The Calm Before The Storm With JOE HENLEY From DHARMA

If there were ever two words (well, three technically) that should
not go together, they would be Buddhism and death metal. In fact,
the words almost naturally repel from each other just saying them
out loud. But if there's one thing the cheesy wave of Jean-Claude
Van Damme movies taught us is to never say never, so when your path
next crosses - or could even potentially cross - that of Buddhist
death metal outfit Dharma cast aside everything you thought you
knew of right and wrong and instead prepare for what has been
widely dubbed as a "fascinating and brutal" experience.
And before you ask, Dharma aren't one of those bands who saw
something they thought would make a good gimmic and ran with it,
they are actually from Taiwan and are practising Buddhists. Which
means what you get is an impassioned and fully immersive experience
of something you will likely never see again in your
lifetime.
Unless Dharma tour again.
The band are making their way to Australia for the first time in
November, dipping their toes in to gauge the response with just two
select shows. But aren't they both crackers!
Dharma make their debut Australian performance as part of Froth
& Fury Festival in Adelaide on November 9 before heading to
Melbourne the following day to play with Pestilence then heading
home. Not a bad one, two for your first visit.
HEAVY took the opportunity to chat with vocalist Joe Henley earlier
today to peel back the curtain of a band who embrace every passion
in life and have blended them together to create something crushing
and unique.
In the full interview, Joe expressed excitement about Dharma's
first visit to Australia and their anticipation for the passionate
fans and lively atmosphere. He also mentioned that they have high
expectations for the tour and are looking forward to exceeding
them. We discussed their excitement for Froth & Fury Festival
and the bands they were looking forward to seeing. Joe emphasized
the importance of building relationships with fans and the
potential for long-lasting friendships.
He shared the history of the band, explaining Dharma was formed a
few years ago by Jack, the band's drummer, who has been a devout
Buddhist since birth. He wanted to merge Buddhism with extreme
metal, but faced challenges in finding like-minded individuals.
Eventually, he managed to bring together members from various
bands, including Andy from Demise, a death metal band, and Joe from
Revilement and Stench of Lust. They created demos and presented
them to Buddhist communities, who gave their blessing for the band
to proceed. Dharma has since played shows in Taiwan, India, Hong
Kong, Japan, and Australia, with their live shows described as
fascinating and brutal. The band's performances include a Buddhist
nun, Master Cheng Yen, who begins the show with a blessing and
sings in between songs. Joe emphasized that their goal is not to
convert people, but to provide a unique experience that exposes
attendees to something different.
Joe discussed the challenges of balancing tradition and innovation
in their music, which combines metal and Buddhist elements. He
mentioned that while it was initially daunting, they have found a
more natural approach as they refine their sound. Joe also
addressed concerns about potential backlash from traditionalists,
stating that they have been generally welcoming and open-minded. He
attributed this to the Buddhist tradition's emphasis on intention
and purity of motivation, which he believes comes through in their
music and conduct.
Joe shared stories about Dharma's shows, including a memorable one
where a fan crowd-surfed in the lotus position, which became a
recurring theme at their performances. HEAVY then asked Joe about
some photos from their social media, which led to discussions about
a show at a temple in the mountains, a traffic jam on New Year's
Eve, and their drummer's massive drum set, plus more.

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