Release Date: June 27th 2025. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Dogma - Tracklisting
1.Dogma 02:29
2.Phalanx 04:11
3.Cargo 05:10
4.Fossils 02:13
5.Prompt Engineering 04:02
6.Wake, Woke, Woken 03:34
7.The Hangman 01:10
8.Settlers 03:54
9.Screen Time 04:56
10.Allegro Ma Non Troppo 01:59
Members
Luca Zadra - Drums
Daniele Ticconi - Guitar
Alexander Startsev - Vocals
Matteo Grigioni - Bass Guitar
Guest Musicians
Alessio Bernardi - Flute / Sax
Ludovico Franco - Trumpet
Review
Dogma is the debut album from Mathcore/Post-Hardcore/Sludge Metal misfits Mæth Dæmon where they also add instances of Noise, Punk and Japanoise into the mix. The end result is an experimental style of Sludge Metal that has a twisted sense of sound, purpose and identity. Adding flutes, saxophone and trumpets is also a big “turn-off” for me as I’m not a fan of those instruments being added to Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal.
Those elements don’t really work here but I will say they’re superbly played by the individuals (Alessio Bernardi and Ludovico Franco) who play on this blistering, pissed off and fast-paced record. Mæth Dæmon (which is obviously a pun on Matt Damon) and it shows the band do have a sly sense of humour and I’m beginning to wonder if they were inspired by Team America and instead of Good Will Hunting that’s mentioned on their BandCamp Page.
The record is violent, chaotic and feels like you’re being pummelled to death by a mighty sledgehammer over and over again. Mæth Dæmon perhaps falls within the more experimental side of Sludge Metal with their harsh growls and glitchy electronica beats that craft a warped sense of security. There is a drug induced psychedelic environment forming within the record which comes alive on the excellent second track Phalanx.
For the most part Mæth Dæmon changes musical direction throughout the album with different levels of glitchy FX sounds and trip-hop beats that gave a murky Sludge Metal makeover on tracks such as Cargo, Fossils, Prompt Engineering, Settlers and Screen Time. You can hear influences as diverse as Melt Banana, NIN, The Melvins and Mike Patton which allows Dogma to be quite an unsettling and highly unapologetic record which some folks may turn off before everything is said and done.
Whilst the production values are not perfect with some vocal moments being quite hard to make out with the onslaught of multiple levels of crazed heaviness going on. However, this adds to the overall crazed nature of Dogma with Mæth Dæmon excelling in the least likeliest of places that makes you glad you've listened to the album in full.
If you’re looking for something weird, experimental, daring and different then Mæth Dæmon may be the band for you.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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