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RPWL: Crime Scene
RPWL - Crime Scene Album Art

RPWL: Crime Scene

Melodic Progressive Rock
4.5/5.0

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Gentle Art Of Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 17.03.2023 | Released: 17.03.2023

It may take RPWL a few years, but the band will return with a studio. The last album, Tales From Outer Space, was a concept album with, well, tales from outer space, seven sci-fi stories. Now, taking a rather grim and creep turn, the band returns with another concept album based on criminal behavior, strange love obsession, serial and cannibalistic killing. Lyricist Yogi Lang invites you examine morbid which include Karl Denke, the cannibal from Münsterberg, and German radiologist Carl Tanzler necrophiliac desire for a lost love. Yeah, not exactly the warmest, sunshine, and light breezes musical atmosphere.

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RPWL

Nevertheless, and despite the creepiness of the content, the music is classic RPWL, which is melodic progressive rock in classic tradition of the genre. Which requires me to make a disclaimer at this point. I'm a huge fan and, decidedly, not very objective when reviewing RPWL work. Yet, I will speak to some of the content within Crime Scene.


A few general observations to start. First, there's current or atmosphere of melancholy and pensive mood in the music. Largely, this comes from Yogi Lang's subtle melodic vocals, yet wrapped in acoustic guitar and layered keyboards. I believe it to be intentional to the concept. This was self-evident with Victim Of Desire, Life In A Cage, or Red Rose, to mention three of the six songs. Second Kalle Wallner's guitar lines are subdued and subtle rather than epic and soaring. Again this evident in Victim Of Desire or Another Life Beyond Control. Perhaps within King Of The World the are more prominent. Either way, pay attention as you listen. King Of The World, the longest song here, is one song that begins and turns on a strong and present bass line, encircled by more quirky keys from Lang.

All said, RPWL's Crime Scene, with its unusually dark lyrical themes and more subdued musical expression, is still another fine album of melodic progressive rock from these modern prog legends. Easily recommended.



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The Take Away

RPWL's Crime Scene, with its unusually dark lyrical themes and more subdued musical expression, is still another fine album of melodic progressive rock from these modern prog legends. Easily recommended.

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