Snooze – “Without”: A Heartfelt Exploration of Grief and Memory

“Without”, the latest single from Chicago-based math rock band Snooze, channels te emotional turbulence into a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience. It’s a song about loss, remembrance, and the surreal way memories and dreams intertwine, offering both comfort and sorrow.

Lyrical Analysis: A Dreamlike Conversation with the Past

At its core, “Without” is an open letter to a lost friend—an attempt to grasp the intangible, if only for a moment. The lyrics paint a scene of a dream reunion, where reality is suspended:

“Nice to see you too, I’m good and you? / It’s been what, a thousand days now?”

There’s an eerie calmness in these lines, a mix of warmth and melancholy. The narrator knows this moment won’t last but still allows themselves to be fully present in it. The emotional weight deepens as the song reflects on shared pasts and unrealized futures:

“We had dreams of a life in a van / Now the only dreams I like / Are the ones where you’re alive.”

The gut-wrenching realization hits—what was once a dream of adventure has now been reduced to fleeting subconscious visits. The song doesn’t just mourn a person; it mourns a version of life that no longer exists.

Musical Composition: Math Rock Precision, Emotional Catharsis

Instrumentally, “Without” stays true to Snooze’s signature style—intricate rhythms, dynamic shifts, and expressive melodies that feel as technical as they are emotive.

Logan Voss orchestrates a literal choir of fans in the background, adding an ethereal layer to the song’s weight. The drumming, with contributions from Anup Sastry, brings a propulsive energy that contrasts the song’s introspective theme, while Demetri Wolfe (Inoculous) steps in on bass, filling the sonic space once held by Cameron Patrick Grom, the band’s late member.

Grief, as the song suggests, is nonlinear. It doesn’t follow a set path, and neither does “Without”. The song floats between moments of tension and release, much like the experience of loss itself. While its technical composition is impressive, it’s the raw emotion that lingers long after the final note.

Conclusion: A Tribute That Lives On

Snooze has always been about pushing the boundaries of their genre, but “Without” feels like something more—a continuation of a legacy. It’s a song that honors Cameron while also moving forward, finding beauty in the pain, and crafting a space where grief and music coexist.

Their upcoming album, I Know How You Will Die, promises to delve even deeper into these themes, blending complex math rock instrumentation with deeply personal storytelling.

If “Without” is any indication, Snooze isn’t just making music; they’re creating something truly cathartic—an emotional anchor for anyone who has ever lost someone but still finds them in dreams.

For those who wants to hear the song firsthand, it’s on Youtube.

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Snooze – “Without” Lyrics

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