After 'Preaching to the Choir' in 2020 which was followed by the album 'Voices' in 2022 under his own name, 'Kalle Wallner', who is one of the founders of 'RPWL', released in October a new album 'The Hunting Party', in which we find the drummer 'Michael Christoph' but also the other founder of 'RPWL', 'Yogi Lang', on keyboards and mixing, the singer 'Kevin Kearns' (very versatile because he is part of the melodic death metal band 'The Legion: Ghost' !) having replaced 'Scott Balaban' who played on the last album 'Preaching to the Choir'. In parallel with 'RPWL', we could say that 'Blind Ego' is the muscular side of the progressive rock of 'RPWL' and 'The Hunting Party' confirms this label again on most of the compositions of the album which are seven in number for a little more than 40 minutes of listening.
And yet, the eponymous title begins quietly with necessarily a nod to 'RPWL' and its 'Floydian' influences, but the crescendo with the rhythm section which gradually gains momentum leads to a more energetic lively sung part with a catchy chorus bringing an immediate accessibility, the variations in intensity allowing to add this little more progressive to the whole. Next comes 'The Stranger' which is more pop-oriented while keeping a nice power and good dynamics thanks to a punchy rhythm section, then 'Spiders' hardens the tone with a more extreme vocal from 'Kevin Kearns' on an up-tempo which keeps in certain places welcome moderations of intensity. With 'Boiling Point', we are again taken into an alternation between moderate pop verses and a more muscular chorus thanks to guitar riffs more marked by muscular rock, then 'In A Blink Of An Eye' is certainly the most progressive composition which begins in a very beautiful crescendo in which 'Kevin Kearns' adapts his singing in a beautiful way according to the increase in power, crescendo which reaches its climax with all the electric instruments around 3 minutes, then, halfway, the atmosphere calms down and the second part is much more atmospheric with a magnificent 'Floydian' guitar solo by 'Kalle Wallner' which gives goosebumps. Followed by 'Breathless' which develops a dark and disturbing atmosphere and which offers a very catchy and dynamic chorus, the rhythm section leading the dance throughout the title and 'Kalle Wallner' splitting a new admirable guitar solo, then, 'When The Party's Over' is a magnificent ballad which offers a very beautiful melody which immediately grafts itself into the head and which ends this album on a very pleasant melancholic note, the last and short solo of Mr. 'Wallner' adding a few shivers of pleasure and the final in decrescendo recalling the sounds of a certain 'Mark Knopfler'.
In summary, 'Kalle Wallner' offers us an admirable album, of a beautiful diversity and an irreproachable production, between muscular rock and quieter pop, the whole being tinged with progressive, and 'The Hunting Party' is recommended not only to fans of 'RPWL' but also to all those who love catchy melodies because the German has once again done everything possible to ensure that each composition is fairly immediately accessible... | |
