ALBUM REVIEW: Dogma – Dogma

DOGMA are a band that demand to be heard. They come at you thick and fast, with a dramatic wall of sound. Heavy, flaming guitar solos, church organs, choirs, and pounding drums — if it makes a noise, it’s on this debut. All this might sound chaotic. And it is. But somehow DOGMA have managed to record this, while in uniform as heavy metal nuns, and still not go overboard. They’re theatrical but still produce a sound that deserves to be taken seriously. The lore might draw you in, but you’re guaranteed to stay for the music.

Forbidden Zone sets the scene for the rest of the circus which is to come, with angelic vocals filled thick with religious imagery that details prohibited arousal. It is a track that oozes DOGMA, all fantastic world-building and retro-metal sound. Plus, the thinly veiled innuendo “forbidden zone” repeated throughout the chorus is so catchy you’ll be chanting it for days.

The cinematic feel is just as thick on My First Peak. This track kicks off horror-rock style, introducing itself with a music box sound and whispered chanting, before erupting into heavy drums and electric guitar. It’s hugely on-brand, describing a nun finding her sexuality, and it’s hard not to feel like part of a cult listening to the track. But that’s a huge part of the appeal. Just like the subject of the song has discovered her guilty pleasure, you’ll have found yours with DOGMA.

Made Her Mine is a track which hits all the right notes. The sheer desperation of the sound, which hits breakneck pace, paired with lyrics lust-filled lyrics wouldn’t feel out of place in the boss-level of a video game. The theming and build-up is strong enough to have you on the edge of your seat just listening to it, rooting for the characters in the unwinding tale the track tells.

A huge standout number is Free Yourself, which has everything from screaming, strong vocals, lyrics like “spit on me“, and a highly sophisticated jazz moment. It’s a massive example of how DOGMA can keep you on your toes, not knowing what to expect at any point throughout a track, and it proves they’re a band that has just as much musical talent as they do interesting characters.

There are more playful tracks on the album too; Feel The Zeal and Bare To The Bones are a little more relaxed. While there are still organs to stick hard to the church theme (and you probably wouldn’t listen to them with a priest around) they’re a more casual listen, still jam-packed with guitar solos and head-banging beats.

The album ends as strong as it starts with The Dark Messiah, which builds tension with violin strings, and guitar solos, and the crashing sounds of thunder. It is a track straight out of a horror movie score, littered with sneering vocals and giggles. And, while it gives you just enough to hook you in, it seems to end on a cliffhanger, leaving you desperate for more DOGMA. These heavy-metal nuns are certain to welcome new fans into their following with this debut. And, with such a strong established theme and sound already under their belt, it’s impossible not to be excited to see where they take us next.

Rating: 8/10

Dogma is set for release on November 17th via MNRK Heavy.

Like DOGMA on Facebook.