From Graz’s grey periphery, Austria’s Eggenberg (Daniel Kindler and Lukas Steinegger) ignite a compelling cold wave collision. Formed in 2023, the duo channels the restless spirit of their neglected district into a post-punk manifesto. Their mantra, Music from the other side, signals a sonic rebellion against geographical and ideological confines, urging listeners toward uncomfortable truths and creative unrest.
Their debut record, What A Time, delivers a stark yet mesmerizing soundscape built upon taut rhythms, biting riffs, and icy synths. Each track navigates the tension between brief melodic beauty and persistent urgency, echoing alienation both personal and societal through lyrics laden with biting detachment.
Eggenberg’s stripped-down style pairs aggressive guitar work against oppressive synth atmospherics, anchored by driving, relentless basslines and vocals steeped in deadpan disdain. Influences run deep, from the detached intensity of Interpol to the angular austerity of Wire, the sincerity of Pink Turns Blue, and the jagged edges of Gang of Four.
The album opens thoughtfully with Someone, where brooding guitar flourishes and strummed bass echo classic post-punk melancholy.
The title track, What A Time, quickens the pulse, resonating with nostalgic shades of early U2 and Sad Lovers and Giants—a fitting anthem capturing contemporary existential unease.
Listen emerges as a snarling, dark rock dirge, its raw edges in stark contrast to ‘Get Me Out,’ a jangly dreampop number elevated by enchanting vocals that recall a parallel universe where Donovan fronts a post-punk ensemble. The mini album then shifts into darker territory with “Man On A Horse,” which combines unsettling organ notes and Western spoken-word elements to evoke an Austrian iteration of The Bad Seeds.
Closing track Golden Twenties wraps the record in a haunting synth dirge, a fitting end to this exploration of discord and detachment. This debut stands as a clear statement from artists thriving at the margins, transforming their disillusionment into compelling musical defiance.
“We like to keep things angular and raw as it reflects our view on society,” says Eggenberg. “We are angry, we are disillusioned, but we are loud.”
What A Time deftly encapsulates the duo’s future promise, merging stark lyrical honesty with sharp sonic craftsmanship. The album beckons listeners into its discordant dance, hinting at creative possibilities lurking within the gloom.
You can listen to What A Time at the link below. The album is available both digitally and physically, including a limited edition of 100 vinyl copies that you can order here.
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