Fallujah’s Alex Hofmann is anything but Dreamless

To Alex Hofmann, a cookie-cutter is a cop out. For him, the idea is simple: stretch boundaries and don’t cut them off at their edges. So, when asked about the uproar his specific brand of artistry tends to rouse from his fans, his response is short, poignant and unsurprising: “It means I’m doing my job.”

What is Hofmann’s job exactly? He’s the vocalist of the San Fran-based, death metal outfit Fallujah — a band that has fans and critics alike mesmerized by their original take on a genre plagued by perpetual “sameness” and a stubborn adherence to genre conventions.

Hofmann and Fallujah have been stirring the death metal pot since 2007, but it wasn’t until the release of their universally acclaimed album, The Flesh Prevails, seven years later that this stirring started to create waves and people in the music community turned a watchful eye towards the group.

“(The Flesh Prevails) got people to pay attention,” Hofmann begins, “but the follow-up defines what kind of band (we’re) going to be.”

Their next album, Dreamless, is exactly that — their follow-up, their chance to not only affirm the hype bred by The Flesh Prevails but also prove that their bold and innovative sound was no fluke.

“Dreamless will be the one to determine how big the band becomes,” he says. “There are elements that are going to freak out and piss people off, because, you know, that’s how metal is. But at the same time, I think those elements … are what make an album come full circle and push boundaries.”

One of these “freak-out worthy” moments is boldly showcased on the album’s first single, “The Void Alone,” where the band enlists Tori Letzler to add her beautiful, clean vocal melodies on top of their pioneering blend of aggressive, yet lush, soundscapes of soaring guitars, groovy bass, and punishing percussion.

The unconventional elements that are seldom seen — and even more rarely embraced — in the death metal community are the ones which excite Hofmann most but also embody his need to perpetually innovate and make music that has a real impact on listeners.

“You need to be a little bit more ballsy if you want to change people’s lives,” he says. “I think that the melodies and the progressions can affect a person in so many different way, and I’m intrigued to see what kinds of emotions it brings up in other people.”

“I just hope (fans) come up to me and say, ‘This album made me feel like this.’ That’s what I want to hear.”

But it’s not only metal fans Fallujah has their sights set on. It’s also a wider audience, one that may have never before ventured into the labyrinth that is metal and all of its sub-genres.

“I think the idea that you’re going to stay locked in the metal scene is pretty depressing,” he says plainly. “You’ve got to do your best to diversify.”

“It’s very naïve to pretend that anybody who makes music seriously says, ‘I only want people in this genre to like our music.’ The goal is to get as many people to be affected by your music as possible.”

This is a tall task and one that, in reality, very few heavy metal bands have gone on to achieve. In recent memory, Deafheaven may be one of the only examples of a metal group who has received widespread praise and acknowledgement from outside the metal community.

Despite this, Hofmann believes that all the groundwork has been laid for Fallujah to reach this level, and that Dreamless is a realization of the heights Fallujah can reach.

“If you listen to our music, you know we’ve done it before, but I think we’ve taken it to the next level this time,” Hofmann says.

Whether or not Fallujah can actually achieve this lofty goal is another question, and one that will only be answered with time. Despite this uncertainty, one thing is crystal clear in Hofmann’s mind: when it comes to Fallujah’s music, they will always push the envelope, regardless of who is listening to the songs.

“If an album is so soft around the edges and it fits everyone’s ideas and fulfills everyone’s needs, what are you doing?” Hofmann questions. “You’re like the musical equivalent of working at Applebee’s or something.”

Dreamless will be released April 29. Fallujah is currently supporting on The Black Dahlia Murder’s “Unhallowed Resurrection” Tour.