The Council
The Council
In every episode, an Illuminati-style group of eight men are shown meeting together to discuss Dethklok’s latest activities and the dangers they pose. In their first meeting, all they know is the information given in the show’s theme song (word for word), but they learn much more through research on fansites and other resources. At the first meeting, they mention that Dethklok’s lineup resembles figures in an ancient Sumerian prophecy. General Crozier states, “If they’re the ones we think they are, I think we should exterminate them immediately,” implying that there may be more to Dethklok than an insanely popular band with an appetite for destruction. This may or may not relate to the prophecy, as Ravenwood felt the need to remind the other members about it. The episode “The Metalocalypse Has Begun” suggests that the ultimate event in the prophecy is an “apocalypse of metal.”
The group meets in a room dominated by nine television sets stacked in a three-by-three square, which usually functions as one big TV but will divide to illustrate various points. The screens show news reports, Dethklok footage, background profiles, and other useful information. The meeting room seems to be underground, as it has no windows and no visible doors. A section of the wall opens to allow people to enter and exit. There are also several adjoining rooms. On the wall is a logo depicting an eagle sitting on top of the world.
The groups’s briefings are led by Senator Stampingston, who usually has experts speak based on whatever Dethklok is doing in the episode. The group has both military (General Crozier) and religious (Cardinal Ravenwood) leaders in its rank, among others. At its head is Mr. Selatcia, a gray-haired man who sits in a throne in the center. There are four other members, but none of them have been named and only one of them has spoken so far (requesting to go to the United States Pornography Awards, along with Stampingston, Crozier, and Ravenwood). Behind the sitting members of the Tribunal are monitors showing the faces of eight more men.
In the second season, the briefing room has been completely overhauled. Rather than the multi-screen setup they previously had, a single TV of equal size is used. The room is also circular in shape, and the logo is now placed on the font side of the briefing table. Finally, the seating arrangement is slightly different: Selatcia’s throne is higher up, with the monitors for the other eight men attached to it, and two more members have been added to the main table, not including Ravenwood’s replacement.
Members:
Senator Stampingston
Senator Stampingston is the main speaker who reports on Dethklok’s current activities. It is unknown what American state the senator represents, or whether he is just a past senator. He doesn’t seem to have a seat, instead standing in front of the television sets. He has a diplomatic standpoint for the issues against Dethklok, often recommending espionage and other forms of information gathering. He keeps the most professional and calm attitude towards Dethklok; he knows they are a threat, but he never overreacts and he is rarely the one that comes up with ideas.
General Crozier
Sitting on the far left, General Crozier is an United States Army general. Mr. Selatcia stated that his job within the Tribunal was gathering information and nothing more, although Crozier is not happy with this. He brings a military viewpoint to the tribunal’s dealings with Dethklok, and usually recommends military action, often in the form of assassination. However, Stampingston once pointed out that approximately half of the military are rabid Dethklok fans. Despite his desperation to destroy Dethklok, he usually has the most realistic predictions, sometimes questioning if certain things the band does are really that dangerous.
General Crozier goes against the Tribunal’s wishes several times, first by sending an assassin to Mordhaus to eliminate Dethklok, and deploying an entire army to one of Dethklok’s concerts to kill them in “The Metalocalypse Has Begun”. He and Cardinal Ravenwood form an alliance in this endeavor. When Selatcia discovers this betrayal, he severely disfigures Ravenwood but only puts Crozier to sleep, claiming he is still needed. Crozier returns with no memory of anything after the attack on Dethklok itself, but with strange nightmares of Ravenwood’s death.
Though his actual status within the military is not elaborated upon aside from his rank, Crozier clearly has influence over much of the army’s resources, as he was able to procure several platoons of soldiers, tanks, and fighter jets for an assault on one of Dethklok’s concerts.
Of his medals, ribbons, and tabs, the only four that resemble actual awards are the Kuwait Liberation Campaign ribbon, the Special Forces Tab, the Ranger Tab, and Combat Infantryman Badge. With the exception of the Kuwait Liberation ribbon, General Crozier’s campaign ribbons do not closely match any issued by any branch of the US military.
