Feature Artist: FrankenbokNovember 2, 2011

It is our pleasure to present to you and announce Melbourne-band Frankenbok, the feature artists of The Absolute Metal Compilation. Comprising of independent metal acts from Australia, Japan and the ‘States these bands are a selection of the world’s most up and coming artists.

Upon initial reaction the name Frankenbok may accrue stark images of a possible love child between Frankenstein and an illustrious android of some sort. However, Frankenbok is not the fruit of an unlikely couple’s labour, rather they are the product of five killer dudes from Melbourne who produce sounds hard and raw. And in the words of drummer Mick Morely, ‘it’s heavy, it’s fast, it’s thrash, it’s dark, it rocks the f**k out, and… it’s real’. To self-claim to be each and every one of these fabulous adjectives is one thing but to actually truly encompass these qualities as a band and do it well is another.

First and foremost, how are things in the ‘Bok camp?

Ummm… hectic! And awesome all at the same time! We (as do hundreds of other local bands) put countless hours into keeping this machine rolling forward every minute of the day. It can be bloody hard work and frustrating at times, but the rewards are well worth it. The ‘Bok camp is good, real good! We are poised and ready to spread our disease right across the Oz metal scene!

Frankenbok have been around for a while now, how has your music evolved over the years?

We’ve always been about not fitting into a specific category of metal so that hasn’t changed. We just write what we like, go with the flow and just enjoy what comes out the other end for what it is. Maybe there’s a bit less of the ‘comical’ essence in our current album, but that’s not to say we’ve stopped lighting farts and smashing beer bongs out the van window whilst crusin’ along the Hume ya know. There are so many flavours on this ‘Bok supreme pizza that we think everyone can find a slice that suits them. Just have a bite… go on… just try it.

The Black Eyed Peas are listed as an influence. An unlikely choice, they are. How have they influenced your music?

All and any music can influence you, just ‘cause it’s not metal doesn’t mean you can’t get something from it. Anxiety from Elephunk for instance, has this killer balls-out rock beat behind it. It’s a real simple beat but it works and fits the song real well – it’s well written and respect to that.

You guys have opened for great bands like System Of A Down, Slayer and Machine Head. What does it mean for the band to have been given the opportunity to open for such huge artists?

It’s friggin’ great! I still think about those times a lot. Honoured, privileged and thankful… but I’m still waiting on my cheque.

You guys have been touring around Australia for ages, what do you enjoy most about touring? Where would you like to tour internationally?

Getting to go away with pretty much ya best mates and leaving all the day-to-day concerns of life way, way, way behind you is a pretty sweet deal. It’s an awesome holiday for me every time and on top of that you get to rock out and party with complete strangers every time! Basically, there’s nowhere we won’t go if they’ll have us, and even then, we’ll go there if they won’t have us! But I think South East Asia is on the cards at the moment. But really, anywhere and everywhere – “Have band, will play!”.

The band has a particular interest in pushing more Australian bands. Who are these bands you speak of?

Well, metal bands of course. It’s an age-old story, and problem that this country seems to have when it comes to metal. Bring out an international act and… “WHERE THE HELL DID ALL THESE PEOPLE COME FROM!?” And even if the band suck major balls and perform like the bastard love children of Britney & Milli Vanilli, people seem to think it’s the best shit since chocolate coated chocolate, and they’re happy to pay ridiculous amounts of money to go and stand behind some tall, sweaty, drunken wannabe idiot, obnoxiously spilling his beer over everyone and yelling at the band “I CAN DO THAT BETTER THAN YOU CAN”! Total lack of respect on so many levels. Big cheers to all those who do make it out to local shows, and an even bigger one to all those local bands who keep hammering away tooth and nail, year after year. There are so many awesome bands in our own backyard.

And amen to that, Frankenbok. The Absolute Metal Compilation is available digitally on 11 October 2011 on iTunes, Amazon, Guvera and eMusic through Valleyarm. View the complete track listing here.