One of modern Hard Rock’s most talented leading ladies, Dorothy Martin, has vowed to improve herself consistently. Born in Budapest, Hungary, but calling Los Angeles, California, home, Martin and her band DOROTHY has been at the forefront of the scene for over a decade, with accolades such as ‘A Band You Need to Know’ by Rolling Stone Magazine in 2014.
An act at the forefront of all things Rock-n-Roll since the impressive 2016 debut album ROCKISDEAD, DOROTHY would hit the road with big names such as Halestorm that same year and even were praised by Lzzy Hale as the future of Rock. From here, Martin and her band nixed the sophomore jinx with 2018’s 28 Days in the Valley before really leaving a massive impression in 2022 with Gifts from the Holy Ghost.
The last of these is an album filled with soulful energy; it was a spiritual awakening for Martin, who first-hand witnessed a near-death experience when her guitar tech overdosed. Something that changes a person, Martin also realized her own trajectory in life and took the necessary steps to ensure a better tomorrow. There is a feeling of finding purpose throughout Gifts from the Holy Ghost. Still, now DOROTHY (featuring a supporting cast of Sam Bam Koltun on guitar, Eliot Lorango on bass, and Jake Hayden on drums) looks to expand upon that notion with the new album The Way, due out on March 7, 2025, through Roc Nation.
Three years after Gifts from the Holy Ghost, The Way is a mix of feelings, ranging from rebirth to knowing where the devil lurks in each of us and the endless battle we must go through to keep on the right path. Something different for each of us is that the songs that make up this new album have the uplifting sensation you might get from stepping foot into a gospel church. Hitting you like a beam of light, you can tell that Martin is a woman on a mission to keep with her purpose of rocking and rolling but also convey a message of positivity in the face of adversity. Whether it be an unhealthy addiction, overcoming demons of our past mistakes, or dealing with the burdens presently surrounding you, Martin wants you to know that there is always hope.
Quite powerful, the emotion of the album is amplified even more with some of the heaviest Rock DOROTHY has recorded to date. Retaining her classic R&B, gritty Rock-n-Roll vocal stylings, the songs of The Way are loud and intense but also matched with a bit of a Southern Rock flair that sticks out pretty boldly. This is evident throughout the thick of ten songs, which include the invigorating “I Come Alive,” “The Devil I Know,” and “Mud,” which even features some unexpected, exciting screams from Martin. Then there is also the very country-western “Tombstone Town,” which features Guns N’ Rose’s Slash, as well as the confessionary “Bones” and “Unholy Water.” However, you cannot deny the impact of “Haunted House,” which draws out the internal battles we go through as we seek to be better human beings.
Overall, the bulk of The Way is raucous, large, and in charge of heavy Rock-n-Roll with exceptional vocal performances by Dorothy Martin. Keeping with this energy throughout, it is also showcased in a different way on the title track, which strips back the distorted guitars, replacing them with acoustic instrumentation and piano, allowing Dorothy Martin to shine bright with some truly heartfelt words about leaning on one another for support. As good as these other songs, “The Way” is probably the most striking experience of all on this album.
Altogether, DOROTHY conveys one message—if you feel like all hope is lost in this world, internally or externally, remember that only you can manifest a better tomorrow. They also encourage you to ignore the noise of negativity in the periphery because even if you have past regrets, dwelling on them will never lead you to try to right the wrongs. In truth, it is a beautiful concept, and that is why Cryptic Rock commends the work put into The Way, giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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