Album Review: Dogma – Dogma (MNRK Heavy)

Dogma beckons like a mythological siren calling all travellers adrift on the seas of conformity. Is Dogma a band? A cult? A way of life? Dogma is whatever the forces of nature demand—four women united by melody, ideology, and chaos, sharpening hard rock and metal into weapons.

On November 17th, 2023, Dogma will release their self-titled debut album via MNRK Heavy.

A bit of an enigma, especially when it comes to sound, Dogma are aiming high and have the tracks to back up their ambition, even if the ‘message’ doesn’t always come through clearly.

Case in point, the opening track Forbidden Zone, which begins in symphonic metal style, before transforming into a body-shaking hard rock anthem via a blaze of enigmatic synth. It certainly shows a band with plenty of creative spirit, and it creates a fair amount of intrigue for what else this album has to offer.

Which just so happens to be Feel the Zeal, and it has to be pointed out that this track is giving off some serious Ghost vibes. No complaints though as it’s a very catchy number with some lovely sinister synth. Then along comes My First Peak to up the ominous vibes, yet it’s the heavy rock riffs that really stand out here. Before Made Her Fine and Carnal Liberation showcase a band willing to experiment and leave the listener guessing. Big symphonic tones, energetic rock rhythms, gothic melodies, emphatic horn-throwing soloing, and anthemic singalong choruses.

If there’s one thing Dogma have shown so far, it is the fact that they’re a very confident band. Which results in more and more reasons to like them. Reasons like the blend of gothic drama and infectious swing-style rockiness that Free Yourself offers. Reasons like the 80s-angled Bare to the Bones, a track with some killer melody, and reasons like the pairing of the moody Make Us Proud and the exciting, elaborate Pleasure from Pain. It’s at this late stage of the album that Dogma have fully got the listener’s attention having hit so many highs across the album.

Although they’re not quite done yet as the penultimate track, Father I Have Sinned is stupidly catchy and has some surprising guttural vocals right at the end. Whereas the finale of The Dark Messiah brings back the big symphonic touches, gothic vibes, and has one of the album’s strongest guitar solos.

A very satisfying finish to an album that gets better and better as it goes on. There’s so much potential in Dogma that it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise if they become one of the biggest bands in rock and metal a few years from now.

Dogma – Dogma Track Listing:

1. Forbidden Zone
2. Feel The Zeal
3. My First Peak
4. Made Her Mine
5. Carnal Liberation
6. Free Yourself
7. Bare To The Bones
8. Make Us Proud
9. Pleasure From Pain
10. Father I Have Sinned
11. The Dark Messiah

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