Being the child of someone famous can put pressure on just about anyone. Think about being the child of a legend then. An icon. Wolfgang Van Halen is one of them. Ok, the guy did a tour as Michael Anthony’s replacement in Van Halen and worked as the bass player for Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge) but being a hired gun is way different to be your own boss. The name Van Halen comes with lots of pressure and expectations and there are probably a whole bunch of douche-bags just waiting for him to fail. Thing is, the way things looked, Wolfie took things pretty calmly and just went on his way.
The name of his band – Mammoth – is of course the name Van Halen used before calling themselves Van Halen, a tribute to his dad of sorts. A good move in my book. On the self-titled debut album from 2021, Wolfgang played all the instruments and wrote all the songs himself with Michael Baskette producing. Despite having a band for live situations Wolfgang decided to approach the sophomore record the same way. In my book, the debut was a good record but it didn’t really cut it all the way for me, mostly because the style of Hard Rock, think Foo Fighters and that kind of radio-oriented Hard Rock, post-grunge music, isn’t really my first choice when it comes to rock music.
The album opens on a slamming note with an edgy staccato riff and a powerhouse rhythm and “Right” is a 90’s smelling kidney-punch of a tune. It’s energetic and intense, down n’ dirty and upbeat rocking with a distinct hook both in verse and refrain. It’s a chunky tune with a real live-vibe and a direct chorus. A good tune and a perfect opener. In a darker mood the following “Like A Pastime” turns more to the alternative 90’s with a grungy outlook yet with some more radio-friendly melodies that are almost AOR-flirting. It’s an edgy and kicking rocker that reminds me of a blending of today’s Hinder and Foo Fighters. It’s a really good tune with a damn catchy chorus.
“Another Celebration At the End Of The World” isn’t only the album’s leading single, it was also showcased live at Sweden Rock Festival last summer and I remember really taking the song in. The song kicks off with a punchy and ballsy drum-intro, very in-your-face and continues with a beast of a riff that takes a Metal approach yet with a punky attitude. It’s a fierce, driving hard-rocker that leans on a heavy, powerhouse foundation, straight ahead melodies and an enormous chorus-hook. Brilliant. The upbeat and hard-edged “Miles Above Me” is a lively, busy and electrifying Hard Rock stomper. It’s direct and in-your-face, quite simple in its structure with a killer power-pop melody where a slight Foo Fighter influence shines through and, dare I say it, mid to late 80’s Van Halen. Splendid stuff.
Also a single, “Take A Bow” is a riff-happy Hard Rock number that comes in a slower pace with a heavy outlook and a muscular and rough structure and a darker, tuned down edge. There’s a piano inserted for dynamics sake and the solo has Wolfie flexing his muscles going for a guitar-hero vibe – and succeeds. The chorus is huge and striking and made for arenas. Very good. “Optimist” is a bit of a noisy slammer, raucous and unruly with a clear nod towards the alternative and grungy 90’s. It’s quite gloomy with a hard-hitting riff and lots of attitude. However, the melodies are underwhelming and has a hard time grabbing a hold. It’s not bad though.
Latest single “I’m Alright” turns things around some and goes straight into Arena Rock territory. Gone is the darkness and in comes a more uplifting attitude where massive melodies rub shoulders with some straight ahead Classic Rock with a nod towards Aerosmith. An upbeat piano brings on the Rock ‘n’ Roll party mood an the vocal-harmony drenched chorus is so addictive you need rehab to get it off your brain. Magnificent – the album’s finest moment in my book. Rowdy and somewhat noisy, “Erase Me” comes with a pop-punk insert, power-pop melodies, a catchy rock-riff and a chorus that has Foo Fighters going into Melodic Rock town. It’s raw-edged and bouncy but the chorus leaves some to be desired and doesn’t really lift.
On a mellower note, the upbeat yet slow paced alt. pop-rock tune “Waiting” has both its feet rooted in the mid 90’s albeit with a Foo Fighters borrowed main-melody. A melancholic semi-ballad with a lighter arrangement the song also stomps things up a bit more in the chorus with a hit-friendly and effective hook. That said, this style of Rock is really not my can of beer. The album bids it farewell with “Better Than You”, a big-grooved and punchy pop-rocker with an alternative touch. The repetitive riff is hard to resist and so are the pop flirting melody hooks, the gluey refrain and the heavier rhythms makes the tune go bump. The chuggy metal-laden passage is also dynamic and brings a slight prog-flirt to the table. Good stuff.
As a whole this record is pretty much a sister album – or continuation maybe – to the debut. The style, song-writing and production are from the same cloth as the debut. That said, I find this record slightly stronger but not by much. Thing is, since there are very few bands that dwells in this rock-genre that I truly love I just might be the wrong guy to review a record like this. Still, I don’t dislike the album and I really can’t find any song on here that I can’t stand listening to. The problem is that it contains too few that rocks my world. Wolfgang himself is an impressive talent without a doubt, there’s really nothing he can’t do musically and most of the songs here has all the potential of finding a large audience. If the Foo Fighters could go mega then so should Mammoth WVH and I take Mammoth over the Foos any day of the year.
6/10
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Tracklist:
1. Right
2. Like A Pastime
3. Another Celebration At The End Of The World
4. Miles Above Me
5. Take A Bow
6. Optimist
7. I’m Alright
8. Erase Me
9. Waiting
10. Better Than You
CD & Festival reviews 