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RPWL

Neo-Prog • Germany


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RPWL picture
RPWL biography
Founded in Freising, Germany in 1997 - Still active as of 2019

RPWL (Risettion-Postl-Wallner-Lung - the band members) is a German progressive rock band. The band was formed in 1997 as a Pink Floyd cover band. After three years they started to make their own music based on their influences from their cover band era. Their debut CD, God Has Failed was met with international enthusiasm, praise and excellent reviews in all the major progressive rock music magazines.

The band wanted to make a statement with Trying To Kiss The Sun in 2002, which relied more on the band as a creative entity and less on their influences. Their 3rd studio album, Stock was released in 2003. It was formed of the tracks that didn't make it onto the first 2 albums, plus a cover of Syd Barrett's "Opel", which the band used at shows as a soundcheck.

In 2005 they released their 4th studio album World Through My Eyes. This was received well by fans and off it their first single was taken- "Roses" sung by former Genesis and Stiltskin vocalist Ray Wilson.

Later that year, the band released their 1st live album Live- Start The Fire. The double disc album contains the whole of the band's Rockpalast concert, again featuring Ray Wilson on lead vocals for "Roses" and one other track this time, "Not About Us", which is from Ray's one and only album with Genesis entitled Calling All Stations.

In 2007, saw the release of 9--a compilation including 5 previously unreleased live songs and 4 brand new solo songs recorded together by the band. Those studio-tracks are representing the different influences in the band. 9 was released in a limited edition of 999 CDs and was only available from their website.

In February 2008, they released a new album called The RPWL Experience, which diverted greatly from previous efforts. Martien Koolen of DPRP writes, "The southern German prog rock band certainly explores new musical horizons on this album as some songs even sound raw and unpolished."

Eric Walker (USA)

Related band on PA:
- VIOLET DISTRICT
- Yogi LANG
- BLIND EGO

RPWL Videos (YouTube and more)


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RPWL discography


Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

RPWL top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.36 | 171 ratings
God Has Failed
2000
3.53 | 173 ratings
Trying to Kiss the Sun
2002
3.70 | 258 ratings
World Through My Eyes
2005
3.47 | 190 ratings
The RPWL Experience
2008
3.89 | 460 ratings
Beyond Man and Time
2012
3.70 | 188 ratings
Wanted
2014
3.78 | 186 ratings
Tales from Outer Space
2019
4.02 | 88 ratings
Crime Scene
2023

RPWL Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.75 | 59 ratings
Start The Fire - Live
2005
4.13 | 39 ratings
The RPWL Live Experience
2009
4.31 | 42 ratings
A Show Beyond Man and Time
2013
4.28 | 44 ratings
Plays Pink Floyd
2015
4.54 | 47 ratings
RPWL plays Pink Floyd's "The Man and the Journey"
2016
3.80 | 5 ratings
A New Dawn
2017
4.12 | 15 ratings
Live from Outer Space
2019
4.11 | 18 ratings
God Has Failed - Live & Personal
2021
0.00 | 0 ratings
True Live Crime
2024

RPWL Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

4.26 | 34 ratings
The RPWL Live Experience
2009
4.65 | 43 ratings
A Show Beyond Man and Time
2013
4.60 | 23 ratings
A New Dawn
2017

RPWL Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.13 | 93 ratings
Stock
2003
4.12 | 62 ratings
The Gentle Art of Music
2010

RPWL Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

3.48 | 21 ratings
9
2007
4.00 | 4 ratings
Rarities
2010
4.00 | 5 ratings
A New World
2019

RPWL Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 God Has Failed by RPWL album cover Studio Album, 2000
3.36 | 171 ratings

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God Has Failed
RPWL Neo-Prog

