Blind Ego - The hunting party - 2024
“... the fifth studio album ...”
intro
Blind Ego is the side project of RPWL guitarist Kalle Wallner. With Blind Ego his approach is much more rocky and guitar-heavy. The band released the folowing albums so far; 'Mirror' (2007), 'Numb' (2009) , 'Liquid' (2016), 'Liquid Live' (2017) and 'Preaching To The Choir' (2020). The new album, their fifth studio album, has been given the title 'The Hunting Party' and will be released on 18 October 2024. Wallner worked with writer Diminik Feiner again for the lyrics. But the writing process of this album is completely different than we are used to. Now the lyrics were written first and then the music. A new challenge for Kalle Wallner. The lyrics of the seven songs can be interpreted very differently: in a personal way, but also in an outward-looking, social way. You can always be the 'hunter' but also the hunted. That is a nice starting point to leave room for the listener's own interpretation.
line-up
Kalle Wallner - guitars, bass, keyboards, programming; Kevin Kearns - vocals; Yogi Lang - keyboards, programming; Michael Christoph - drums
Produced by Kalle Wallner & Yogi Lang / Recorded by Kalle Wallner & Yogo Lang / Mixed and mastered by Yogi Lang
review
The album opens with the title track 'The Hunting Party' (5:49). You can immediately hear that this album sounds fantastic and beautifully transparent. You can trust that to Yogi Lang who was responsible for the mix and mastering. You hear beautiful guitar work by Kalle Wallner who, in quiet passages, has similarities in sound with the sound of David Gilmour. But because this is a more rock-oriented band, you can also enjoy fast guitar solos. This more rock-like approach requires a singer like Kevin Kearns who comes originally from a more rock/metal like scene, but on this album gives an all-round and energetic calling card. The title track 'The Hunting Party" is a nice opener that has some catchy vocal choruses. You can also hear those catchy vocals in the next song 'The Stranger" (4:53) which is a more straight-up rock song. 'Spiders' (5:52) is a real up-tempo rock song. A song full of energy, both in instrumentation and vocals. As a fan of symphonic and progressive rock, I do lose interest a bit. Especially with the vocals. But it all fits together well and the beautiful guitar solo by Kalle Wallner compensates a lot. The first part of the album is concluded by the track 'Boiling Point' (5:44) which fortunately for me is a little less up-tempo. The atmosphere is also rock related and perhaps more in the corner of alternative rock. The keys on this album are operated by Kalle Wallner and Yogi Lang and are never dominant but rather played in the service of the compositions.
'In A Blink Of An Eye' (7:15) has a slow build up but slowly the intensity of the music increases. Then the intensity is reduced again and there is room for a beautiful Gilmour-like guitar solo full of beautiful melodies. This is why I love guitarist Kalle Wallner. He is one of the few guitarists who can really convey passion. In the next track 'Breathless' (7:37) you hear another rock style. For me this is more of a progressive metal song. A brooding and driving atmosphere with passionate and energetic vocals. Singer Kevin Kearns really shows his face here. Halfway through the song the tempo slows down a bit, which creates space for beautiful guitar work which, when the tempo increases again, ends in a nice guitar solo. Drummer Michael Christoph also fits in well with this more rock-oriented material. Especially in a song like 'Breathless'. The album closes with the ballad 'When The Party's Over'. A song full of melancholy and a wonderfully melodic guitar solo. The delicate guitar playing in the last part is also great. And so 'The Hunting Party' comes to an end.
conclusion
Opinions will be divided as to whether Blind Ego belongs on progVisions. Despite the more rock-oriented style of this project, the progressive rock fan can enjoy beautiful guitar work from an all-round guitarist and producer. The RPWL fan will not care, they know the quality of the work of guitarist and composer Kalle Wallner. Thanks to Yogi Lang (mix and mastering) the album sounds consistent and has a beautiful transparent sound image so that all instruments and vocals are clearly audible. For me personally, the song 'Spiders', which is a real rocker, is a bridge too far. But there is still enough interesting and strong material left. In addition to the strong opener and title track 'The Hunting Party' I am charmed by tracks such as 'Boiling Part', 'In a Blink of an Eye' and 'Breathless'. Give the album a listen when it comes out mid-October.