Music is a for sure a form of therapy both for the creator and the listener. There are many albums and/or songs out there that are nothing less than survival stories put to music, and this album is no different. From the ashes of what once was BLIND CHANNEL, vocalist Joel Hokka has chosen to give music another shot and is now back with his new (self-named) band, HOKKA. His new musical direction has crystallized in this debut album, “Via Miseria IV,” which came out on April 24th, 2026, via Nuclear Blast.
In time, I have come to truly appreciate the honesty and vulnerability that artists put into their music, making certain albums feel like snapshots of a particular moment in time, both musically and lyrically (think no further than BRHG’s “How’s the Heart?” as an example). Though dark and melancholy, “Via Miseria IV” is also deeply personal and candid in the story it tells because creating this album – under the guidance of Pauli Rantasalmi (ex-THE RASMUS) and together with drummer Jimi Aslak – was a great outlet for Joel Hokka to work through his feelings and rediscover his passion for music. As he came out of this turmoil stronger and more dedicated, so did the rock and metal world gained a new melodic force in HOKKA, a band that is ready to claim its spot not only in the Finnish pantheon but on the international scene as well.
It is said that pain and sorrow give us some extraordinary art pieces, and “Via Miseria IV” fits the bill, being an incredibly beautiful album in this sense, filled to the brim with wonderful, uplifting melodies and poetic lyrics that carry emotional weight. It is this aspect that gives it the darkness and melancholy that I mentioned above. It is also very cohesive and fluid, with a great sense of momentum to it as it flows through many moods and ambience during its rather short runtime of almost thirty-five minutes. It opens on sinister notes and urgent rhythms with the brooding “Blackbird” before the bright melodies, catchy choruses, and staccato-based melodic hooks of both “In the Darkness” and “Death by Cupid’s Arrow” open up the soundscape. Speaking of, I really like the usage of staccato notes in these melodic hooks as they inject the album with a nice dose of energy.
For the painful messages it carries, this album is surprisingly energetic and intense in the way the vocals soar above the pounding drums and driving, crunchy guitars, especially during the massive choruses. Such tracks like the moody title track “Via Miseria” or the atmospheric anthem “Heart Said No” are good examples here, ebbing and flowing through bombastic moments and more mellow passages while Joel Hokka sings about how he “found beauty in the pain” or how he walked “down this road of misery.” This powerful juxtaposition of strong emotion and bold musical expression is the backbone of this album, while Joel’s vocal delivery elevates the songs by transforming vulnerability into strength and thus making them so much easier to connect to on an emotional level.
Elsewhere on the album, minimalist ballad “Murder Ballad (Dying Flame)” leans into atmosphere and tension, slowly building from just vocals and some piano to an explosive crescendo in the chorus that brings forth the other instruments, while the vocal performance grounds the melody and keeps everything tight and controlled. Moody and theatrical “Angels Fall” once again balances between some mellow passages and a soaring chorus that hinges on the vocals to carry it, while “Serpent’s Song” is a groovy and intense number with a great melody at its core and a gloomy ambiance to balance it out. HOKKA closes this album with a cover of Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose,” which somehow doesn’t feel out of place on this album, as they reworked it in their image, making it broody and dark.
The journey from darkness to the light is never easy, and sometimes lifting oneself from a bad mental place feels like the hardest thing in the world to do (I have been there myself a few times), but it is always worth it in the end. “Via Miseria IV” is a powerful record in this respect, diving deep into the heart of darkness and exploring the poetic beauty behind the painful situations life throws us into, capturing this bleak mood wonderfully in both lyrics and soundscapes. If you want an album that is rich in melodies and atmosphere, driven by soaring vocals and crunchy riffs, all balanced by emotional weight and highly relatable stories, look no further than HOKKA‘s rocking debut.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
01. Blackbird
02. In The Darkness
03. Death By Cupid’s Arrow
04. Via Miseria
05. Heart Said No
06. Bon Apetit
07. Murder Ballad (Dying Flame)
08. Angels Fall
09. Serpent’s Song
10. Kiss From A Rose
Lineup
Joel Hokka – vocals
Pauli Rantasalmi – guitar
Jimi Aslak – drums
Label
Nuclear Blast
