1. When was the band created?

Somewhere around 1989-1990 the first lineup was formed. For a short time the band was re-named PSYCHO SCREAM. This newest lineup was created in 2008.

I listen from everything from Bach to KING's X to SLAYER, to MESHUGGAH. Also all the classics BLACK SABBATH, DIO, DEEP PURPLE, THIN LIZZY, Frank Marino. I'm a music fan just as much as I am a musician, so all of it has some sort of impact or influence.

We live in 3 different states. Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Drummer Dr. Metal played in the 90s thrash band PHANTOM CREW. He really is a Doctor as he has is Doctorate in music composition. He also played in the Los Angelos based THROTTLE. When he heard DOFKA was looking for a drummer, he moved back to Pennsylvania. He's been rocking with us ever since. Singer Andrew D'Cagna is a man of many traits. He lives in Ohio and is the owner of Sacred Sound Recording Studios. http://www.myspace.com/obsidiansoundstudio
When he first joined DOFKA he was playing guitar in WILDERKIN, playing drums in COSMIC ENFORCER and also vocalist for the legendary ANGELRUST. One very talented HARD working dude! Just prior to the DOFKA "Humanity Bleak" release, Andrew recorded a cool split solo EP where he played every instrument. Very SABBATHy and HEAVY!!! He's certainly a great assett to the reborn version of DOFKA!
Bass player James Babcock and I have known one another for several years. He resides in Pennsylvania. He played in the band THIS TORTURED SOUL. Later James and I played in a BLACK SABBATH/Ozzy tribute show known as BLACK SUNDAY. We were writting songs together during that time and a few of them are songs on the DOFKA "Humanity Bleak" CD.

All the bands??? Wow that would take a few pages. I'll try and make this as brief as possible but it's still going to be a long answer. 1986-1990 I played in SCREAMER. SCREAMER played an average of 25 shows per month. We released several demos. This was my first experience with the underground metal scene. I began sending cassette demos all over the world and before you knew it, we were featured in all the major metal magazines. Labels were soliciting demos and press kits. The music industry was so different back then! Although SCREAMER had a few nice proposals, we were not able to sign any of the deals. However, the demos are still floating around to this day.
I was also in BRICK MISTRESS. We traveled and played shows all over the East Coast, released a couple of demos and independant EPs. We had a few offers as well, but the band members could not agree to go forward with any of the record deals. One record company that kept coming back was Black Dragon Records/BMG (Paris, France). Again we were not able to sign a deal due to personal issues with the band members. Just like the SCREAMER demos, the BRICK MISTRESS demos are still floating around. Over the years with SCREAMER and BRICK MISTRESS, I was getting to know Agnes from Black Dragon Records. Agnes said,Jim we're waiting for you, just go in and give us a record! So we worked out the deal and I finally signed with them for Europe. DOFKA's "Toxic Wasteland" was then released. We did do some touring for that record. It sold fairly decent all things considered. That was in 1990 when the grunge scene was becoming popular in the USA. "Toxic Wasteland" was on an official label for Europe and we pressed it our self just to sell at shows here in the USA. We went to Cleveland to record the 2nd DOFKA CD. Our singer left the band, we hired another singer and temporarily called the band PSYCHO SCREAM instead of DOFKA. The live lineup of PSYCHO SCREAM did not last long and the band disolved...
There were a few other band lineups and recordings, but that brings us to NOW. We decided to return to the name DOFKA and try and keep some consistancy! DOFKA 2010 "Humanity Bleak" is here!

DOFKA's "Humanity Bleak" is available. Everything else is out of print, both the European pressings and the USA releases.

Yes we recorded the DOFKA "Wrecking Ball" CD in 2005-2006. We are thinking of doing a re-mixed remastered version of "Toxic Wasteland" and including the "Wrecking Ball" sessions as a bonus CD. However, right now focus is on promoting the new DOFKA release.

