Snakes n' Barrels (episode)

"Snakes n' Barrels" is the eighth episode of Metalocalypse. It aired on September 24, 2006 on Adult Swim.

Synopsis
Pickles reunites with his old band for one concert but the Tribunal tries to sabotage it to hurt Dethklok. Their attempt to use an experimental drug affects all the members of Snakes n' Barrels except Pickles.

Old friends, old band
Snakes N' Barrels (the band Pickles' was in before Dethklok) is presented in a TV documentary. People immediately begin to buy their records, prompting Pickles to temporarily leave Dethklok and go on stage with his old bandmates. Meanwhile, the Tribunal go over the history of the other band members: former alcoholic Antonio "Tony" DeMarco Thunderbottom on bass guitar, former crack cocaine fiend Sammy "Candynose" Twinskins on drums, and former hallucinogen and heroine user Snizzy Snazz Bullets on rhythm guitar). The Tribunal plots to use their sober states as an advantage against Dethklok.

Totally Awesome Sweet Alabama Liquid Snake
They decided to use a military made drug called Totally Awesome Sweet Alabama Liquid Snake to erase Pickles' mind and make him a blank slate. However, because Pickles has spent a lifetime using drugs and alcohol and has never once been sober, the rest of Snakes N' Barrels are affected by the drug instead. They experience horrible hallucinations and are rendered insane, while Pickles is not affected at all. A recording of their live concert is released on album and is dubbed the most brutal album of all time. The rest of Dethklok, who made fun of Snakes N' Barrels earlier in the episode, change their minds about the band saying it is awesome, and they ask Pickles to play the album again. There is no music, and no singing... only Snakes N' Barrels screaming and gibbering nonsense.

Songs featured in this episode
Water Horsey Blues

Guest Voices
Michael Amott of Arch Enemy, Steve Smyth and Warrel Dane of Nevermore.

Trivia

 * This episode reveals Pickles' backstory as a former member of a successful and well-known band before joining Dethklok. It also gives further insight into his substance abuse problem, which is picked up later in the plot of Rehabklok.
 * The map in the opening montage shows Pickles boarding a bus from Green Bay, Wisconsin; the closest city with commercial bus service to Pickles' hometown of Tomahawk, Wisconsin.
 * The band name Snakes N' Barrels could be a parody of the band Guns N' Roses, and Pickles' appearance as the frontman resembles Axl Rose.