| When RPWL takes on a motif for an album, it can usually be assumed that this eclectic quartet will dive deep, very deep, into the chosen spectrum and illuminate it from all possible perspectives. With past albums having tackled themes of philosophy or outer space, see 2019’s ‘Tales From Outer Space‘, the art rock formation deals with prominent cases from criminal history on their new album ‘Crime Scene’. On the new long player ‘Crime Scene’ this Bavarian prog rock institution directs its attention to the morbid, the perverse, the evil in good, and the abysses of the human behavior spectrum in all its unpredictable diversity, which sometimes comes across as bizarrely disturbing and conclusive if one tries to fathom it. This new single, “A Cold Spring Day in ’22” has a true story: On the night of April 1st, 1922, an entire family was wiped out on the isolated Hinterkaifeck farm near Waidhofen. Despite countless clues and conjectures, the case remains a mystery. It stands as testimony to the dark time experienced by Germany between two world wars. For inspiration, the band visited the original locations. |
| ‘Crime Scene’, the 19th release of this internationally successful band is an intensive journey through the band’s vita, as well as their own record collections. RPWL, consisting of Kalle Wallner/guitar, Yogi Lang/vocals, keys, Marc Turiaux/drums & Markus Grützner/bass, brings us six densely atmospheric tracks where morbidly dark themes counter with old-school fuzz. The almost 13-minute “King of the World”, with its growling big muff and flat vibes, and the offbeat, “Life Beyond Control“, both surely belong in the heaviest parts of the RPWL discography. “Live in a Cage” brings to the fore meticulous sound design, while the eloquent guitar work that Kalle Wagner shows on his recently released (and highly praised) solo album, weaves throughout the ‘Crime Scene‘. In addition to complex musical stories, the band’s social commentary rides high throughout. Yogi Lang comments from an artistic perspective that he has always been fascinated by social and personal shadow sides:”(Consider) Band-aid on gunshot wound as a principle. The delusion of normalized violence wafts in so many households beneath the supposed harmony many believe. How does it feel to have no concept of freedom at all, but the fear of leaving bourgeois security is greater? In the lockdown year 2020 alone, the (German) police recorded over 119,000 cases of intimate partner violence, 139 of which were fatal, directed in over 80% of cases against the female part in the relationship. Evil forms a core theme on ‘Crime Scene’, and Kalle Wallner asks the Faustian Gretchen Question of how to deal with evil itself: “Who makes us who we are? Is it a question of genetics or is it social circumstances, our childhood, strokes of fate, pressure, or offenses?” ‘Crime Scene’, shall be released on March 17th via the band’s own label Gentle Art of Music, distributed by Soulfood. Tour dates for 2023 are below. Pre-Order / Save ‘Crime Scene’ HERE |
| ‘Crime Scene’ Track List: 1.Victim Of Desire (8:16) 2.Red Rose (5:35) 3.A Cold Spring Day In ’22 (4:21) 4.Life In A Cage (6:11) 5.King Of The World (12:51) 6.Another Life Beyond Control (7:51) ‘Crime Scene‘ will be available in the following formats: Vinyl: black/red/blue, 180g, download-codes, catalog-No. GAOM 073 LP CD: Digipak, catalog-No. GAOM 073 CD Streaming/digital: worldwide on any platforms Pre-Save ‘Crime Scene’ HERE RPWL Tour Dates 2023: 30 March D-Stuttgart clubCANN 31 March D-Bonn, Harmonie 01 April NL-Zoetermeer, De Boerderij 02 April UK-Chepstow, Winter’s End, Drill Hall 03 April UK-Bilston, The Robin 04 April UK-Glasgow, Slay 05 April UK-Oundle, Queen Victoria Hall 06 April UK-London, Boston Music Room 07 April B-Verviers, Spirit of 66 08 April F-Pagney-derrière-Barine, Chez Paulette 09 April CH-Pratteln, Z7 10 April D-Dortmund, Piano 13 April PL-Warschau, Progresja 14 April PL-Piekary Slaskie, Andaluzja 15 April PL-Suchy Las, Centrum Kultury 16 April D-Reichenbach, Artrock Festival 18 April D-Berlin, Maschinenhaus 19 April D-Hamburg, Knust 20 April D-Isernhagen, Blues-Garage 21 April D-Rüsselsheim, Das Rind 22 April D-Freising, Lindenkeller |
