Small started learning guitar at age 14 after a kid in his neighborhood began teaching him about guitar and music. At his first public performance his hands shook so wildly that he had trouble controlling the guitar. It was another ten years before he was comfortable performing in public. He graduated from Palma High School in Salinas, California. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music in 1997. During his music studies he concurrently took several writing and comedy classes at Emerson College. After graduating, he felt that the rock music genre was fading in popularity so decided to try his hand at comedy.
He was performing at The Comedy Studio in Harvard Square when he was spotted by Loren Bouchard, who at the time was casting for the central character for a UPN pilot produced by Tom Snyder Productions which eventually evolved into Home Movies.
Brendon Small was the co-creator, writer, voice actor, composer and musician for Home Movies, a cartoon initially aired on the UPN television network and then moved to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. The final episode of Home Movies aired on April 4, 2004, after running four seasons, although the show is periodically rerun on Adult Swim. In the series, he voiced the show's protagonist, 8-year-old aspiring filmmaker Brendon Small, as well as a number of other characters.
Small lent his voice to a number of other animated shows. He co-starred as Chad in the BET animated sit-com, Hey Monie!, and has voiced many supporting characters in The Venture Bros., including that show's shell shocked and drug-addicted version of Jonny Quest. Small has also had cameo roles in Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Squidbillies, Reno 911!, and Frisky Dingo. Small along with Scott Adsit appeared as lead characters of the Adult Swim pilot Let's Fish; the show's pilot premiered on May 13, 2007, but the series was not picked up.
In April 2005, the Sci Fi Channel announced an upcoming debut of a half-hour animated ensemble comedy show created by Small titled Barbarian Chronicles. The show, which has yet to be seen, was said to be produced by Small and Worldwide Pants Incorporated. Small has said that there are currently no plans to produce the show but that anything can happen in the future.
Small posed for a pictorial that appeared in the April 2006 issue of Playgirl magazine, as part of a humor-themed issue. Small posed naked holding a medieval flail and a strategically placed metal shield that hid his genitals. Along with comedians Ron Lynch and Craig Anton, Small has hosted the "Tomorrow Show", a weekly live comedy show at the Steve Allen Theater in Los Angeles.
Small's latest television project is as co-producer, co-writer, composer, and voice actor for the Adult Swim series Metalocalypse, which premiered on August 6, 2006. The series focuses on a fictional melodic death metal band named Dethklok, and each episode features a song "performed" by the band. In addition to all of the behind-the-scenes work he does for the series, he also provides voice talent for the characters Skwisgaar Skwigelf, Pickles, and Nathan Explosion, three of the five members of Dethklok. Small has stated that while this is his dream job, he does not really like watching animation that much.
In 2007 and 2009, Small hosted the Guitar Superstar competition and in September 2008 he was one of the judges. In 2010 Small directed Soundgarden's music video for "Black Rain", and The Damned Things music video for "We've Got A Situation Here".
Small's virtual band Dethklok appeared, via video, at the 2009 Golden Gods Awards. The band received the award for Best International Band. At the 2010 Golden Gods Awards, Small attended and performed with Brian Posehn's band and introduced Fear Factory's set. At the 2011 Golden Gods Awards, Small attended and introduced DevilDriver's set. Small attended the 2012 Golden Gods Awards and introduced Triviums's set.
Small recently finished work on the fourth season of Metalocalypse, which began airing on April 29, 2012.
Small performed guest vocals as Nathan Explosion on the Zimmers Hole song "The Vowel Song". Small also contributed guitar work to the songs "Devils Teeth" from Exodus's album Exhibit B: The Human Condition, as well as "More Metal Than You" from comedian Brian Posehn's album Fart and Wiener Jokes. Small created the "Murder Mix" of the song "Liar" by Emilie Autumn from the Liar/Dead Is the New Alive EP. Small performed the solo for the song "Get It Up" (Van Halen cover) on Sylencers' debut album A Lethal Dose of Truth. Small performs a guitar solo on the song "Let's Make Out" on the Sex Slaves album 'Call of the Wild'.
In early 2011, Small introduced the Dethklok "Thunderhorse" Explorer from Gibson, a guitar made to his own specifications, and modeled after Skwisgaar's Gibson Explorer. A limited edition Epiphone "Thunderhorse" Explorer, based on the Gibson "Thunderhorse" Explorer, was introduced in early 2013. In May 2012, Small introduced the prototype for the Gibson Flying V "Snow Falcon", built to his own specifications, and modeled after Toki Wartooth's Gibson Flying V. The final version of the guitar was released on December 13, 2013.
In April 2012, Small released his debut solo album, Brendon Small's Galaktikon. The album featured Dethklok members Beller on bass and Hoglan on drums. Small described the album as a "high-stakes, intergalactic, extreme rock album" and described it as being similar to Dethklok but with more melodic vocals and rock elements. Small performed songs from Brendon Small's Galaktikon for the first time at "WesFest 8" on March 3, 2013, in West Hollywood, California.
On April 29, 2012, Small started a weekly guitar lesson video series on the Adult Swim YouTube channel, entitled "Shreducation", which consisted of 12 installments.
