Starting out in 2001 and releasing their debut album 667…The Neighbour Of The Beast in 2004, Norwegian rockers Wig Wam broke through big-time when they went national in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 and had a big hit with the song “In My Dreams” which made the album It’s Hard To Be A Rock ‘n’ Roller a success. The guys – Glam (Åge-Sten Nilsen vocals), Teeny (Trond Holter, guitars), Flash (Bernt Jansen) and Sporty (Öysten “Bobby” Andersen) – went hardcore Glam Rock visually, so hardcore they made Poison look Grunge in a time when Glam wasn’t exactly hip which also gave them some recognition. Unfortunately their success story was relatively short. The band released three more albums but called it quits in 2012 and hadn’t it been for unforeseen events the band would most probably still be lying in a stupor.
The band decided to bury the hatchet and reunite back in 2021 and released their come back album Never Say Die that year, a heavier, darker and more raunchy version of the band yet with the big choruses and sharp pop-hooks intact. The album got a good reception, my favorite Wig Wam album so far actually, but it never set the world on fire. Enter: James Gunn, the maker of the success movie The Suicide Squad and a huge lover of 80’s Hard Rock. He picked Wig Wam’s “Do You Wanna Taste It” (Non Stop Rock ‘n’ Roll, 2009) as the opening theme song for his TV series Peacemaker in 2021 and viola, the defunct Wig Wam had a world-wide hit on their hands. Since then Wig Wam has been a force to be reckoned with, actually bigger than back in the day, and also highly creative. Only two years after the reunion album, a new record is out on the streets with some major expectations following.
The opening title-track and first single begins where the last album left off. Which means we’re getting an edgy, heavy and quite dark Melodic Rock meets Hard Rock number with big metal-fueled guitars that riffs away on a crunchy note and a steady, busy rhythm. It’s an explosive powerhouse of a song that brings along both a heavy edge and striking melodies with a hook-filled chorus on top. A spot on track for the win. Killer. Also a single, “High ‘N Dry” kicks off with another heavy and raunchy riff with a metal-flirt and a hard-hitting rhythm. The chorus lifts the mid pace up some with an intense hook that looks at late 80’s/early 90’s American Arena Rock, catchy as hell. Very good.
Latest single “Forevermore” is one catchy rocker. It’s a mid-tempo tune, quite heavy yet with a chunky and juicy groove that holds a beefy and raunchy guitar sound, a striking riff and big melodies on top. There’s a Celtic flavour to the tune that brings my mind towards Eclipse and the main-melody and the mastodon refrain comes across as a distant relative to the last album’s “Kilimanjaro”. In other words, a brilliant tune. On a more Classic Rock and bluesier note, “Bad Luck Chuck” comes on with a boogie-rock vibe that throws a wink to ZZ Top’s 70’s and a bit of AC/DC but also an 80’s melody-hook that makes me think of Holter’s old – and underrated – band Dream Police. The main riff also lends a bit from Van Halen. A big gang-vocal chorus takes the tune for a home-run. Great stuff.
Harder and edgier with another glimpse of metal-tinged guitar riffing, “Uppercut Shazam” runs riot and surely kicks up some dust. It’s a muscular and rowdy Hard Rock belter with a dirty rhythm and a sleazier outlook. This is actually headbang-friendly. It’s a very live friendly track with a punchy rhythm-section and another infectious chorus that hits me like a brick to the head. Very good. On a bigger mid 80’s American Hard Rock note, “Ghosting You” delivers a juicy groove and a riff that both Warren De Martini (Ratt) or George Lynch (Dokken) could have been proud of. It’s a fun-loving party rocker with a magnificent, classic Wig Wam refrain that’s so sticky you could use it to put up wall-paper. Gotta love it.
Every melodic Hard Rock album comes with a ballad and this record is no exception. This album’s slow-burner is called “The Purpose” and is a power ballad of sorts with both Soul laden tendencies and a Classic Rock vibe. The verses is more held back and mellow yet carried by a solid beat but the huge chorus throws nods towards the late 80’s with a smooth melody-line that makes the tune stick right from go. Bring out the lighters, ladies and gents. A stellar tune. The guys get right back into action with the ballsy and in-your-face Hard Rock stomper “The American Dream”. It’s a crunchy party-rocker with a chorus that sounds like something Jack Ponti could have come up with. It’s a good tune but unfortunately it never really takes off properly.
As a nice breather, the bluesy instrumental ‘”79″ brings out a Gary Moore influence and a cosy atmosphere on a steady beat. The main guitar-line is gorgeous but the tune feels a bit out of place here. On a way heavier note “God By Your Side” is again metal-fueled, dark and even ominous with a bit of a modern touch. It’s rhythmically punchy with raw and gritty riffage and holds a beefy refrain that’s catchy yet not hit-laden. It’s a deep cut and a damn good one. The album closes with another slow, heavy and Metal influenced number in “Sailor And The Desert Sun”. The tempo is slow with a fist-in-the-air and headbang-friendly beat and meaty guitars. The verse holds back some while the melodic and hooky refrain nails itself to the brain right from hello. Brilliant.
With the new album Wig Wam follows the path that they started with Never Say Die and actually takes the metal-influences, the heaviness and the dark-edged atmospheres up another level without losing the striking hooks they’ve always been known for. Wig Wam shows with this record – just like they did with the predecessor – that they mean business and are here to stay. Never mind the glammy outfits and the corny stage-names (lose them, please) because Wig Wam are so much more than that. This band delivers the goods in every aspect – killer songs with hooks to die for, great musical performances and a beefy production. There’s really nothing here not to dig. So dig!
8/10
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Tracklist:
1. Out Of The Dark
2. High ‘N Dry
3. Forevermore
4. Bad Luck Chuck
5. Uppercut Shazam
6. Ghosting You
7. The Purpose
8. The American Dream
9. ’79
10. God By Your Side
11. Sailor And The Desert Sun
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