Lilac Queen – Things Are Different Now | EP Review

Things are changing. Always. When you’re young, that prospect is exciting, if not a little hard to wrap your mind around. If you’re not careful, the constant nature of change can gradually shift from thrilling to terrifying as you get older. In life, you have two options; you can either lean into change and make the most of it, or you can give in and let change overwhelm you. No matter which path you choose, you must first process through the very nature of change itself, and that’s precisely what Lilac Queen is doing on Things are Different Now. 

The two-song EP from the Massachusetts-based No Sleep Signees begins with the jangle of a solemn grungy guitar. Shortly after these mood-setting strums, a single snare hit signals the rest of the band’s entrance. Suddenly the guitar, bass, drums, and a whirl of distortion all congeal into a swaying shoegaze riff reminiscent of Pity Sex. As the verses work through sentiments of shame and remorse, the chorus finds lead singer Lily St. Germain openly questioning their actions, singing, “and I wonder if I’ll get into heaven without digging holes under the fences.” They continue, eventually reaching something resembling a resolution, “and I wish I knew what I did to deserve this / it looks like I’m taking my chances.” As the final words of the third chorus ring out, a sear of distortion revives the band for one last push, the musical embodiment of telling yourself ‘you’re almost there.’

Shortly after this explosive final riffage, the song eventually fades, making way for a swirling ambient piece that flows seamlessly into the second track. Much like the first song, this ambient stretch is similarly interrupted with a series of snare hits followed by an equally hard-hitting riff. Here, guitarist Dug Demars takes up vocal duties in a disaffected Gleemer-esque manner over the instrumental. Eventually, both vocalists team up for the chorus, which also bears the release’s namesake, simultaneously singing and screaming, “Things are different now, there’s no way to go back.” 

The sentiments captured in this song’s chorus are the exact type of reckoning with change that everyone must face at some point in their lives. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, the heartbreak of a decaying relationship, or just the constantly changing nature of life, sometimes it can feel hard to keep up. The release ends with a high-frequency guitar solo accompanied by crashing cymbals and rattling bass, all of which gradually mellow out into a nice instrumental landing strip that leaves the listener just enough time to meditate before the song fades into silence.

The prevailing sentiment throughout Things Are Different Now is sitting right there in the title. On this release, the band finds acceptance of change through their own resilience. No matter how painful or unexpected change may be, recognizing that it exists in the first place is a vital part of the process. Things Are Different Now is a 7-minute document of a young band coming to terms with that fact.