Review by progrockeveryday

3 stars RPWL is one of my favorite modern bands. It's nice to look back and listen to their old albums to see their evolution. They started as a PF cover band, as many of you may know, and you can see that big influence on their first record. It not only has reminiscences of early Pink Floyd records but also of the post-The-Wall era. But there's something peculiar there, with the soundscapes and Yogi's vocals as well, that make them different. However, this first album is a bit static and less adventurous than their later records, which I enjoy a lot. But, it's their first recording! Their evolution is very remarkable, how they went from this very Floydish music to their own sound, as I said in the review of their last album "Crime Scene". Nevertheless, there are some great moments on the album like "Who Do You Think We Are" and the final two songs "Farewell" and "God Has Failed", great tunes.
 Crime Scene by RPWL album cover Studio Album, 2023
4.02 | 88 ratings

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Crime Scene
RPWL Neo-Prog

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

4 stars For 25 years now, Yogi Lang (vocals, keyboards) and Kalle Wallner (guitars) have been steering the good ship RPWL as they continue to follow their own path on the seas of prog, and while drummer Marc Turiaux has been there since 2008 there has been another line-up change since 2019's 'Tales From Outer Space' with the departure of keyboard player Markus Jehle and the arrival of bassist Markus Grützner. However, for many (me included), RPWL have long been about Yogi and Kalle, the L and W of the name. Yogi's vocals are clear and melodic, always in total control in unaccented English while with Kalle he has a wonderful songwriting relationship. Again they have chosen a theme for an album, as opposed to being a full-blown concept, this time delving into the dark side.

Take for example the love song which is "Red Rose". At first hearing it sounds pleasant enough, then one realises something isn't quite right, with the lyrics "All my help appeared to fail, But down to your last breath, I know that you're my bride to be". The reference to the year 1933 gives us another clue, and we soon realise Yogi is singing from the viewpoint of Carl Tanzer, who became obsessed with a patient and two years after he death he stole her corpse and kept it in his home until it was discovered some seven years later. The sweetness and light contrast heavily with the darkness and disgust, "Now everything's prepared, So please come back to life, Let's show the world our undying love" which causes us to rethink everything we are listening to. The lyrics are complex with depth which fits in powerfully with the multi-layered approach of the arrangements, which often have a lot of acoustic guitar.

I have followed RPWL since their debut 'God Has Failed' more than 20 years ago, and this is one of the most interesting and intriguing as we study the lyrics and then start searching out more information. Yet the terrible events Yogi is singing about are often delivered in a manner which is very light, with the contrasting darkness coming more from our minds. This is easily one of their most intriguing and interesting albums to date, one which can be both studied and listened to gently. Powerful stuff.

 Crime Scene by RPWL album cover Studio Album, 2023
4.02 | 88 ratings

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Crime Scene
RPWL Neo-Prog

Review by tszirmay
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars While reading Lazland's rather Freudian in-depth (how deep would that be be?) review, I could not help rekindling images of the television series Vienna Blood, where the two protagonists are a slick Austrian detective and his Jewish psychiatrist cohort in a pre-WW1 setting, who solve rather grisly murder cases together. This RPWL album may well serve as a modern soundtrack, in light of the fact this German band has been in legal trouble before, with the Wanted album released in 2014. I am also reminded of Viennese singer Falco's ripping rendition of "Jeanny", a masterfully cruel song about a deranged mind stalking ruthlessly (and not about rape as was suggested at the time in 1985). While I must humbly admit that I can do a wicked imitation of a heavily accented Serbo-Croatian shrink, I feel no need to even dare attempt to upgrade Lazland's diagnosis of the murky lyrical content. Just take my pharmaceuticals, perhaps toss in a few well-placed electro-shocks, and just concentrate on the musical side of things of this beguiling effort.

