Molchat Doma by KANAPLEV + LEYDIK CULTURE ROOM
Even a casual survey of Europe’s post-Soviet landscape reveals a bleakness of temperament that has stuck around along after perestroika and is described in terms typically used for explaining things like the Chernobyl disaster. Not every former Soviet client state has experienced nuclear catastrophe, of course, but even now many seem to share a grimness of outlook acquired in part through long and unhappy histories in the shadow of Russia.
Consider Molchat Doma, a trio from Minsk, Belarus, with a name that translates to “Houses Are Silent,” and a gloomy aesthetic comprised of haunting vocals and deep, brooding bass lines — like echoes of some imagined constructivist future that never came to pass. Formed in 2017 by Egor Shkutko (vocals), Roman Komogortsev (guitar, synths), and Pavel Kozlov (bass), Molchat Doma have managed to capture the essence of Eastern European melancholy and nostalgia in three well-received records. Their latest, “Monument,” was released by indie darlings Sacred Bones Records in 2020.
They are heavily influenced by post-punk bands of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s such as Joy Division and Depeche Mode, but with a regional twist of alienation, despair and austerity. Their unsettling hit “Sudno” — which translates to both “Vessel” and “Bedpan” — was inspired by the work of a contemporary Russian poet, Boris Ryzhy, who wrote unsparingly about life in the ruins of the old Soviet empire before his death in 2001. The song has almost 200 million streams on Spotify.
In a relatively short career, Molchat Doma have gained a significant following both at home and abroad, touring extensively throughout Europe and North America, earning praise for their energetic and captivating live performances. Their music has been featured in numerous films, television shows and video games, and they have been invited to perform at prestigious festivals such as SXSW and Primavera Sound.
Opening are Nuovo Testamento, an Italo-American post-punk trio — featuring ex-members of Terremoto and Horror Vacui — whose coldwave bass and minimalist synth under otherworldly vocals are a perfect dark companion to Molchat Doma.
Molchat Doma with Nuovo Testamento perform 8 pm Sunday, April 16 at the Culture Room in Ft. Lauderdale. molchatdoma.com ~ Abel Folgar
