From Belarus with love: MOLCHAT DOMA turns The Van Buren into a cold wave paradise

Molchat Doma lead singer Egor Shkutko performing at The Van Buren in Phoenix, AZ on January 17, 2025. Photographed by Justin de la Cruz.

A chilly night in Downtown Phoenix became much colder with Belarusian cold-wave trio MOLCHAT DOMA selling out The Van Buren alongside Los Angeles darkwave group SEXTILE last week.

Giant, literal freak flags were flown throughout SEXTILE’s set like they were an army marching in for conquest. I would say that this sounds like music of the future, but almost everything I envisioned the future of having is already here: robot cars, virtual reality, and seemingly-endless options for instantaneous entertainment and triggering endorphins.

SEXTILE is the soundtrack of here and now.

The group kept switching off between singers to keep the audience on their feet, keeping their hearts and heads pumping with energy. With one final giant flag, SEXTILE proudly waved their stance on abortion before their final song of the set. After SEXTILE finished playing, someone screeched hysterically after one of their singers threw something at the ground that was meant for her, which I would guess was the setlist. She got it eventually.

MOLCHAT DOMA singer EGOR SHKUTKO erotically slithered around like a snake as the set opened with “Ty Zhe Ne Znaesh Kto Ya,” the first track from “Belaya Polosa.” MOLCHAT DOMA’s sinister synths turned The Van Buren into the setting for the next Safdie brothers movie. They may not play heavy music, but SHKUTKO moved around like a metalhead whipping his hair around and headbanging. At the back of the venue someone was singing “AND YOU JUST DON'T GET IT, YEAH YOU’RE COPACETIC” perfectly in-sync with one of the songs off of “Etazi” (they should create that mashup).

The stage drowned in a flurry of flashing white lights before MOLCHAT DOMA played “Na Dne”. KOZLOV and KOMOGORTSEV brought extra love on the synths and played their synths like they were playing a sick guitar solo. That would not be the end of the set as they returned to the stage for another four songs, ending on “Sudno.” 

Even during the encore, the line for merch showed no signs of shortening. Throughout the entire set, the line wrapped all around the bar on the side of the venue. If you wanted a MOLCHAT DOMA shirt, unless you went straight to the merch booth when doors opened, you were stuck for a good chunk of the show.

I would’ve chosen to mosh to “Kletka” instead, but we all have different priorities.