I have been using VLC on Pixel 6 as main audio player for over a year now. Normally if I pause music I can restart from controls on headphones (usually pixel buds pro or Bose AE2 soundlink) with no issues and even if I shut down app part way through an album when I connect earphones the following day and tap to start it resumes from where I left off even if I haven't opened app yet.
Unfortunately I saw 3.5.3 was available and installed it and none of this happens. If I pause music now I can't restart using earphones or even controls on phone even if only paused for short while without closing and reopening app. When I reconnect earphones to phone at a later time I now have to open app and click play in app to start playback.
Apologies if this has been reported already but I can't see this in forum or on your issues tracker. I have downgraded to 3.5.2 for the moment. I was liking the fact that you had full integration with new lock screen controls in 3.5.3.