The aptly titled "Victim of Desire" serves as a perfect aural anaesthesia, with a swooping and modern entrance, that is both chaotic and moodily cerebral, with long-time patients Kalle Wallner on guitars, drum meister Marc Turiaux, vocalist, and ivory man Yogi Lang, all locked in their studio gaol with newcomer bassist Markus Gruetzner, who really dazzles throughout this penitence. Through the 8 minute + epic, all the now classic RPWL ingredients are firmly in place, locked in with huge melodies, first-rate singing and exemplary mood and atmosphere. Acoustic guitar serenity greets "Red Rose", the overall disquietingly airy and sweet beginning perhaps hiding an inner demon of some kind, as the guitar scours effusively and the 'undying' echo flutters into the heavens. This segues into "A Cold Spring Day in '22", a tingling guitar spiderwebs its way into a floating guitar jangle that proves once again what a fine axeman Kalle is, as Yogi's vocalized 'footsteps' set the eerie tale in motion, where innocence, home security and family are all extinguished in a brutal act of insanity. The main melody is accessible, in an almost insouciant manner, as if to underline how tragedy can just wait around the corner, ready to pounce. The percussive led "Life in a Cage" suggests mental desolation, forlorn anxiety, architectural compression, and controlled claustrophobia, as if a free flying bird is now doomed forevermore. The extended instrumental section is phenomenal, as the blitzing bass rumble weaves amid the depth-charged drumbeats. Wallner unleashes quite the anguished axe solo, yearning to break away and find some semblance of normalcy. The angst is palpable and disturbing.

"King of the World" is definitely the main attraction here, a nearly 13-minute behemoth of sound and fury. When a serpentine bass introduces the main theme, ably supported by shrill guitar phrasings, sizzling synth squeaks that ping and pong, echoing off the oft-scratched walls, you are prepared for the effusive vocal, letting Lang tell his gloomy tale. This piece may well be one of the band's finest moments ever, as musically it is absolute dynamite in all facets of creativity. French 17th century philosopher Blaise Pascal's monumental essay "Pensées" could have a soundtrack for his masterful analysis of the human condition (please look it up, if you wish). The sweeping mellotron strings evoke a sense of imminent tempest, as the bass sneaks between the grey clouds and the thunderous drum nastily snap branches off the tress. The bombastic finale is pure, unadulterated emotion, powerfully imposing, truth finally revealed. "Find a way to be Alive ? for one night". The final cut (oops, sorry, Rog!) offers a slash of the wrists guitar expression that shoulders the cacophony of despair, the swampy lead, the choppy drums, and the blood all over the place singing, all together make for a most appropriate conclusion. The extended mid-section guitar solo is suitably frantic, delirious, and yearning for escape. The synthesizer venture takes the track on a slippery slope onto the dark side of the room, a genuine apology, perhaps even regret. The track acts abruptly, as if the imaginary guillotine has just put an end to all this misery. Silence.

4.5 evil ways (Roll it, Carlos)

 Crime Scene by RPWL album cover Studio Album, 2023
4.02 | 88 ratings

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Crime Scene
RPWL Neo-Prog

Review by alainPP

4 stars RPWL (Risettion-Postl-Wallner-Lung) is the progressive rock band formed in 97 excelling in PINK FLOYD covers. They try to find their marks with Ray Wilson for a while and move away from the Floyds with a more raw, aggressive sound while keeping art-rock atmospheres. An 8th album on crimes and other perversions with two of the initiators still at the helm, here we go.

'Victim of Desire' just the intro makes me want to go see them; gradual build-up with a soaring solo from Kalle, the sampled voice of Yogi; it reminds me of the modern transition of PENDRAGON on 'Pure'; emotion, languor, wanderings on the FLOYD whatever we say in more rock; spatial break and jerky riff, good cinematic evolution for the slap with a solo flirting with those of Michel from MYSTERY. 'Red Rose' piano ballad for a funky bass melody and an underlying macabre story best left undisclosed; RPWL floydian atmosphere for the romanticism and melting solo then spleen if that is possible. 'A Cold Spring Day in '22' short, radio-edit, about gruesome Bavarian murder, yes prog isn't all gay; a playful, ironic chorus and a melodic tune. 'Life in a Cage' intro which I like between Peter GABRIEL 'Biko' and TALKING HEADS; cavernous rhythm box, discordant synths pouring into melancholy for a dark atmosphere, a Gilmourian solo even if we know that it is Kalle at the scraper. 'King of the World' masterpiece for the duration, the convolutions, changes of tempo, the appearance of a Moog, the plaintive guitar; intimate break and a flight of spleen notes, in short, the whole panoply of today's progressive rock; the second instrumental break brings up the beauty and brutality of rock, a piece to be listened to again for a long time. 'Another Life Beyond Control' wow, HENDRIX, the scratchy sounding WHITE STRIPES, a saturated fat bluesy riff old as my dresses, a catchy chorus; the break, what to say innovative, psyche; hovering final return with a Yogi solo to perfect the image of nervous prog rock.

