We Came As Romans: The Lotus In The Devil’s Garden
“I found a rose in the Devil’s garden” crooned THE STIRLING TRIO in 1921. The trio’s track gave credence to the notion of beauty blooming from great tragedy or sorrow. It isn’t exactly ground-breaking to learn we become the best version of ourselves when we triumph over adversity. The biggest trial we face is death. There’s no manual telling us how to grieve. It would make the process simpler, of course it would, but we wouldn’t learn anything. Many musical influences have had to learn how to redefine themselves because of death. QUEEN, SLIPKNOT, and Dave Grohl among others have traversed the rocky ground. Which brings us to the person sitting across from us. Andy Glass, bassist of WE CAME AS ROMANS, takes a moment before diving into recently released Darkbloom.
The metalcore crew’s first album since the tragic passing of Kyle Pavone in 2018 was highly anticipated but it came with a machination of its own. “The way the songs are laid out in Darkbloom is almost like the grieving process,” Andy starts. “When something traumatic like this happens, your emotions are all over the place. The first half of the record is the rage and all these different steps we had to take. By the time you get towards the end there’s a sadness which really hits home and you’re getting everything out.”
The spirit of Kyle doesn’t just reside within the music. The artwork’s crystallised lotus is tribute to him also. “The lotus is the only flower that blooms at night,” Andy educates. “Kyle had a lotus tattoo on his arm and so do I,” he finishes showing us his version of the ink. From there and a chance encounter learning about shadow work, the art of uncovering parts of the psyche we repress such as our insecurities, Darkbloom’s concept was formed. “We became stronger in the darkest thing we’ve ever had to endure,” Andy muses.
Before we visit the topic of overcoming the tribulations ahead of them, Andy takes the opportunity to enlighten us how the band started processing their grief. The band were scheduled to support BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE just two weeks after Kyle’s passing. It would have been understandable had WE CAME AS ROMANS pulled out. Yet after meetings with their record label and respective therapists, the band decided to honour their fallen brother and headed across the US. “No one in the band was like ‘fuck it, we’re done’. That was never a thing,” he tells us. While the band gained the respect of Matt Tuck [BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE] and hordes of fans as a result, the bigger feeling came from within. “It was awesome to see everyone rise up against those demons. I felt so proud of the guys and still do.”
Society may be more accepting in terms of mental health but talking about it publicly still comes with stigma. The idea that dealing with a mental illness should be an insular journey is frankly archaic. The journey is something to be shared. Humanity is a community driven race. We open the lines of communication for those in need far too late. Social media becomes awash with supportive statements after a suicide but so much could be done before. Were it easier to talk about our hardships. This is highlighted in One More Day’s “would this be different if you had let me in”. Sadly that is a question Andy, and we, will never know the answer to.
“We wanted to make a record that could help us and help a lot of people,” the bassist says. “A lot of people have gone through something. If they haven’t yet and it hits later, I want this to be a light to guide them through their grief.” This sense of solidarity has always run rife with WE CAME AS ROMANS, with revolting against the inner demons being a core theme. This is something we can all relate to. Yet as The Anchor shows, sometimes the full weight of a song can’t land unless a personal experience is behind the listener.
At its crux, Darkbloom is a deeply personal experience. We have no reservations in confessing it reduced us to tears. It also brought us comfort. Something Andy found within Reiki, a Japanese form of alternative medicine through energy healing. He tells us Kyle’s spirit came to him during one session before entering the studio. “A lot of the songs were sad and we weren’t sure about the record,” Andy continues. “Kyle just said ‘if you have to suffer to write this record, you don’t know me’ and that was all I needed.”
“I always wanted to make a record for Kyle and those who feel the way he did,” Andy says. “I want people to know the stigma around all this is outdated.” He’s keen to point out there is always someone to speak to, whether it be a close relative or friend or a mental health professional. The idea we are alone in our hardships is something of our own creation, not factuality. If there isn’t a person around, Andy wants WE CAME AS ROMANS to be a sanctuary for the weary soul. “Let these songs speak to you because there is always hope. With Darkbloom, you’ll never be alone.”
Darkbloom is out now via SharpTone Records.
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