Lilac Vegetal’s 10” vinyl release, Urlaub auf der Müllinsel boldly demonstrates a more creative side of stoner, sludge, doom, and noise rock music. Hailing from the dual creative centers of Vienna and Graz, this Austrian trio builds a wall of sound, and then they invite you to try to climb it while they actively try to knock you down. This record exemplifies crushing heaviness and surprising intellectual complexity.
Lilac Vegetal’s sound is a fascinating, volatile alloy, mixing the thick, churning tar of stoner and sludge metal with the oppressive gravity of doom. But they don’t stop there. They stir in the jagged, anxious energy of noise rock and the frantic, rebellious pulse of hardcore punk, all filtered through a progressive rock lens that ensures nothing is predictable, resulting in a constantly shifting sound. In one moment you’re wading through slow-motion cosmic doom, and the next you’re slammed by a hardcore punk frenzy like the entire band is trying to escape the room simultaneously. It’s a thrilling, abrasive experience that demands your full attention.
The album’s instrumental core is built around a comprehensive collection of riffs that serve as the main narrative engine. They are technical, progressive, intensely abrasive and surprisingly catchy structures. These guitar works are all about texture, creating a thick, grinding haze that defines the sludge aesthetic. However, when the moment demands it, the guitar unleashes impressive soloing that cuts through the muck with tremendous precision, showing a clear progressive rock heritage. These solos serve as clever emotional bursts, momentary releases from the crushing density, proving that there is skill and deliberate design beneath the chaos. The vocalist navigates a full spectrum of emotions, using his voice for both aggressive moments and harmonic contrasts. The raw and powerful shouts act as a centerpiece, conveying an almost narrative desperation. But the high-pitched vocal harmonies that unexpectedly float above the grinding noise are what truly sets this material apart from any other stoner, sludge, or doom record. These harmonies feel like ghostly counterpoints, fragile moments of clarity that stand in stark, beautiful opposition to the overwhelming heaviness below.
Also, the basslines are deployed with absolute conviction, offering far more than mere rhythmic support. These low ends provide immense power, injecting a tremendous heaviness and warmth into the soundscape that prevents the guitars from sounding too thin or sharp. More importantly, the bass is another vehicle for all the rawness, abrasiveness, and fuzz. Its tone is intentionally overloaded, thick with distortion and grime, often blurring the line between rhythm and noise. This saturation is essential, giving the songs their cavernous depth and sludgy groove, while also immensely contributing to the chaotic details. The bass also leads the descent into sonic decay, providing more than necessary layers of texture.
The rhythmic foundation prevents the band from swinging into improvisation and noise, and becoming totally unmoored. The drummer showcases his impressive understanding of groove and pace by prociding a full range of dynamic beats. You get everything from punishing, slow-lurching doom patterns to frantic, propulsive hardcore punk blasts. The performance is rife with wisely crafted rhythmic maneuvers, including unexpected breaks and complex fills that constantly reorient the listener. The drumming dictates the emotional tempo of the album, shifting smoothly, or sometimes violently, between the crushing slow-motion of doom and energetic, progressive noise rock. This dynamic range allows Lilac Vegetal to maintain high intensity across an entire LP without ever feeling repetitive, bland, or boring.
The overall feeling of listening to Urlaub auf der Müllinsel is one of sensory overload, but in the best possible way. The band masters friction and consonance simultaneously. The dense, grinding sections are rich with textural detail, inviting you to explore the complexity hidden within the sheer volume. The noise rock influence supplies a constant, low-level anxiety, a sense of controlled feedback and sonic instability that keeps the listener permanently on edge. This record explores density and minimalism with equal commitment. The moments of crushing, maximalist volume are often offset by unexpected shifts into quieter, more abstract sections, a sort of drone-like breath before the next massive assault. This push-and-pull between improvisation and structure is one of their signature moves, preventing the album from becoming a monotonous endurance test. It’s an intellectual exercise masked as a brutal physical assault, exemplifying how creative musicians can explore profound human concepts, like decay, friction, and perhaps even nihilistic resignation, using the loudest possible instruments. Lilac Vegetal’s 10” record is a landmark release for the Austrian heavy scene, proving that doom and sludge can still be fertile ground for challenging, progressive thought. It’s a massive, abrasive, and beautifully crafted trip to the “Garbage Island.” Essential listening for fans who like their music both heavy and smart. Head to Grazil Records for more information about ordering.
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