DOFKA

June 23, 2010

Bands like Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy, Diamondhead, and Rainbow were instrumental in defining the genre that has crossed into so many other realms today- if it weren't for these "pioneer" bands, we certainly would not have metal as we know it today. The forefathers of the genre immediately came to mind when I was fortunate enough to stumble upon Dofka's Myspace page a few months ago. After listening to this Pittsburgh based true metal outfit's tracks I literally sat at my desk dumbfounded, wondering how a band of this caliber has not been signed. Well, I was partially incorrect. Dofka has been an on-off project for the last 20-some odd years:

"The band had been floating around since 1990. We were on BMG Europe 1990, back then but the grunge thing hit in the USA. We couldn’t get a record deal in the USA? Back then we’re constantly touring, playing the East Coast club circuit. Briefly the band name was changed to Psycho Scream then we went on hiatus for a couple [of] years. The current lineup is fresh blood, a new attitude and lots of fire power."

And fire power they bring on their latest release, Humanity Bleak. Chock full of catchy riffs, a healthy mix of melodic and growl vocals, and plenty of shred guitar solos, Humanity Bleak is a highly complex release that is sure to please metal purists and shred fans alike. The current lineup of Dofka, all of whom are highly experienced, bring a  wide array of musical tastes to the band, which come together to make Humanity Bleak the unique flavor of metal that it is:

"We don’t purposely try to sound like anyone.  We do this for the love of the music. Each member listens to a varied plethora of bands, Rush, Maiden, Sabbath, Emperor, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, Arch Enemy, Slayer, Meshuggah, AC/DC, Rainbow etc..etc..  I would say we’ve evolved stylisticly, the music we play now is stripped down, more simplistic from the early material.  Less progressive. I think that is part of growth. Less musical masturbation, more about the song. Before, we were all trying to get our own musical identities in there, playing all this crazy stuff all over one another.

I am proud of those old releases but listening back, it sounds like a battle.  It’s like we’re trying to outdo each other.  Fighting for our individual identities rather than focusing on being a team.  We still put some musical chops in there, just where we feel it’s needed, not just for the sake of 'being able to do it.' "

The influences are noticeable throughout Humanify Bleak. Any metal aficionado will be able to recognize elements from the big names of metal, but Dofka definitely has a place of its own in the busy world of heavy metal. Always true to their roots, this talented group of musicians definitely functions as a team on this release, each member bringing his tastes to the table in a way that isn't at all offensive or overwhelming to the listener. Humanity Bleak flows effortlessly from track to track, without any hint of competition.

The most unmistakable musical identity on the album is that of Jim Dofka, lead guitarist, chief songwriter, and namesake of the band. His solo technique is brutally fast yet intensely melodic, and most definitely hearkens back to the days of metal's past. Dofka relies on both natural and pentatonic scales in his solos, which he integrates (and plays) seemingly effortlessly:

"Really bending those strings, shaking the crap out of the strings, expressing the notes with mundo vibrato, that’s where the 'SOUL' comes out.

All the scales, keys and modes are like voices.  They’re all important. I use whatever the song calls for. With the kind of music we are doing, a solo is not just 30 seconds to jam.  It’s part of the song, the composition as a whole.  I compare it to writing a book, this is my chapter.  I have 30 seconds to get in there keep the listener entertained and get out to let the singer be the star."

Dofka has a plethora of influences on his guitar technique. He describes his chief influences as the "ole skoolers"- Tony Iommi, Ritchie Blackmore, Angus Young, Randy Rhoads, and Ace Frehley to name a few. I was quite surprised with one in particular, though:

"If you remember the band SWEET, that guitar player Andy Scott was a HUGE influence on my playing.  He was the first guy I heard that layered all those awesome guitar harmonies.  A bit like Brian May of Queen, but poor Andy Scott never seemed to get the [same] recognition as his Guitar God comrades."

Also notable is the fact that Jim Dofka is a guitar purist. True to Andy Scott's legacy, Dofka doesn't opt for bells and whistles:

"I don’t use a trem bar and no effects.  I have to make all these weird sounds naturally.  I use an EQ pedal and a noise gate, no verb or delay.  Just plug in and go.

As for gear, I hate it all, it always fails me! Any guitar I buy needs a fret job about 8-9 months later.  The Mesa Boogie needs [to be] completely re-tubed every 9 months.

It’s all such a headache.  Currently I am playing a Carvin guitar, I got the stainless steel frets this time, so far so good.  I go for simplicity, a good sounding guitar with a complimentary amphead. Hate all that rack crap that looks like we’re preparing to launch the space shuttle."

