment.
The Full Bill
The supporting acts are no afterthought. Psychostick pairs crunching riffs with laugh-out-loud lyrics — a satirical metal act with real chops behind the comedy. Galactic Empire plays John Williams’ Star Wars scores as shredding heavy metal, with members dressed as Darth Vader, Boba Fett, and Stormtroopers. The Buffalo date is the penultimate stop of the May leg of this tour — the band will have a few nights under their belt when they hit this stage.
Getting There
Buffalo Iron Works is at 49 Illinois St. in Buffalo — a reliable club room and the right size for a bill like this. If you are making the drive in from the east, budget some buffer for weeknight traffic through the city. The show is presented by After Dark.
A solid reason to make a night of it in Buffalo / Western NY.
Tickets & Details
Doors at 6:30 PM, show at 7:30 PM. Age restriction: 16+ with valid ID. Tickets start from $35.00.