We Came As Romans is back with their first album in five years, Darkbloom. This is WCAR’s sixth album, but their first one without their late lead-singer Kyle Pavone, who sadly passed of an accidental overdose in 2018. The band took this time to reflect on what life was and what it meant without Kyle. Bassist Andy Glass said that creating this album was the hardest thing the band has ever had to do. Darkbloom is raw and vulnerable, putting the band's every emotion on display as they try to navigate through life without Kyle. Though the album holds a very special and unique meaning to the band themselves, the overall message of the album can resonate with anyone. When you find yourself in the darkest and most difficult times of your life, there is still room and potential for personal growth. As long as we're not willing to completely fall into negative emotion or thought that feels like it has taken over, then we can be strong enough to overcome and push through to a different outcome.
Drew Fulk, WCAR’s producer, was good friends with Kyle so when it came to creating this album, he knew what Kyle liked and stayed true to their “Kyle roots.” Along with classic WCAR sounding songs, they also have a few ballad-y, slowed down songs. Guitarist Joshua Moore said, “‘Golden' is a song that's really close to our hearts. I wrote the verse lyrics about the day that Kyle passed, that morning when we got the call, and the emotion we felt. Kyle was such a bright light in our lives, and it felt like that light was gone without him. This song was about dealing with those feelings and trying to find a way through this new darkness we all felt completely lost in." The song that gets me the most is ‘One More Day.’ The song is about wanting to reach out to somebody, but them not really wanting/ready to receive that help. It’s also about wanting to have more time with somebody, even if it was just for one more day, to say all that you needed to say. It's one of those songs where you can physically feel the emotion and pain it holds. The album closes out with ‘Promise You’ and the very fitting last line is “ I promise you, I will never stop saying your name.” Andy Glass said on an Instagram post,
“Through our music is how you will live on, Through our music is how you will help others, And through our music I will still be able to feel you.”
Opening week of Darkbloom brought in 32 Million Album Streams (US), 28,196 Total Consumption, landed #6 on Hard Music Albums, #10 Internet Albums, #12 Independent Current Albums, #12 Digital Albums.
Darkbloom is dedicated to and celebrates Kyle Pavone and his legacy. This album is raw, honest, and vulnerable by being able to encapsulate all the stages of grief in musical form. We Came As Romans may have been broken in 2018, but they have rebuilt from the ground up and are now back and stronger together!
If you or someone you know is struggling, The Kyle Pavone Foundation was created in Kyle's honor to help artists in need of help and support. “It is a promise to serve and advocate for the music community in their time of greatest need, providing hope & a means to carry on.” Remember that you are not alone and there is also someone you can talk to!
We Came As Romans will be going on a Darkbloom Album Releases tour with support from Erra and Brand of Sacrifice starting in January! TIckets are on sale now!
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