Small, Beller and Hoglan got together to work on the third Dethklok album, Dethalbum III, which was released on October 16, 2012. Small released a fourth Dethklok album, entitled The Doomstar Requiem, on October 29, 2013, which is a soundtrack album to the Metalocalypse special of the same name. The album featured Hoglan on drums, Beller performing guest bass on a track, and Mike Keneally performing guest vocals.
Small released a follow-up record to his debut album, entitled Galaktikon II: Become the Storm, in 2017.
Triton
Brendon Small Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
the galaxy is burned through my sight
pushing through the system like mercury
I'm liquid in flight
I'm devoid of navigation
detect my path through the starlight
speeding through the universe
Serpentis Centauris Circinus Delphinus
Orion Arcturus Andromeda Poseidon
i never wanted that life my focus was lost
complicated matters weakened my heart
but its over it's over now
I'm moving I'm moving on
I'm needed protector
the universe the universe
what has become of this deity
what of the beautiful
gone and slipped into eternity
you can't look back your
future is no more
why does he run
has his power failed he's indestructible
he is a man with god like strength
the faster her flies the stronger he becomes
you know you can't go back
you know you can't go back
further further further away
forty thousand light years
it's so far
this black love hit so hard
yes I must fly on gonna fly away
cause you're gonna fly on too anyway
oh I need a change of scenery
could I get some advice oh no
could I get some advice oh no
could I get some advice oh no
just a little advice oh no
The song "Triton" by Brendon Small depicts the journey of a powerful, godlike figure traveling through space. The first few lines paint a picture of immense distance, with the galaxy burning through the character's sight as they push through like liquid in flight. There is a sense of being lost, with the character devoid of navigation, but they are able to detect their path through the starlight and speed through the universe, using constellations to focus their flight.
The second verse delves into the character's past, revealing that they never wanted the life they once had and that complicated matters weakened their heart. However, the character is now needed as a protector of the universe. The chorus repeats twice with questions about the deity's fate and why they run, symbolizing the internal struggle of the character. The final lines bear a sense of desperation, with the character needing a change of scenery but seemingly unable to find any help or advice.
Overall, "Triton" portrays the loneliness and search for purpose of a powerful being traveling through space.
Line by Line Meaning
Forty thousand light years
The singer is beginning a journey of great distance.
the galaxy is burned through my sight
The enormity of space is both overwhelming and fascinating to him.
pushing through the system like mercury
He is on a mission, moving quickly and efficiently like the planet Mercury.
I'm liquid in flight
The singer feels liberated and fluid as he travels.
I'm devoid of navigation
Despite his confidence, he is aware that he has no clear direction or destination.
detect my path through the starlight
He will adapt and find his way using the stars as his guide.
speeding through the universe
He is moving fast and with great determination,
constellations focus my flight
He derives purpose from the patterns created by the stars that he follows.
Serpentis Centauris Circinus Delphinus
These are the names of the constellations that he is passing through or utilizing for direction.
Orion Arcturus Andromeda Poseidon
These are more constellations that he may be seeing as he moves through space.
i never wanted that life my focus was lost
The singer did not aspire to be on this journey, as his original path in life was lost.
complicated matters weakened my heart
The complex events of his past left him feeling fatigued and less committed to his former aspirations.
but its over it's over now
He recognizes that he needs to move on from his past.
I'm moving I'm moving on
He is leaving his former life behind and progressing forward.
I'm needed protector
The universe demands his attention and action, as he becomes a savior or guardian of sorts.
the universe the universe
The vastness of the universe serves as a constant reminder and source of inspiration for him.
what has become of this deity
He is reflecting on his own identity and worth as a quasi-godlike figure in the story.
what of the beautiful
He is also mourning the loss of beauty in the world.
gone and slipped into eternity
Time has passed and that beauty is now only a memory in the past.
you can't look back your
He understands that humans cannot change the past and the present is where they should focus.
future is no more
The future no longer exists in the same way as he becomes progressively removed from his life on earth.
why does he run
He is referring to a subject that is running away from something or someone.
has his power failed he's indestructible
The subject should be beyond harm or failure, according to the singer, so his fear is unwarranted.
he is a man with god like strength
The subject has enormous capability despite being human in nature.
the faster her flies the stronger he becomes
The subject's strength is enhanced by the motion of flying.
you know you can't go back
He repeats the message that no one can go back and the present moment is all that matters.
further further further away
As he gets farther from earth and his life there, the people he left behind recede into the distance.
it's so far
The singer seems to be recognizing the enormity of the journey he has undertaken.
this black love hit so hard
There is some unresolved emotion tied to this journey that he compares to an intense love.
yes I must fly on gonna fly away
He acknowledges that he is committed to continuing his journey, even when it may be difficult.
cause you're gonna fly on too anyway
He encourages others to continue on in the same way he has, even if their paths diverge.
oh I need a change of scenery
He has grown tired of his current surroundings and desires new experiences.
could I get some advice oh no
This request for advice is likely rhetorical or simply a show of frustration with feeling lost.
just a little advice oh no
He reiterates his request for assistance, though it again seems unlikely that he expects an answer.
Contributed by Carson V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.