When you listen to the music of newcomers HOKUM, you would almost surely guess that they are old veterans. Their latest independent release “No Escape” is so virtuous and at the same brutal that you could really believe it. But no, we have young, ambitioned musicians from the Munich area here. Read what our Ralf was able to get from bassist Joe.

Hi Joe, Ralf from the Pfalz – how are things going?

Hi Ralf! Everything looking good so far, hopefully the same with you!

Your current album “No Escape“ received great reviews everywhere, how does that feel? Did you also get negative reactions?

Incredible! It is an unbelievable feeling to get so much positive feedback! We are always very happy to see that people enjoy it so much! Thankfully we did not have any really bad reviews so far.

Did you get any reactions from labels? Or are you looking for a deal at all?

So far no label approached us, but I also have to say that we did not really look actively for one yet. Of course we would be happy about a deal and it would also really help us, but nothing so far.

The name HOKUM, among other things, means a musical piece without sense, which does not really fit for you guys…Self irony or…?

I would say self irony. The salt in the soup. Without self irony every band will seem arrogant sooner or later and that is exactly what we would not want.

Often you are put into the progressive camp, which technically is correct. But still I think that your music is very catchy and brutal…

Thanks! Until a short while ago I did not even think that we are so extremely progressive. We rather call our style a hybrid from Heavy, Death and Thrash Metal, the best of it all. (laughs)

You have been influenced by bands such as SADUS, DEATH, DREAM THEATER or ATHEIST right? But you are still very young to really have been active during these artists’ high times. What do the younger bands lack that these gods had?

Exactly, I would also call these bands our main influences! Thanks, we are honoured that you can really hear that! In my opinion bands such as ATHEIST have released timeless masterpieces with their albums and influenced all following bands. I don’t want to say that younger bands are worse or better, but for the time the mentioned albums were simply breathtaking and groundbreaking. Too often they were just copied, which is a pity, because nobody needs that. And by the way, the fact that we are still very young does not mean that we do not like the same sounds as older Metalheads, eh? Sooner or later everybody will find the right stuff! (laughs)

With “Silent Assassin" you have a true underground hit, which song is your favourite?

Oh, thanks! I am happy that you like the song so much! My current fave is “Face The End”, the third of six songs on the CD, as we and the fans really like it live!

What do you currently listen to most yourself?

Of late I really like to listen to CDs of other local and smaller bands! It is incredible how many gemstones you can find in the underground. Unfortunately you’ll only find out about them if you really look for them. Around here there are some really cool, professional bands, not only in the heavy sector.

What’s your all time top ten?

Phew, that’s hard, because I don’t like to say anything definitive. But among them we surely have “Kill ’em All“ by METALLICA, “Unquestionable Presence“ by ATHEIST and the stuff of MASTODON. The latter are an example for a grandiose “younger” band.

“No Escape” also has a great look and a top sound. How did you finance it? Are you still students, do you work or are you simply stinking rich? Hehehe.

Indeed we had to finance the recordings privately. We all put our money together and indeed we managed to get a sound that we are proud of. At that time we did our civil service, our drummer studies in Munich. We definitely are no big income folks, but I think everybody likes to invest money into his hobby. Some people collect expensive stamps, we record CDs. (laughs)

How about the live front? What would be your dream tour partner?

a)       realistically

b)       utopical

Oh, if we are allowed to get utopical, then definitely early 80s METALLICA! Man, that would have been fun! If you don’t consider that we had not even been born back then. (laughs) Anyways, I think that we should have a lot of fun with any band that we connect with well. But they shouldn’t be too old and fragile, so I guess that today’s METALLICA won’t work then. (laughs) No, seriously, overall I think that we would fit with a quite wide variety of people, as we cover a pretty wide spectrum of musical styles.

Imagine you could put together your dream band. Who would be among them? (Dead musicians also count)

Definitely Roger Patterson would play bass, drummer would be Flo of CRYPTOPSY, plus John Petrucci on lead guitar with OPETH singer Åkerfeldt singing and growling over it while swinging the second axe. Oh man, that would be the ultimate brainfuck!

Please some short statements for

-          Metalcore-Boom: Is far beyond its zenith. Nothing new coming anymore.

-          Swedish Death Metal: ENTOMBED rock them all!

-          Old School: Overused expression, but still somewhat sympathetic.

-          Steve DiGiorgio: Revolutionist on bass in Thrash Metal. Great!

-          Chuck Schuldiner: Left us way too early.

-          Pay to play: Bad thing. As soon as music is only viewed as means to earn money, you should stop.

Okay, dude, that’s all from me, anything else you would like to add?

Many greetings to all Metalheads and thanks to you for the possibility of this interview! Should anybody have gotten curious, you can have a look at www.hokum.de and listen in! We are happy about any message in our guest book! Until then, ciao!