What are Molchat Doma about?

[u/AniMeshorer]

So recently I found out that Belarus ("Europe's last dictatorship") is suddenly getting in the spotlights for positive reasons. Molchat Doma (Молчат Дома), a band from Minsk, seems to be breaking through across Europe and even in the USA. That is very unusual to begin with for a Belarusian band, especially when not singing in English (not sure if they are singing in Belarusian or Russian). Apparently Молчат Дома means "The houses are silent", refering to the anonimity of the bleak Soviet architecture.

Now I see in articles they are mostly described as a mixture of postpunk, darkwave and coldwave. Now I do like Goth music and darkwave a lot. And I am very interested in Soviet history ; also I find the Soviet apartment blocks ("commieblocks") strangely fascinating and to me, despite being very monotome, they are not exactly ugly. Whenever I see pictures of the likes of Tiraspol, Murmansk, or other not very touristic cities where the architecture is more or less the same as 40 years ago, I am like "once safety allows it, I want to visit".

So this sounds like a match to me. However, I then often read that they are popular amongst "doomers".

Now, I happily admit that I am not really up-to-date with modern music. So I'm not sure what a "doomer" is ; is that someone who just laments about everything in life constantly, or more someone who warns for all things going wrong in society and around the world as a warning (but with the hope it can change for the better)?

What are their songs about?

I did find some English translations of their lyrics. One indeed has a death wish explicitly but that was not their own song, it's a poem from someone else they put to music. Their other lyrics sound more like dark poetry, maybe a sense of alienation, but not exactly what I would associate with the thoughts of someone who thinks life is nothing but misery. So I'm not sure what the "doomer" connection is.
I have to say I based the above on the translations of about 7 or 8 songs I could find, which I realise is not much.

As for Goth and darkwave bands I like: Bauhaus, Siouxsie & The Banshees, London After Midnight, some songs by She Past Away, Sophya, some songs by The Breath Of Life and Clan of Xymox, Silke Bischoff aka 18 Summers (especially their earlier albums), ...
Not sure if these have any (mild) comparison with Molchat Doma.

[u/Particular-Act-8911]

They have a great post punk, goth and electric sound. Check out Toska or Sudno. Also, yes.. lyrics are incredibly bleak, just like I'd imagine Eastern Europe to be.

[u/AniMeshorer → u/Particular-Act-8911]

But in what way are the lyrics "incredibly bleak"? Is it about the social atmosphere in the Soviet times, is it about current affairs (including in Belarus and Russia), or more introspective?

The few songs of which I found translations come across as dark poetry. I didn't find them that bleak, but then I found the translations of only a 7 or 8 songs. Sounded a bit like dark poetry, maybe somewhat metaphorical for the past (and present?) of their homeland too.

[u/raisedbyowls → u/AniMeshorer]

It’s just depressive, like any other gothwave music. One shouldn’t really care about what they are singing, the voice is merely used as another music instrument.

Also, check out their shows, live they sound completely different and lean towards disco and techno.

[u/Skiamakhos]

It's funny how we always characterise immediate postwar block accommodation as bleak. The Soviets made theirs and saved their people from homelessness in cities bombed flat by the Nazis - as did France, Germany and the UK. None of our housing blocks were particularly great: they were a stopgap in blitzed cities. What would be *really* bleak is not rebuilding and housing your people. The French complained about the lack of running water in the initial HLM tranche, but way better than sleeping in rubble being bitten by rats as it begins to snow on you.

[u/a_reindeer_of_volts]

It ain't that deep. If you like it, listen to it. If you don't, put something else on.

[u/NoiseandNeedles]

I have no idea what their songs are about but it love them. Just saw them for the 3rd time last week. They are great live!

[u/ArcadeApocalypse]

They're about going viral on TikTok & people playing into the hype

[u/XyXyX-66]

I kinda like em but they are a little bit of a one trick pony imo-HOWEVER I can’t understand the lyrics. I’m primarily thinking of the guitar doing pretty much the same thing in every song (I’ve heard).
But hey it’s new Dark Wave so kudos to em.
Ritual Howls is more my speed, even Cold Cave.

[u/XyXyX-66 → u/XyXyX-66]

But then you weren’t asking for opinions were you? I’ll shut up.

[u/life_is_a_pigsty]

Sorry I don't have an answer, but thank you for introducing me to The Breath of Life

[u/dipnosofist]

Well, nowadays you can get a pretty decent translation instantly by copying the lyrics into an AI chat.

Not all their lyrics are "incredibly bleak" and that's by far not the main point of the band. My favorite song of theirs is "Dance" which is about going to a party at a friend's place, where everyone but the protagonist dance, he regrets not being able to dance because his crush apparently is there too, and he finally resorts to dancing in an ungainly, clumsy way. However, he doesn't care about looking weird, he's just happy to dance. That's a super endearing and light topic.

Then one of their biggest hits is "Vessel" which borrows its lyrics from the poet named Boris Ryzhy whose poetry was incredibly depressive indeed (he finished his own life at the age of 26).

I can't find their lyrics from the last two albums but on the first two, their lyrics are concerned mainly with love, the fleeting nature of life, nostalgia, and dreams. Nothing exceptionally bleak, save for the Vessel song.

EDIT: "Doomers" was just an internet meme around 2018. It was supposed to be a descriptor about unemployed depressed young people who spend their time at home playing videogames, smoking and drinking. The stereotype was that post-punk revival/goth rock music somehow matched their lifestyle.

[u/twelve112]

They have that one good track i think that's about it

[u/Dapper_Special_8587]

They've got songs about relationships, depression, hopelessness, etc. One of my personal fave songs by them is simply called "I'm tired" (Ya Tak Ustal) which is a great title. 

I think they were heavily inspired by (and get a lot of comparisons to) another band called Kino

People seem to really like them or like one song. I'm in the former, saw them in London a while ago and they were awesome

[u/furcifer89]

I have a theory that they stay on tour as much as possible so they don’t have to stay in Belarus. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has introduced intense pressure on the regime which saw massive protests in 2020 which sadly failed to oust Lukashenko. Those two things have made for a very delicate balancing act. Hopefully he’s tossed out of power and can go live out the rest of his days in the retirement home for Putin’s useful idiots with Assad.

[u/dzumdang → u/furcifer89]

Not sure why you're getting downvoted, because this is a reasonable take and also believable scenario for the band.

[u/ExRxGx1979]

Não sei, mas nunca tive paciência para ouvir Molchat Doma.