RPWL will be criticized, evolving without denying its basics; modern, intricate clutter at its best; a duration short enough to keep you going and induce cravings; power not to fall asleep, problem of some current groups. A superb album much more innovative and catchy, melodic, of the very beautiful prog of a great group. (4.5)

 God Has Failed - Live & Personal by RPWL album cover Live, 2021
4.11 | 18 ratings

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God Has Failed - Live & Personal
RPWL Neo-Prog

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

4 stars Time for a slight history lesson. Back in the 90's there was a band called Violet District who released the album 'Terminal Breath' which I really enjoyed. Eventually that band disappeared, but band members Karlheinz "Kalle" Wallner (guitars) and Chris Postl (bass) formed a new band with Jürgen " Yogi" Lang (vocals, keyboards) who had also featured on that album, along with drummer Philipp Rissettio, and called it RPWL after their initials. This band announced their presence in 2000 with the debut album 'God Has Failed' which I enjoyed, while never believing it to be essential.

Over the years the band has released some superb albums, and although these days only Kalle and Yogi are still there, the decision was made to get out on the road to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the debut. However, Covid got in the way, but given that the band was fully rehearsed and ready to go they decided to film a live studio session of the entire album and make it available. So, what we have here is just that, a live recording of the debut (I only have the audio but it is also available on blu-ray, DVD etc.), back when the band were still showing how much they were influenced by Pink Floyd. It is impossible to play this album without referencing that band, as although RPWL have moved in their own direction over the last two decades, back then they were showing how much they had been impacted by that one band. But, and this is an important element, although they used very similar techniques and melodic stylings as Floyd, their songs were never amateurish renderings of already existing material but rather was delicate and soaring, much in the way of the band in the Seventies.

We get acoustic guitar, wonderful soaring female vocals (both as backing and lead), delicate piano and swathes of keyboards, rock guitar, strong melodies, great vocals, in fact all one would want from a Floyd-style band. To be honest, I enjoyed this far more than the original recording as by now the guys have the confidence of 20 years' experience behind them and they are no longer a new band, but one who has toured and released plenty of their own material. In many ways, this is a great introduction to the early period of RPWL, while fans of Floyd can also get involved to see what all the fuss is about. It is wonderful to hear this album now sounding so much better than it did back in the day.

 Beyond Man and Time by RPWL album cover Studio Album, 2012
3.89 | 460 ratings

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Beyond Man and Time
RPWL Neo-Prog

Review by ElChanclas

4 stars Beyond Man and Time, 5th studio effort by German Neo proggers RPWL. I'm not very familiar with the band or their catalog, but I do confess I was a little cautious before digging at first when I read they started as a Pink Floyd cover band? I wanted something new not investing time in copycats or soulless bands, fair enough it was not the case with RPWL. I think its fair to say that Yogi Lang's vocal do resemble Gilmour's tone and if we add to the mix Wallner's immediate reference (influence) to his guitar playing it is inevitable to have that same "look and feel" of the later PF's catalog, but that's jut a mirage, this guys have their own sound and identity, and have a lot of wonderful ingredients that are smartly added to the mix? and that statement is evident on the opener, Transformed, an atmospheric instrumental intro that slowly fades and blends with We are what we are, definitely one of the highlights of the album.

