| Written by Alex Stojanovic TRACK LISTING Mr. Ed Horribly Right Epiphany Don't Back Down Resolve You'll Be The One Mammoth Circles The Big Picture Think It Over You're To Blame Feel Stone Distance (Bonus track) Talk & Walk (Bonus track) Release Date: June 11, 2021 Label: EX1 Records Website: www.mammothwvh.com |  Wolfgang Van Halen - All instruments |
Near the end of 2020, the very untimely passing of Eddie Van Halen sent shockwaves across the music community, reverberating among everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him or were touched by his music. However, there's no doubting that no one took it harder than Wolfgang Van Halen. Ever since the last Van Halen tour in 2015, Wolf has been focusing on his own project, writing his own songs for a solo album, and got around to recording it between 2019 and 2020. After Eddie's passing, Wolf started teasing his solo album, and it has finally arrived. Taking inspiration from his father, he named his solo band Mammoth, which was Van Halen's original name, and just added his initials at the end. He also made the smart concious decision to not make his music sound like a carbon copy of Van Halen. However, there are some moments where you can hear him paying tribute to his father.
It's also not very often you hear an album where one person tracked all the instruments, and that's exactly the case with this album. With Wolf being multi-talented, he tracked all the vocals, guitars, bass and drums himself. The album shows many sides to Wolf's evolution as a musician. Songs like "Mr. Ed", "Think It Over", "Mammoth", "You're To Blame" and "You'll Be The One" are just some of the standout tracks with addicting hooks, big riffs and compelling vocals.
However, the most powerful song is the bonus track "Distance", which is a tribute to Eddie. Anyone that has heard the song or seen the video for it will certainly agree with me. The song makes me think about the bond I have with my own father, who I'm really thankful is still here and as healthy as ever. There's people in my life who I'm really close to and I love dearly, but in all honesty, there's something about the bond between me and my dad that is hard to put into words. He and I are pretty much brothers. It's honestly hard to listen to the song without the heartstrings getting tugged, and the feeling of tears wanting to start forming. This song should've definitely been included on the main record.
My only issues with the album are that a couple of tracks could've been left off. Examples are "Feel", "Circles" and "Resolve", simply because I didn't feel that they were as strong as most of the other tracks. The other slight issue is that because Michael "Elvis" Baskette handled production duties, the production quality is exactly the same as you would hear on both a Tremonti and Alter Bridge album. If you're coming into the Mammoth WVH album blindfolded, but are familiar with Mark Tremonti's work with his solo band and Alter Bridge, you may think that you're listening to either one of those bands.
To summarize, came out of the gate swinging with a really strong and solid album that immediately makes him stand out as his own artist, as opposed to being one of these guys that will just be referred to as the offspring of a legend that's living in his shadow. Wolf, we know your dad heard your music while he was still here, but now that the album is out, and you got your live start by opening for Guns 'N Roses, somewhere, he's looking down on you with a giant smile on his face and saying "That's my boy!"
Highs: "Mr. Ed", "Think It Over", "Mammoth", "You're To Blame" and "You'll Be The One".
Lows: A handful of tracks could've been left off. The production quality is exactly the same as a Tremonti or Alter Bridge album.
It's also not very often you hear an album where one person tracked all the instruments, and that's exactly the case with this album. With Wolf being multi-talented, he tracked all the vocals, guitars, bass and drums himself. The album shows many sides to Wolf's evolution as a musician. Songs like "Mr. Ed", "Think It Over", "Mammoth", "You're To Blame" and "You'll Be The One" are just some of the standout tracks with addicting hooks, big riffs and compelling vocals.
However, the most powerful song is the bonus track "Distance", which is a tribute to Eddie. Anyone that has heard the song or seen the video for it will certainly agree with me. The song makes me think about the bond I have with my own father, who I'm really thankful is still here and as healthy as ever. There's people in my life who I'm really close to and I love dearly, but in all honesty, there's something about the bond between me and my dad that is hard to put into words. He and I are pretty much brothers. It's honestly hard to listen to the song without the heartstrings getting tugged, and the feeling of tears wanting to start forming. This song should've definitely been included on the main record.
My only issues with the album are that a couple of tracks could've been left off. Examples are "Feel", "Circles" and "Resolve", simply because I didn't feel that they were as strong as most of the other tracks. The other slight issue is that because Michael "Elvis" Baskette handled production duties, the production quality is exactly the same as you would hear on both a Tremonti and Alter Bridge album. If you're coming into the Mammoth WVH album blindfolded, but are familiar with Mark Tremonti's work with his solo band and Alter Bridge, you may think that you're listening to either one of those bands.
To summarize, came out of the gate swinging with a really strong and solid album that immediately makes him stand out as his own artist, as opposed to being one of these guys that will just be referred to as the offspring of a legend that's living in his shadow. Wolf, we know your dad heard your music while he was still here, but now that the album is out, and you got your live start by opening for Guns 'N Roses, somewhere, he's looking down on you with a giant smile on his face and saying "That's my boy!"
Highs: "Mr. Ed", "Think It Over", "Mammoth", "You're To Blame" and "You'll Be The One".
Lows: A handful of tracks could've been left off. The production quality is exactly the same as a Tremonti or Alter Bridge album.
FINAL RATING
| | |
RSS Feed
