Dogma

Dogma’s music is an extremely unique and a compound fusion of Armenian ethnic melody and progressive metal elements, which can transfer the listener from a powerful mountainous landscape to a serene apricot garden in the blazing sun.

The Classic Rock Presents Prog Magazine describes it as: “Aggressive riffs, ethnic vibes and psychedelic soundscapes all wrapped up with stunning delicate female vocals”.

Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull presented Dogma on its official website: "The best musical metal band this side of Mars. Amazing bass player. Brilliant vocals. Searing guitar. Thundering neutron drums. This band feature instruments which are weapons of mass destruction.... Oh, to be so young."

“It doesn’t matter how much or how little you know about Armenia, there is one thing that you can add to the list if you have not already done so: a band called Dogma! […] I’d say Dogma’s music is more like a slow acting but highly addictive drug that you just can’t get enough of”. […]There is no mistaking Dogma’s music for anything else, and unless another band comes along that successfully combines Armenian folk music with intricate and powerful Progressive Metal with a 70s edge, it is likely to stay that way. Femme Metal Webzine / Italy

“They are a very melodic balance of yin and yang, the fierce sound of the music punctuated by peaceful overtures and interludes, while the power and sensitivity of the vocals blend with the varied pace and rhythms of the guitars like water follows the terrain of a mountain valley, while never actually becoming the mountain itself”. Chris Tricket /Blogger

HIGHLIGHTS

In the beginning of 2010 Zara was invited by Ian Anderson, from the legendary British band “Jethro Tull”, to do the guest act for his show in Yerevan on September 24. During this fantastic concert Zara performed together with Ian, presenting two songs of Jethro Tull (“Locomotive Breath”; “Mother Goose”) and two Dogma songs (“Renaissance”; “Awakening”).

In May 2012 Dogma was invited by the German world-known “Wave Gotik Treffen” Festival and played a concert at the Leipzig Central Theater on May 28. In fact, Dogma has been the only band from Armenia to ever partake in such a huge international festival.

On February 25, 2012, Dogma made part of a musical project “A to A: The World in Harmony”. The project was a synergy between the Luys Foundation, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the United States Embassy in Armenia, the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and Dogma band. Dogma presented four musical pieces composed with “Hyperscore” by the children from the United States and Armenia, led by renowned Composer and Inventor Tod Machover.
On September 29, 2012, Dogma was the guest performing band for Red Bull X-fighters Jams in the Republic Square of Yerevan.
In June 2011 the band gave a big open air concert in the center of Yerevan, Sharl Aznavour Square withing the «Golden Apricot» film festival and performed as a headliner at the international Yerevan Summer Music Festival held on August 26-27-28 in the Liberty Square. Later in December followed the live in concert with the title “Under Dogma”.
Since 2008 Dogma has been the organizer of the rock stage for “Erebuni Yerevan” City Day celebrations marked every year and has performed as a headlining band.

HISTORY

DOGMA is an Armenian ethnic progressive rock/metal band created in 2008 in Yerevan. It was found by two famous in Armenia musicians – bassist Vardan Grigoryan and guitarist Heno Grigoryan, who both played in the legendary in Transcaucasia MDP band from 1994 to 2007. In December 2007 a young and charming vocalist Zara Gevorgyan, who was totally unknown to the music sphere, joined Vardan and Heno. Soon after that Derik Vardumyan, who is a famous musician and drummer in the metal sphere of Armenia, teamed up with them, thus making up a four piece which defies its relatively small size with thundering music so potent it seems to come from an army of musicians.
The first private concert was on January 5, 2008, in front of an audience of just friends, musicians and journalists. It turned out to be something impressive indeed, something rather unexpected. And this was Dogma's triumphal start.
Very soon after a number of sold-out concerts, private concerts in their studio and well-received festival appearances (also as organizators) and active public engagement during one year, in the beginning of 2009 the band celebrated its 1st anniversary and started the studio work on the debut album, which was unleashed in December 2009 with the unordinary title "Ethnic-Methnic". Օn December 2, 2014, after another year of recording Dogma released its second album titled “Under Dogma”.
Later in 2014, after 6 years of togetherness, drummer Derik Vardumyan decided to take a time-out & leave the rock scene for a while. Very soon Dogma invited Gor Avetisyan - very young drummer, who grasped their attention by his keen drumming, smooth technique and bright personality, who gladly accepted their offer to make part of Dogma.
Dogma is a desired guest of all big local and international festivals taking place in Armenia. Dogma’s concerts are always sold-out and long-expected by its fans. However, Dogma avoids partaking in glamorous music industry gatherings and getting awards at local music competitions, finding them ridiculous and having no connection with real music and its creation, this way preferring to stay somewhere between the underground and the mainstream. Their videos on their YouTube channel are mainly of live concerts, considering it the best and honest way of giving real emotions. Nonetheless, Dogma shot two video clips “(Renaissance”, 2010; “Melancholy”, 2013) when felt like doing it and not dictated by music industry game rules.
Currently Dogma is working on a new project for 2015 – a concert with a symphonic orchestra. As well as, the band prepares new songs making them ready for the third album.