According to Lang himself, "The basic idea in this album is a so-called "revaluation of values" in terms of a new way of thinking. In this world there already are creatures of higher knowledge that the protagonist meets allegorically along his way: the keeper of the cave, the willingly blind, the scientist, the ugliest human, the creator, the shadow, the wise man in the desert and the fisherman", and I try to imagine that this 2nd tune marks the beginning of such journey, just guessing? 9mins of powerful display of instruments and hypnotic singing? The title track is a mellower one, kind of bluesy in spots and very melodic, epic and memorable, a place where Wallner feels comfortable and his talent is noted. One of those ear worm melodies, a chorus you will hum hours and hours after the first listen. Unchain the earth is another highlight and one of my favorites, maybe the more PF sounding off the whole record but beautiful and unique in its own merit, I love the tempo and rhythmic section of this tune, so catchy! "Unchain the earth, we don't need the sun anymore". The Ugliest Man in the World, to my ears the best song in the album, with the best team work by the band, with a lot of changes, not complex at all but very dynamic, impossible to get bored. Neo-prog DNA, pure, melancholic and angry at the same time, obscure but beautiful, flawlessly executed? BTW, Markus's keyboards textures are spectacular!

There's always the rocker, The Road to Creation is that rocker, with added depth to the vocals and balanced but distorted riffs that are the faithful conductors for the rest of the band, progressive metal nuances decor the 6min plus song with the delicacy only available with Neo prog structures, memorable again. Unfortunately, at least for me, the weak moment of this album starts with the cool but a little bit short Somewhere in between, Lang's voice is so celestial here that I would have really like more minutes of his singing? The Shadow brings us back to the same musical feel we experienced in the first quarter of the record with straight pop rock vocalizing and instrumentation because these guys can do just that, transform complexity into mainstream sound, both vocals and guitars are the solid bridges that the rest of the band cross to become more or less melodic, more or less heavy, more or less prog, more or less complex, truly amazing. The Wise in the Desert is may least favorite, not that I not a good song, I just simply don't see the fit to the rest of the album, like it belongs to another era of the band, another concept, hard to describe how I feel about it, but it simply doesn't cut it for me? maybe it just need more listens, I guess it sounds too flavorless for me.

The Fisherman starts with the same feel as the previous tune, however it does evolve into a more symphonic groove, maybe a little bit odd but it does work and helps the 16minutes plus be fore enjoyable? I love epics, the longest the better, however I think that The Fisherman could be shorter and still tell the same story and have the same impact? just a thought? but it has to be solid that the guitar work here is really pristine and memorable. Last but not least, The Noon? beautiful vocals and lyrics by Lang who wisely manages the harmonies to sound like something important is coming to an inevitable end, a very strong song to close a very solid album. A must listen for sure!

 God Has Failed - Live & Personal by RPWL album cover Live, 2021
4.11 | 18 ratings

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God Has Failed - Live & Personal
RPWL Neo-Prog

Review by rdtprog
Special Collaborator Heavy, RPI, Symph, JR/F Canterbury Teams

4 stars This is a new recording in the studios of their first album which I didn't hear, so It was with a little excitement that I was discovering their first album after listening to their more recent releases live or in studios. If the Pink Floyd influence is their trademark, it's even more obvious here with some ballad atmospheric parts and dreamy soundscapes. The sound is more on the soft side than their recent releases but the strong quality of their melodies is still there, I can't compare to the original recording, but we can assume that they did a better job to produce that new version many years later. The band's music is embellished with the voice of Yogi with some female backup singers that can only remind us of Pink Floyd again. The band makes good use of some acoustic guitar and piano to go with some spacey keyboards and an electric guitar that can deliver some nice guitar parts sometimes in the David Gilmour style, but no that much, for example in the song "Fool". The real highlight is the song "Spring of Freedom" with a break that slows things down and that starts with some special effect with bass and keys shinning before a great guitar part. This is another good album that is carefully mix in surround for our enjoyment. RPWL can't fail...
 God Has Failed by RPWL album cover Studio Album, 2000
3.36 | 171 ratings

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God Has Failed
RPWL Neo-Prog

Review by The Crow
Prog Reviewer

2 stars God Has Failed was the debut of RPWL, Pink Floyd tribute band!

