Molchat Doma

Molchat Doma (Russian: Молчат Дома IPA: [mɐlˈt͡ɕat dɐˈma];[1] English: "Houses Are Silent")[2] is a Belarusian rock band from Minsk, formed in 2017. Their current lineup consists of Egor Shkutko (vocals), Roman Komogortsev (guitar, synthesizer, drum machine), and Pavel Kozlov (bass guitar, synthesizer). Their sound was influenced by 1980s Russian rock music and has been described as post-punk, new wave, synth-pop, and cold wave.

Molchat Doma
Molchat Doma in 2019. From left to right: Roman Komogortsev, Egor Shkutko, and Pavel Kozlov
Background information
OriginMinsk, Belarus
Genres
Years active2017–present
Labels
Websitemolchatdoma.com
Members
  • Egor Shkutko
  • Roman Komogortsev
  • Pavel Kozlov

They self-released their first album, С крыш наших домов (2017), and later released their second album, Этажи (2018), through German independent label Detriti Records. After gaining popularity worldwide, they signed to American independent label Sacred Bones Records in 2020, who reissued their albums in North America.

History
Molchat Doma performing in Lithuania, 2019

С крыш наших домов and Этажи (2017–2019)

Molchat Doma formed in Minsk, Belarus, and began releasing music in 2017.[2] They self-released their debut studio album, С крыш наших домов, on 24 April 2017.[3] In July 2017, they released the song "Коммерсанты" as a single.[4] Later that year, С крыш наших домов received a re-release through German independent label Detriti Records.[5] The following year, the band released their second album, Этажи, which included "Коммерсанты", on 7 September 2018,[6] also through Detriti.[7] The label released the album both digitally and on vinyl.[7]

Over time, the band's first two albums gained popularity through YouTube and Bandcamp.[2] Their music was uploaded to YouTube unofficially by a user named "Harakiri Diat", who also uploaded music by other bands with similar sounds. By the end of 2019, Этажи had gained roughly two million listeners through their upload of the album.[8] The band were not initially as popular in their home country of Belarus as they were in the rest of Europe; they had played sold-out shows across the continent but never in Belarus. They have stated, however, that they have no interest in performing a sold-out show at Minsk-Arena.[9] In September 2019, the band released two non-album singles. The first was called "Звезды"[10] and the second was a collaboration with Russian post-punk band Ploho, called "По краю острова".[11]

Signing to Sacred Bones Records (2020–present)

In January 2020, Molchat Doma signed with American independent label Sacred Bones Records, who later reissued their first two albums on vinyl in North America.[2] During the first half of 2020, the band gained popularity through the online video platform TikTok, specifically their song "Судно (Борис Рыжий)" (Sudno), from Этажи; the song had been used as the soundtrack to numerous videos created on the platform.[12][13] Some notable videos that used the song include one made by a user based in San Francisco, California, who compiled several clips of his native country of Russia, adding that he misses being there,[13] as well as a "challenge" that involves a fast photo compilation of the video creator trying on as many clothes in their wardrobe as possible within a time limit.[12] The song's popularity during this time resulted in it reaching No. 2 on the Spotify worldwide Viral 50 chart.[13]

Molchat Doma had planned to tour in North America for the first time, alongside American singer-songwriter Chrysta Bell,[2] but the original tour dates were canceled once the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted the continent.[13] The band contributed to a Black Sabbath tribute album, along with other signees of Sacred Bones, titled What Is This That Stands Before Me?. They covered their song "Heaven and Hell", with a dark wave sound and Russian lyrics, for the album.[14] The album was released in May 2020,[14] and their "Heaven and Hell" cover was released as a standalone single on digital platforms later that month.[15]

Musical style and lyrics

Molchat Doma have stated that they were influenced by 1980s Russian rock music from the Perestroika era, most notably the band Kino.[16] They have also drawn comparisons to both The Cure and Joy Division; Egor Shkutko's vocal style and on-stage appearance were also noted as similar to that of Joy Division singer Ian Curtis.[17] Molchat Doma have also expressed praise for Cure singer Robert Smith and Depeche Mode singer Dave Gahan, and enjoy the idea of having either one appear at one of their shows.[18]

