HOKKA: Rousing modern rock from Finland
When Joel Hokka (formerly Blind Channel) teamed up with guitarist Pauli Rantasalmi(The Rasmus), it wasn’t clear at first what it was going to be. When drummer Jimi Aslak was finally brought on board, they formed a band: Hokka. On April 27, 2026, the Finns released their debut album “Via Miseria IV” via Nuclear Blast. Of course, The Rasmus has always been a great role model for Joel: “The early 2000s were my childhood, and The Rasmus of that era was one of my favorite bands. When I saw the golden record of ‘Dead Letters’ on Pauli’s wall, it felt like we’d come full circle,” he says, delighted with the fruitful collaboration. Find out more in our May/June issue.
The single “In the Darkness” offers a wonderful foretaste:
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