Former Blind Channel vocalist Joel Hokka teams up with The Rasmus axeman on brooding, goth-metal-tinged debut under his own name.
HOKKA don’t hang about. Their debut album Via Misera IV arrives loud, polished and fully-formed, just one year since mainman Joel Hokka announced that he was leaving Finnish giants Blind Channel. With Joel leading the vocal work, Pauli Rantasalmi (ex-The Rasmus) at the helm of the axe and drummer Jimi Aslak joining the ranks, there's a lot of experience talking here, and it’s talking in massive choruses.
Opener Blackbird sets the tone. Brooding atmospherics swell before bursting into a huge, sky-reaching chorus that have been crafted to ricochet off the walls of grandiose settings. Death By Cupid’s Arrow follows quickly, leaning into something punchier, as it drops a nu-metal-tinged riff while keeping this straight and narrow melody in play.
That balance is where this record thrives. Heart Said No goes all in on melody, a soaring anthem that wears its heart on its sleeve. For a band so fresh, their experience has allowed them to feel comfortable in their own skin already. It’s big, emotional and just the right side of over-the-top, carried by a vocal performance that sells every moment.
Then things take a darker turn. Murder Ballad leans into atmosphere and storytelling, building tension slowly before snapping into something tighter and more controlled. It’s theatrical in all the right places. Serpent’s Song shifts gears again, trading instant payoff for groove and mood, slithering through with a more patient edge that adds a welcome bit of depth. It's pure Scandinavian gloom rock that almost feels like HIM in places.
And then there’s the wildcard, as a cover of Seal’s Kiss From A Rose seeing out proceedings. What HOKKA do brilliantly here is drag it into their world, layering it with shadow and weight until it becomes a brooding, almost gothic-rock anthem.
Via Misera IV sounds like a fresh spark, and a new creative lane to tear along. And Joel Hokka's turning it into the fast lane.
Verdict: 4/5
For fans of: The Rasmus, HIM, Creeper
Via Misera IV is released on April 24 via Nuclear Blast.