And obviously, on this album the British influences are very obvious, especially in the guitar arrangements, vocal melodies and instrumental interludes.

Despite everything, it reminded me of other bands of the time like Spock's Beard and Mostly Autumn. The truth is that I do not understand the Neo-Prog label too much, since God Has Failed is more of a symphonic prog typical of the end of the last millennium.

So, if you like this type of very guitar oriented symphonic rock and don't mind bad singers, you can give God Has Failed a try! I think that the album has its moments, but as a whole it's too dull, repetitive and even uninspired.

Best Tracks: Who do You Think We are (the verses are rather mediocre, but the instrumental guitar interlude, as well as the solo, are excellent), What I Need (good chorus, if somewhat repetitive), In Your Dreams (I love the guitar arpeggios that accompany the verses) and Fool (good slide guitar)

My Rating: **

 Plays Pink Floyd by RPWL album cover Live, 2015
4.28 | 44 ratings

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Plays Pink Floyd
RPWL Neo-Prog

Review by Heart of the Matter

3 stars This is an excellent album collecting cover versions of Pink Floyd original songs. The tracklist is very similar to "Transmission 1969" (see my review for details), that's to say, we are talking about material taken from the early psychedelic stage of this English classic band. The good news is that the improvement in sound quality is really big, and the musical skills displayed by the Germans are up to the challenge. I should point out, as mi personal favourite, the extended version of "Fat Old Sun", with plenty of room for tasty improvisation. It's also true that there's a certain loss of qualities that shine in the originals, such as the frailty in "Green Is The Colour". Anyway, the challenge of making a cover is to essay something different.
 Live from Outer Space by RPWL album cover Live, 2019
4.12 | 15 ratings

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Live from Outer Space
RPWL Neo-Prog

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

4 stars With the release of 'Tales From Outer Space' RPWL managed something almost unheard of within the underground progressive scene, namely that the album made it into the Top 50 Album charts in their home country of Germany. For the ensuing tour the band made the decision to play the whole of the album, in order, and then follow it with other material after that had completed. The result is a set which is available in multiple formats, including Blu-ray, and here we have the double CD. The quintet of Yogi Lang (vocals, keyboards), Kalle Wallner (guitars), Markus Jehle (keyboards), Marc Turiaux (drums) and Sebastian Harnack (bass and bass pedals) can trace their origins all the way back to Violet District, with both Lang and Wallner appearing on their album all the way back in 1992. Although there have been changes in the RPWL camp over the years, those two have been a constant, and even now all these years later they still display their roots, as they were originally a Floyd covers band.

This live set has been very well recorded and produced, and I am glad to say there are a few minor fluffs here and there, which allows me to believe this is actually how they sound as opposed to having been cleaned up. Mind you, here is a band who are so confident in their own ability in concert that they have released six live albums alongside the ten studio, a much higher ratio than most. In my review of the last studio album I said the keyboard sounds reminded me somewhat of MMEB, and this can be heard particularly on songs such as "Give Birth To The Sun". Fourteen songs, more than 100 minutes in length, this is a very polished release with little in the way of emotion, but there often isn't that much from Floyd either. Yogi's vocals are often a little lower in the mix than I would have liked, but that is personal choice, and he certainly blends in well with the accompaniment.

RPWL released their debut album back in 2000, and since then they have been incredibly consistent in terms of quality of output, and while they have undoubtedly been heavily influenced by the sounds of Pink Floyd this is very much a band treading their own path, and for those who have yet to come across them this is a great starting point.

Thanks to ProgLucky; Eric Walker for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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