Three names from Finland’s rock legacy, one band. HOKKA brings together former Blind Channel frontman Joel Hokka, The Rasmus founding member and guitarist-songwriter Pauli Rantasalmi, and drummer Jimi Aslak, and their debut album ‘Via Miseria IV’ is out now via Nuclear Blast Records.
The album’s third single “Heart Said No” is the emotional centerpiece of the campaign so far. Built around a captivating piano melody, it’s a vulnerable, soaring anthem that showcases a side of HOKKA distinct from earlier singles “In The Darkness” and “Death By Cupid’s Arrow,” while staying fully within the band’s cinematic, high-intensity world.
Joel Hokka doesn’t hold back describing the track. “Big boys don’t cry, except when writing songs like this,” he says. “‘Heart Said No’ was the first song I ever wrote with tears in my eyes, and I wasn’t the only one in the band.” That kind of raw honesty is exactly what gives the song its weight.
‘Via Miseria IV’ explores struggle, resilience, and inner conflict across its full runtime, and the singles released so far confirm the album has both the sonic depth and thematic range to back that up. The cinematic video for “Heart Said No” matches the song’s emotional scale perfectly.
HOKKA also has a packed summer of Finnish festival dates ahead, plus an appearance at Rock The Lakes in Switzerland in August.
2026 Live Dates:
June 12-13 – Kesämössö, Lahti, Finland
June 27 – Tuska, Helsinki, Finland
July 3-5 – Ruisrock, Turku, Finland
July 4 – Tuhdimmat Tahdit, Tampere, Finland
July 17-19 – Ilosaarirock, Joensuu, Finland
July 23-25 – Kuopiorock, Kuopio, Finland
July 25 – QStock, Oulu, Finland
August 14-16 – Rock The Lakes, Cudrefin, Switzerland