When a band celebrates 20 years by releasing a new EP and booking Aborted, Signs of the Swarm, and Party Cannon as support, the goblin mythology starts to feel incidental to the music — which is probably the point. Nekrogoblikon brings its 20 Years of Nekrogoblikon anniversary tour to The Echo Lounge & Music Hall in Dallas on Tuesday, October 20.
About the Show
Nekrogoblikon formed in Palo Alto in 2006, with founders Tim Lyakhovetskiy and Nicky Calonne aiming to juxtapose traditional metal elements with a unique narrative flair, and eventually settled in Los Angeles, building a five-album catalog from Goblin Island (2011) through The Fundamental Slimes and Humours (2022) around aggressive instrumentation, melodic harmonies, and goblin-themed fantasy storytelling fronted by mascot John Goblikon. The live show leans into the theatrical side, with a format built around crowd participation and two decades of mythology to pull from.
The band’s sound has been described as “goblin metal,” and depending on where you land among melodic death metal, folk metal, and symphonic power metal, that’s not wrong. Five albums over eleven years suggests the music has kept pace with the concept.
The 20-year milestone doesn’t mean the band is coasting on history. In April 2026, Nekrogoblikon released The Boiling Sea EP, produced by Jason Suecof, introducing a new dual-vocal approach alongside live recordings of five classic tracks. The combination suggests a setlist built to span multiple eras rather than anchor in any single chapter, which on a 20th anniversary run is what you’d hope for. John Goblikon summarized the tour: “20 Years Of Nekrogoblikon tour, what’s next? 21!? Drinks on me!” Earlier in 2026, Goblikon appeared in Electric Callboy’s music video for “Let the Good Times Roll,” a crossover that expanded Nekrogoblikon’s reach beyond the standard metal-press circuit.
Support for the Dallas date is Aborted, Signs of the Swarm, and Party Cannon — three death metal acts that make this a full card rather than a headliner with filler. The 25-date North American run covers October 16 through November 15, routing through Phoenix, Houston, Philadelphia, Boston, Toronto, Denver, and Los Angeles, with Dallas one of the early stops.
Venue & Logistics
The Echo Lounge & Music Hall, at 1323 N Stemmons Fwy in the DFW area, holds 1,000. All ages. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m.
Tickets
Tickets start at $60. Buy tickets