Grief, in a couple of words, is fucking terrible. It’s incessant, but non-linear, invading your space on random days only to leave you alone the next. Even once you make it through the practical stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, remnants of all of these feelings can solidify into hardened, unreachable traits without us even noticing – but once we’re open to it, grief also has a lot to teach us about vulnerability and life itself.
When Snooze lost Cameron Patrick Grom in 2020, the scene was rended at a unique time – massive political turnover, global pandemic, and extreme social tensions were shaping every moment, and perhaps the chaos of it all somehow obscured the pain. But in a scene like ours, even when you’re not personally connected with the band, an impact like that is like losing a relative. Thankfully, Snooze also gave us an incredible gift in the form of Still, which featured contributions from Cameron that make for such emotional experience that to this day we can only get up to about halfway through “Feels Bad” before our eyes completely well up and we turn into a blubbering mess.
But today, the pages turn towards a new chapter with Snooze’s new single “Without.”
Like we said, grief is non-linear, and on a thematic level, “Without” just might be perfect illustration of this. As many well know, dreams are one of the most confusing parts of grief. Why they feel so different, we couldn’t really tell you, but they always have that ‘real-er than real’ feeling that has more in common with altered states than the typical Rapid Eye Movement cycle. But the dreams, as uncanny as they are, don’t have to be terrible. In fact, sometimes they make for a uniquely pleasant, even healing situation:
“Nice to see you too, I’m good and you?
It’s been what, a thousand days now?
I ought to know what brought you in
But I know to not question it
Logic aside, suspended my disbelief just for the night
I want to live here
But I can only stay so long
For one fated moment
I am calm
And weightless
I recall a form of you
Above 90 pounds
Furrowed brow
A nod
And vulgar conversation
We had dreams of a life in a van
Now the only dreams I like
Are the ones where you’re alive”
We have every bit of faith that whatever Snooze does, it’s going to kick ass on an instrumental level – that’s just part of what they do, and “Without” ain’t no slouch. In fact, bandleader Logan Voss orchestrated a literal choir of fans for parts of the record, Anup Sastry helped compose the drums, and in Cameron’s stead is Demetri Wolfe of Inoculous, another stalwart of Chicago’s modern musical complexity.
While the collective journey through grief is far from over, as it ever is, we’re so glad that Logan and co are able to release music as the process continues. Still unzipped us quicker than Frank Reynolds in an impromptu therapy session – if “Without” is any indication, the band seems like they’re putting together something that just might sew us back up. Pre-order their next record, I Know How You Will Die, here.
Regardless, Snooze as a unit continues to show dedication to their craft on “Without,” but more importantly, a continued dedication to their eternal friend and comrade, Cameron Patrick Grom.
(Thanks for reading! If you’re looking for more music, check out our Bandcamp compilations here. If you like us, or possibly even love us, donations are always appreciated at the Buy Me A Coffee page here, but if you’re in a generous mood you can also donate to folks like Doctors Without Borders, the PCRF, Charity Water, Kindness Ranch, One Tail at A Time, Canopy Cat Rescue, or Best Friends Animal Sanctuary that could probably use it more – click on their names above to check ‘em out if you’re so inclined. Thanks again!)