In recent years, Taiwan’s music festivals have witnessed an unexpected fusion of traditional Buddhist elements with the modern sounds of death metal. Dharma, a band formed in 2018, has combined ancient Buddhist sutras with the hard-hitting, atmospheric music of death metal, creating a unique and distinctive style. The band’s Canadian singer chants genuine Buddhist mantras, blessing the audience amidst the aggressive instrumentation of death metal.
Dharma has broken new ground by incorporating ancient Buddhist teachings into the contemporary realm of heavy metal. The band has even been joined on stage by Buddhist nuns, Master Song and Master Miao-ben, further blending the worlds of religion and music. Last month, Dharma performed overseas for the first time at the International Indie Music Festival in Kerala, and is now receiving interest from North America and Europe to spread their message further.
The band’s founding member, Jack Tung, sees heavy metal and ancient religions as in need of evolution in the 21st century. He views the intense and angry appearance of death metal as similar to the protective image of Buddha statues, and aims to channel the energy of metal music to amplify the power of Buddhist mantras.
Dharma’s commitment to their unique fusion of heavy metal and Buddhism is evident in their dedication to their craft. Singer Joe Henley spent months studying the sutras he would sing on stage under the guidance of Master Song, ultimately becoming a Buddhist himself. The band’s physical copies of their album are blessed by Buddhist monks, and a portion of their earnings from performances are donated to charitable organizations.
Dharma’s unconventional combination of genres has attracted a dedicated fan base in Taiwan, where their shows have developed a unique culture of their own. However, the band remains committed to not forcing their beliefs on anyone, but rather providing a message based on the teachings of the Buddha for individuals to interpret as they choose.
Ultimately, Dharma sees their fusion of Buddhism and death metal as a reflection of the 84,000 ways to practice mentioned by Amitabha Buddha, demonstrating that the two do not contradict each other and that everything begins from the heart.