The Neon God: Part 1 - The Rise

The Neon God: Part 1 - The Rise is the first half of a concept work on which W.A.S.P., using thick guitar, strongly shaded singing and dramatic development, draws a grand story around one person. A precise narrative evoking the classic The Crimson Idol unfolds fully again. The songs proceed heavily, yet their melody has a sure earnestness, drawing the listener deeply into the story. The story, beginning from the opening “Overture,” dramatically draws the protagonist’s fate through the drama of “Wishing Well,” the aggression of “Sister Sadie (And the Black Habits)” and the title track “The Rise,” while cuts like “Why Am I Here” and “Asylum #9” deepen the story. Though the expression is grandiose, at its core are powerful rock songs reflecting human pain and earnest longing. Its appeal is that, as the first half of a diptych, it deftly keeps the story’s tension while powerfully inscribing W.A.S.P.’s theatricality and sure heaviness. Lawless’s tireless passion for narrative comes to fruition splendidly again. Fitting to open a grand concept, it is a dramatic, engaging record that makes you eager for the story’s continuation.