Australian metal has always had its own kind of unhinged energy, and Frankenbok have been one of the bands flying that flag for decades. Now they’re back, louder, sharper and ready to stir things up all over again with a brand new album on the horizon.
Set for release on May 29 via XMusic, The Arriba War Honkle marks a full throttle return for Frankenbok, and if the first taste is anything to go by, they are not here to play it safe.
The first single, “F.A.F.O”, hits like a brick to the face. It’s raw, aggressive and dripping with the kind of biting humour that Frankenbok have built their reputation on. But underneath the chaos, there’s something a lot more pointed going on.
This track dives headfirst into the modern dating world, taking aim at Tinder culture, one night stands and the uncomfortable realities that people would rather not talk about. It’s satire with teeth, backed by razor sharp riffs and a delivery that doesn’t pull a single punch. Frankenbok have always walked that line between madness and message, and “F.A.F.O” proves they’ve still got that balance locked in tight.
👉 Listen to “F.A.F.O” here
https://lnk.to/y5vqmS
If you’ve ever tried to pin down what Frankenbok actually sound like, good luck. Their music has always embraced heaviness, humour and outright brutality, often feeling like complete controlled chaos. It’s unpredictable, it’s loud, and it’s never boring. The kind of energy that feels like it could fall apart at any moment, but somehow never does.
The band’s journey hasn’t exactly been smooth either. Since forming back in 1997, Frankenbok have seen their fair share of lineup changes, but October 2024 marked a massive turning point with the return of original vocalist Adam “Hutch” Glynn.
That reunion brought things full circle. With Hutch back on vocals alongside founding guitarist Azza Bok, drummer Tom Rossell and bassist Owen Spratling, Frankenbok have re locked their core identity and hit the ground running.
And they haven’t wasted a second.
Since reforming this lineup, the band have signed with XMusic and dropped “Irrepressible” earlier in 2025, before hitting the road with Alien Ant Farm and Drowning Pool across Australia. It’s been a full throttle comeback, and now it all leads into what could be one of the most definitive chapters of their career.
The Arriba War Honkle is shaping up to be exactly what you’d expect from Frankenbok at full power. Loud, chaotic, unpredictable and completely unapologetic.
Angela Croudace from HEAVY Magazine once described Frankenbok as the ugly love child of Faith No More and Red Hot Chili Peppers with a healthy dose of metal and pure madness thrown in. And honestly, that still feels like the best way to sum them up.
They don’t fit neatly into a box, and that’s exactly the point.
👉 Pre order The Arriba War Honkle here
https://lnk.to/y26sA7
If you want to catch them live, Frankenbok will also be tearing it up as part of XMusic’s 5th Anniversary show.
📍 Friday May 1 – Musicland, Melbourne
Frankenbok, Cicadastone, Awaken The Hate, Electric State
🎟️ Tickets available here
www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1544499
This next chapter feels like a band fully recharged, fully reconnected and ready to remind everyone exactly why they’ve lasted this long in the first place.
