Culture
Molchat Doma brought hypnotic post-punk to Columbus Friday
By: Henry Day
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WOUB) – Imagine an echo from decades gone poet becoming the grounding base for shaking basslines and soaring synthesizers. This is the live sound of Molchat Doma, a band that spends an exquisitely paced show pushing hypnotic post-punk music with emotional tones and undeniable rhythms. I covered the band when they played Columbus – along with Sacred Bones labelmates Sextile – February 7 at KEMBA! Live (405 Neil Avenue).
Molchat Doma consists of vocalist Egor Shkutko, Roman Komogortsev on drum machine and guitar, and Pavel Kozlov on bass and other instruments. The group formed in Minsk, Belarus, in 2017 and self-released their debut album, S krysh nashikh domov (С крыш наших домов, From The Roofs of Our Houses) shortly after. Their sophomore album Etazhi (Этажи), was released via German label Detriti, in 2018.
This record solidified their growing popularity, and if it hadn’t been for the pandemic, they would have toured North America in 2020. Despite this challenge, the track Sudno (Судно) went viral across social media platforms in 2020.
Molchat Doma takes the synth traditions and conventions of the ’80s bands that predate them and creates new textures and rhythms. Although I am not familiar with the translated lyrics of their discography, the verses, and lines I have come across seem to reinforce and push the instrumental tones with themes of despondent worlds where warmth and hope have slim chances of prevailing against the dangers and darkness of the future.
While the themes of Molchat Doma’s discography may be full of woe, their fan following at their Columbus show was welcoming and diverse. From the line to the venue to the front barricades, casual listeners and hardcore enthusiasts seemed respectful and welcoming. After the first three songs, I could continue photographing from around the venue, which is an appreciated privilege when the general audience is passionate and kind. Although I was familiar with Molchat Doma’s discography, I wasn’t yet familiar with their opening act.
Sextile’s heart-pumping beats and attitude-filled vocals gave an excellent start to the night. The group’s electronic instrumentation feels distinctly complemented by Lia Simone Braswell’s energetic drumming. Overall, the electronic punk influences unite the two acts; however, Sextile feels distinctly modern compared to the more somber dances provided by Molchat Doma.
Oftentimes, bands seem to have complicated relationships with their runaway hit songs. However, this doesn’t seem to be an issue with Sudno (Судно) (which translates to “bedpan”). While the track is particularly fast-paced on the tracklist, the atmosphere and moving hooks of the song give an accurate impression of the quality and authenticity of Molchat Doma’s musical performance. I found myself entranced by both the jumping synth and hypnotic lyrics of Discoteque.
I am often unsure what to expect from electronic-focused groups on stage, yet this band made me eager to see another concert. Egor proves he has as much stage presence to provide to their music as he does with his entrancing voice and cutting musical themes. In addition, Roman took opportunities to break into flowing guitar solos, which are a welcome addition to both the runtime and variety of their discography compared to their recordings. For those reasons, I highly recommend watching Molchat Doma live due to its showmanship, artistic capabilities, and powerfully atmospheric tone.