Dogmatic Confessions Tour: A Night of Raw Metal in Harrisburg

Photo and review by Chris Besaw

Capital Theatre Center – Harrisburg, PA | November 14, 2025

This past Friday, with the weather mercifully clear—no rain, no snow—I made the 4-hour drive from my hometown to Harrisburg’s Capital Theatre Center for the Dogmatic Confessions Tour. Featuring A Killer’s Confession, Dogma, and Aeternum, this lineup of veteran and rising metal acts promised a killer Friday night. And it delivered.

I’d never been to the venue before, so I had no expectations. After chatting with fans in line, I learned the Capital Theatre Center is a two-story beast—hosting two shows simultaneously. That’s rare. The last time I experienced anything like it was Toronto’s legendary El Mocambo. I was already stoked.

With credentials in hand, I headed downstairs to the basement stage. And damn—what a room. Intimate, gritty, industrial. No drop ceiling—just exposed pipes, steel beams, and moody lighting weaving through the rafters. The stage sat flush with the floor, putting fans and bands on the same level. This is why I do what I do: raw, visceral, in-your-face energy that creates unforgettable moments.

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Aeternum (Colorado Springs, CO)

First up: Aeternum—a band I’d never seen live. Perfect. I love discovering new acts.

The lights dropped. A pulsing intro hit. Then Kayla Smith stormed the mic like she owned the place, backed by Jose Tinajero (guitar, keys, programming), Kris Combs (drums), and Cam Taylor (bass). From the first note, Smith was fearless—charging to the edge, locking eyes with the crowd, commanding the stage like a seasoned pro. Her vocals cut sharp, Tinajero’s riffs roared, and the low-end from Combs and Taylor made the tiny basement thunder like an arena.

Standouts: their haunting take on Garbage’s “#1 Crush,” the driving “Almost There,” and the mosh-ready “Bite My Tongue.” High energy, tight, and fully engaged with the crowd. I’ll be back for more.

Dogma (International)

Next: Dogma—the all-female, multi-national metal enigma I’ve been dying to see since their last U.S. run.

The stage filled with smoke. A creepy intro slithered through the speakers. Then—boom—Abrahel laid down a heartbeat on the drums. One by one, her sisters in darkness emerged: Lilith (vocals), Lamia (lead guitar), Rusalka (rhythm guitar), and the fearsome Nixe (bass). They launched into “Forbidden Zone” with unholy force.

The sound was massive. Lilith’s vocals—powerful, effortless—turned the basement into a cathedral of chaos. Nixe prowled the front line like a predator, daring the crowd to match her energy. Every member owned their space, but together? They were a force.

Highlights: “My First Peak,” their sultry, blasphemous cover of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” and my personal favorite—“Father I Have Sinned.” Dogma doesn’t just play metal. They perform a ritual. I was converted.

Setlist:

1. Forbidden Zone
2. Feel the Zeal
3. My First Peak
4. Made Her Mine
5. Carnal Liberation
6. Free Yourself
7. Like a Prayer (Madonna cover)
8. Bare to the Bones
9. Make Us Proud
10. Pleasure from Pain
11. Father I Have Sinned
12. The Dark Messiah

A Killer’s Confession (Cleveland, OH)

Headliners: A Killer’s Confession—a band I’ve wanted to catch live for years. I’ve missed them every time they’ve rolled through my area. Not this time. Four hours on the road? Worth it.

Formed in 2016 by ex-Mushroomhead vocalist Waylon Reavis, AKC now features Rick “St1tch” Thomas (keys, vocals), JP Cross (bass), Sean Heenan (drums), and Justin Kalentis (guitar). This wasn’t just a show—it was a homecoming of heavy.

The intro faded. Then—“Purpose” exploded. Reavis was a man possessed, feeding off the crowd’s roar. From the first riff, I knew: this was going to rule.

Reavis and St1tch are master showmen—legends from their Mushroomhead days—and they brought that same fan-first energy here. Mid-set, they pulled a young metalhead onstage. As the band raged, she headbanged like a pro. Reavis grinned:

“This is the future right here.” He turned to her parents: “You raised her right.”

The set was relentless: “Hollow,” “Greed,” a crushing “Heart-Shaped Box” (Nirvana cover) that hit like a freight train, and the brutal closer “Kill or Be Killed.” Every member brought fire. No filler. Just pure, unfiltered metal.

Setlist:

1. Purpose
2. Greed
3. Hollow
4. Endless Silence
5. Hopeless Gray
6. Heart-Shaped Box (Nirvana cover)
7. Baptized by the Fire
8. Headstone
9. Filth
10. Facts
11. Hand of God
12. Darkside
13. The Suffering
14. Kill or Be Killed

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Final Verdict

Three bands. Zero disappointments. I walked in blind to all three acts—and the venue—and left blown away.

The Capital Theatre Center’s basement is a hidden gem: raw, loud, and perfect for metal. I’ll be back. Aeternum won me over. Dogma converted me. A Killer’s Confession reminded me why I fell in love with this music in the first place.

The Dogmatic Confessions Tour runs through the end of November. If it’s near you—go.

Photo highlights below. Click photo to view.