Don't jump to the conclusion that because the guitarist opts for an old school setup that the album has a dated sound, though. Humanity Bleak as a whole encompasses a variety of different musical styles.

The vocals on the album alone are representative. Singer Andrew D'Cagna makes his musical identity known and proves his versatility as a vocalist on Humanity Bleak, at times relying solely on growl vocals, and at others emulating the 3 big "D" singers of the 80s- Dickinson, Dokken, and Dio. D'Cagna's vocal performance on Humanity Bleak is part homage to the heroes of metal's past as well as to Scot Edgell, Dofka's former vocalist, some of whose material can be found on the Myspace page. A number of the tracks on Humanity Bleak were also co-written by Edgell, who is still active in the Pittsburgh area metal scene. The other part of D'Cagna's vocal performance is his unique combination of rough and smooth vocals, which without a doubt adds a level of complexity to the tracks. Jim Dofka comments on the use of rough vocals:

"Andrew’s background comes from an abundance of styles.  Recently he mentioned he used to listen to nothing but Black Metal.  When traveling to and from out of town gigs, he brings an abundance of cds.  He pulls out Decapitated, Mastadon, Absu, and a lot of heavier stuff with the heavier vocal.  So you can see where that comes from.

When he wants a lyric to stick out sometimes it calls for a little Deathy coloring.  If that’s how he gets his point across, more power to him!  Vocals are an emotion."

But the progressive influences, especially on the rhythmic front, courtesy of Mike Barnett's drumming and James Babcock's command of the bass guitar, Jim Dofka's technical guitar work, and the "SOUL" that is prevalent throughout Humanity Bleak are certainly what set this music apart from the current trends in metal. While tracks like "Evocation" contain progressive influences, including irregular time signatures and syncopated rhythms, "Second God," features a neoclassical-influenced fugue at the song's opening measures. Other tracks such as "World on Fire" and "This Sacred Flame" stay true to the NWOBHM influences, which are easy to identify. Despite the diverse musicality, Humanity Bleak definitely flows as a cohesive, expertly produced album.

I was particularly surprised when Jim Dofka described the recording setup:

"We did it at old Ice House, our band rehearsal hall.  The walls are 16 inches cork.  It really was an old Ice House back in the day.

I was against a lot of odds tracking this record.  I was setup in the same room as the band when tracking.  Didn’t have a control room or anything.  On the good side, I had a ton of great gear for the record, Great mic-pres, vintage EQs etc..

I used Sonar 8 Producer as the main recording platform.  Most are surprised that I didn’t use Pro Tools."

Listening to Humanity Bleak, I would have never guessed that it wasn't produced in a full service studio. Jim Dofka definitely deserves kudos as a guitarist and a producer- the mixing throughout the album is spot-on and it has an extremely professional feel to it. At the same time, Dofka doesn't need shortcuts like pitch correcting and top grade equipment to sound awesome. They are simply a talented bunch of musicians.

The level of talent and "SOUL" that these guys have is definitely worthy of widespread recognition at the very least. Dofka is making their mark on the local scene in Pittsburgh, but they deserve a whole lot more attention. Jim Dofka adds:

"We did this cd 110% independent.  Self Produced, Self Recorded, Self Released,     $ Self Financed $.  No label support!  We want every metal head on earth to hear this cd!"

TO THE TOP

Release Date: February 23, 2010
Label: Band Self Released

TRACK LISTING

DOFKA

HUMANITY BLEAK

LINKS

BUY HUMANITY BLEAK
MYSPACE
YOU TUBE: LIVE IN CONCERT

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1.  Tragedy Remains
2.  Evocation
3.  The Bitter End
4.  World On Fire
5.  Humanity Bleak
6.  Second God
7.  Blood Runs Black
8.  Immaculate Lie
9.  This Sacred Flame
10.  23 Pine Avenue

Total playing time:  43:21

Writer: The Stream               

It isn't very common for me to be completely surprised at how a band hasn't been signed by a label. Usually it's the complete opposite - I've spent plenty of time scratching my head and asking myself what would possess a label to sign some of the bands that I've heard over the recent years. Heavy Metal is an ever-changing genre. There are trends and fads just like there are in any other genre of music, but the roots of metal are unmistakable and should not be forgotten under any circumstance.

(Click on Photo to Enlarge)

Jim Dofka

Andrew D'Cagna: Vocals
Jim Dofka:  Guitar
Stu Dowling: Guitar
James Babcock:  Bass
Jeff Kalp:  Drums