– DECEASED
Cardinal Ravenwood
Cardinal Ravenwood is an elderly priest who has a religious perspective on the issues regarding Dethklok. Often, he claims to have had prophetic visions of the outcomes of Dethklok’s current activities, though they don’t seem to come true too often. During the episode “Skwisklok,” Ravenwood admits that he is looking forward to Skwisgaar’s pay-per-view event, as he has taken up playing the guitar. He has dreams in which Selatcia speaks to him in an unknown language and interprets this as a sign that he would die. This prediction seems to be true in “The Metalocalypse Has Begun,” when Selatcia telekinetically blinds him and causes his intestines to prolapse for his betrayal. In the second season premiere, “Dethecution”, Ravenwood is seen being tortured in the depths of Hell by Selatcia and the members of Dethklok while General Crozier watches, though it is unclear whether this scene was real or one of the nightmares General Crozier has been having.
Vater Orlaag
Vater Orlaag is the apparent replacement for Cardinal Ravenwood. introduced in the second episode of the second season. Orlaag is described by Stampington as “a political and spiritual specialist.”
Mr. Selatcia
Mr. Selatcia is the elder member of the Tribunal who sits in a throne in the center, is usually the last to speak, and always has the final word on what course of action the group will take. Oddly enough, he always recommends inaction, ordering the Tribunal to allow what is occurring to take place undisturbed. General Crozier describes Selatcia’s background as “murky.” Selatcia apparently has either supernatural or telekinetic powers, which he displays in “The Metalocalypse Has Begun.” Having discovered the treachery of Crozier and Ravenwood, he telekinetically causes five soldiers’ heads to burst. He then does the same to Ravenwood’s eyes and makes him regurgitate his own intestines. In contrast, he only puts Crozier to sleep, claiming he needs Crozier alive. He then disappears with the surrounding fog before anyone can discover his presence.
Additionally, in an easter egg found on the Metalocalypse Season 1 DVD (disc 2, “episodes” menu), there is a picture of Selatcia wearing non-descript ancient tribal armor (resembling the armor Nathan wore in the “Thunderhorse” video), complete with animal skull shoulder guards and encrusted with talismans which resemble the faces of Dethklok’s members, which flash on the screen as lightning crashes. Along with Cardinal Ravenwood’s vision of Selatcia speaking to him in an ancient language, this seems to imply that he was (or perhaps, still is) a warlord or dignitary of some past society. There is no dialogue or action to go with the image, so the details surrounding the picture and its relationship to Mr. Selatcia remain unclear.
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Experts
Dr. Gibbons – Birthday expert hired to discuss Murderface and his birthday.
Dr. Armand Skagerakk Frederickshaven – Mythology expert hired to discuss the Finnish lake troll.
Dr. Donald Gorfield – Comedy specialist hired to discuss how comedy affects people.
Dr. Romumilif Chesterfield – Military pharmaceutical psychotropic drug manufacturing expert hired to explain the drug “Totally Awesome Sweet Alabama Liquid Snake” and give it to the Snakes ‘n’ Barrels’ members. He gives it to them while wearing an obvious fake beard and observes the effect from the audience.
Dr. Ronald von Moldenberg – Endorsement specialist hired to discuss Dethklok’s transition to endorsement deals. Voiced by King Diamond.
Dr. Natasha Neshenskanovich – Dethklok specialist that runs a Dethklok think tank in Washington, DC. Specializes in Nathan Explosion Studies. Hired to discuss Nathan Explosion’s effect on the world if he were to continue his education.
Vincenzo D’allimamma La Corningston III – Celebrity depression expert who discusses Dethklok’s depression and their decision to turn to Mashed Potato Johnson for enlightenment.
Professor Jerry Gustav Munndig – Child control expert who resembles kiddie show host Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan). Explains child control programs, hippies‘ effect on children of the 1960s, and what would happen if today’s children following Toki were raised on metal.
Horace Marvingblad Wimplestein, Jr. – A celebrity relationship expert, he describes Nathan Explosion and Rebecca Nightrod’s courtship and the public impact of high-profile romances.
Dr. Chaz Fazzeldoctinhoffer – Resident acting expert; he discusses the repercussions of Dethklok’s film career. He appears to be a parody of James Lipton.
