Although Beyond Man And Time is RPWL’s seventh release, it is the German progressive rock band’s first concept album. Even though it’s a concept album, each track can stand on its own without sounding out of context from the rest of the story. The two opening pieces, “Transformed” and “We Are What We Are” flow right into each other with the same thick bassline. The only difference between the two is that “Transformed” is instrumental and “We Are What We Are” is a nine-minute ballad with angelic choruses. “Unchain The Earth” is one of the more powerful anthemic cuts on Beyond Man And Time, with an ‘80s rock vibe in catchy keys and a slick guitar solo.
Directly after the smashing drums and accented guitar chords of “The Ugliest Man In The World” comes a melodious acoustic guitar accompanied by Yogi Lang’s emotive voice. During the song, RPWL toys with the changing of tones, switching between what was heard in the demanding and dominant beginning for the mellow and submissive verses. During “The Shadow,” one can’t help but let out a chuckle to the literary references made (if caught) and then revel in guitarist Kalle Wallner’s face-melting guitar skills. If one is looking to find the meaning behind RPWL’s songs, I suggest listening to them one by one and not trying to follow the story. Beyond Man And Time ends with “The Noon,” which follows the longest track on the disc, “The Fisherman.” Though the finale wraps up the disc in the best possible way, it ended up being one of the weakest on the disc.
Even if one isn’t familiar with Nietzche’s Thus Spake Zarathustra, it isn’t hard to find the beauty in RPWL’s Beyond Man And Time.
In A Word: Indulgent