Really? I think Andrew sounds fantastic on the new CD? I feel this is the 1st release I've done that has polished vocals. I'm really happy with Andrew's vocals, his melodies, writing and performance? This is also the 1st record I've ever done where you can understand all of the lyrics, hahaha... And that's no joke.
As for comparing the releases, "Toxic Wasteland" was an album that was written, recorded and released in 4 weeks. I had a very short time to write and record that record. I felt I had to impress the world with guitar madness and played like crazy on that release. It was certainly a great stepping stone for me. It was a "guitar focused" CD. I'm still guitar focused but I now feel I'm more into the SONGWRITING as a whole. If there's a place I feel I need to go guitar crazy, of course I'll do it,but now I really take pride in the songwriting.
With "Wrecking Ball" we really worked hard to make the vocals the forefront, there's definitely guitar shredding going on, but the vocals, vocal melodies and the vocal hooks were the prime focus. That release will eventually surface.
I think the new DOFKA CD "Humanity Bleak" is a much more pure, organic release. We wanted to make sure everything was very focused, clear and articulate... but not stale. I truly feel we achieved just that! This record was geared towards musical craftsmanship amongst all the members in the band, it's not just a guitar-wank record.

Umm? I am learning about those difficulties right now, hahaha. To be honest, We never bothered to shop it to the labels. We had a vision musically and didn't think about the labels. We didn't want anyone controling the direction of the band or the band's music. We did everything by ourselves. We recorded, mixed, produced, mastered, packaged and paid for everything ourselves. As much work as it is, I'm really glad we did it this way.
A few labels caught wind of this release, they asked what we planned to do and asked if we were interested in having them release it? We still thought it was best to do ourselves.
Most people purchase music through digital download or steal it through the Torrents. This really limits the amount of CDs that are sold. The labels and record companies are hurting. They are not giving the bands the tour support they need. There's practically nO metal magazines left? There's plenty to do on the internet to promote your music. There's some great webzines like Bravewords and Metal Maniacs, all former print magazines. So many of the old magazine editors and writers have come forward to help us with this release as they know we did it all ourselves. 
We have it available at all the digital download distributors, and most major metal CD vendors as well as through our website. Anyone who wants the DOFKA "Humanity Bleak" CD can certainly aquire it without much trouble finding it. In this day and age,there's not much that a label can do that we can't do ourselves?

ICARUS WITCH's new "Draw Down The Moon" CD rocks! CROWN THE LOST released an amazing thrash CD just last year. ARGUS released an amazing Sabbathy doom style CD... I'm also recording the new AFTERSHOK CD at my studio, great melodic hard rock! I am sure this will be their best release. I liked the last JON OLIVA'S PAIN CD too! The new ARSIS is pounding METAL!!! Just finished tracking and co-producing a band called VICIOUS CYCLE, very cool melodic metal! 

Well it's different everywhere we play. For example, we played our record release show in Wheeling last week and played a 1 1/2 hour set. Sometimes we play a short 45 minute set. Depends on the situation. Most of our shows, we headline. We usually have an opening band or 2 opening bands, we then play a long set with material from the band's life timespan. AS for Europe, we planned to come to Czech Republic and Poland last year but the CD was not released yet. We were invited again this year, but our singer informed us he was planning on starting a family and could not travel out of the country at the moment.
I'm so anxious to get over there, but it will most likely not be in support of this CD as it was released in February and after just a few months, it's considered an old release by the industry. So maybe after the next Dofka CD, we'll come to Europe.

With the old band lineup, we used to play all of the "Toxic Wasteland" CD. And yes, it was hard to play. With this lineup we only play 1 of those songs, an easy one, "There Is No More" and we've simplified the drum parts. I wouldn't mind revisiting some of those old songs for the future live set. However, the thought of learning those songs is intimidating.

Well due to the length of time with DOFKA releasing new CDs, I can understand that theory. Now I have a great hard working lineup, and I hope to release CDs more frequently. I think that will certainly be part of the solution for making that change! To be honest, we receive great response from Greece. We have more vendors, distributors and CD shops from Greece ordering the new CD than places such as Germany and France.

Haha, I am not a sports fanatic, and I think the Cavaliers are a basketball team? But I can't even tell you that for sure? You want to talk sports, our bass player James Babcock will blow out your eardrum talking about The Pittsburgh Steelers and The Pittsburgh Penguins. I watch a game now and then, but I am not obsessive with sports like so many around me...

Thank you for the support and the interview. You can always find us and any news on www.dofka.com
Please help spread the word about DOFKA and the new CD "Humanity Bleak". True Metal Lives!