On their website, Molchat Doma describe their sound as "post-punk, new wave, and darker ends of synth-pop".[19] Writers have similarly described their sound as post-punk,[13][20] new wave,[20][21] synth-pop,[20] and also cold wave.[20] They have no drummer and instead incorporate a drum machine into their sound.[7] Emerging Europe described their lyrics as "not explicitly anti-Soviet" but also "[painting] a bleak picture of life under communism as well as contemporary life in Belarus, a country still trying to break free of the shackles of its communist past", adding that "had they been around 40 years ago, Soviet state censorship would have denied the band the right to record".[22] Molchat Doma have often been connected with "doomer music", a specific type of music listened to by doomers. It typically features cold and gloomy atmospheres, sad and introspective lyrics usually focusing on loneliness, and an overall dystopian sound, all of which writers have connected Molchat Doma's music to.[21][22][23] Many of their songs have appeared on "doomer playlists" on YouTube as a result; this also played a part in the band gaining popularity through the platform.[21]

Discography

Studio albums
List of studio albums
Title Album details
С крыш наших домов
From the Roofs of Our Houses[24]
  • Released: 24 April 2017
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: CD, LP, download
Этажи
Floors[6]
  • Released: 7 September 2018
  • Label: Detriti
  • Format: CD, LP, download

Singles
List of singles
Title Year Album
"Коммерсанты"
"Businessmen"[4]		 2017 Этажи
Floors
"Звезды"
"Stars"[10]		 2019 N/A
"По краю острова"
"At the Edge of the Island" (with Ploho)[11]		 N/A
"Небеса и Ад"
"Heaven and Hell"[15]		 2020 What Is This That Stands Before Me?

Other charted songs
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
Spotify
Viral 50
[13]
"Судно (Борис Рыжий)"
"Vessel (Boris Ryzhy)"		 2018 2 Этажи
Floors

Members
  • Egor Shkutko – vocals
  • Roman Komogortsev – guitar, synthesizer, drum machine
  • Pavel Kozlov – bass guitar, synthesizer

References
  1. Molchat Doma Interview The Village (Video) (in Russian with English subtitles). YouTube. 4 January 2020. Event occurs at 0:17. Retrieved 7 June 2020.CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  2. Pearis, Bill (28 January 2020). "Belarusian darkwave band Molchat Doma sign to Sacred Bones, reissuing LPs, touring North America". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  3. "Молчат Дома – С Крыш Наших Домов". Discogs. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  4. "kommersanty (single 2017) | Molchat Doma". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  5. "Рецензия на альбом группы Молчат Дома "С Крыш Наших Домов"". Astarta (in Russian). 2017-10-02. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  6. "etazhi (2018) | Molchat Doma". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  7. Lusso, Fabrizio (1 August 2018). "WL//WH Track Of The Day: Molchat Doma "Volny"". White Light//White Heat. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  8. Stefanini, Giacomo. "Se il punk è ancora vivo nel 2020, è anche grazie ai canali YouTube". Vice Italy (in Italian). Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  9. Molchat Doma Interview The Village (Video) (in Russian with English subtitles). YouTube. 4 January 2020. Event occurs at 1:52. Retrieved 7 June 2020.CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  10. "zvezdy (single 2019) | Molchat Doma". Bandcamp. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  11. "По краю острова - Single by Ploho and Молчат Дома". Apple Music. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  12. Davidson, Emma Elizabeth (21 May 2020). "Three TikTok fashion challenges to shake up your wardrobe". Dazed. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  13. Amter, Charlie (18 May 2020). "Belarusian Group That Sounds Like Joy Division Scores Streaming Hit on Anniversary of Ian Curtis' Death". Variety. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  14. "Hear Marissa Nadler, Zola Jesus, Thou, Uniform, more cover Black Sabbath". Revolver. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  15. "Небеса и Ад (Heaven and Hell) - Single by Molchat Doma". Apple Music. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  16. Velikanov, Alexander (10 September 2019). "The Story of a Vampire in a Clip of New Indie Rock Heroes from Belarus With International Amontions".
  17. Tyler, Kieron (31 March 2019). "Tallinn Music Week 2019 review: 'We All Value Being European'". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  18. Molchat Doma Interview The Village (Video) (in Russian with English subtitles). YouTube. 4 January 2020. Event occurs at 1:08. Retrieved 7 June 2020.CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  19. "Molchat Doma". molchatdoma.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  20. Conde, Chris (January 30, 2020). "Eastern European Post-Punkers Molchat Doma Bringing Dark and Dancey Vibes to San Antonio on First U.S. Tour". San Antonio Current. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  21. Dumler, Jean (23 October 2019). "Eine der beliebtesten New-Wave-Bands aus Osteuropa kommt nach Berlin". Tagesspiegel (in German). Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  22. Turp-Balazs, Maximilian (15 February 2020). "Postcard from a Molchat Doma gig". Emerging Europe. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  23. Walsh, Anya (6 November 2019). "Musique Doomer: le son du spleen russe devient un phénomène YouTube". Neon (in French). Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  24. "s krish nashih domov (album 2017) | Molchat Doma". Bandcamp. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
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