Mammoth WVH - Mammoth WVH

Mammoth WVH is the self-titled debut album by Mammoth WVH.  The band consists of one member - Wolfgang Van Halen (hence the WVH) who plays all the instruments on the record. So, vocals, guitar, drums and bass.  Bit like Dave Grohl did on the first Foo Fighters record.  Although this is Wolfgang's first album with his band; Previously he appeared on a Van Halen album "A different kind of Truth" in 2011 on bass as well as playing bass with Van Halen on tour.  He has also played bass on tour with Tremonti.  So, he has had plenty of time learning and honing his skills with people and bands who in Van Halen's case are a huge band and in Tremonti's case, he shared the stage with arguably one of the most talented guitarists in his generation (Mark Tremonti).
 
This album has been 6 years in the making as Wolfgang started to record the album in 2015 and finished it in 2019. But at the same time, he was playing with Van Halen until the band disbanded in 2020 due to his Dad's death.  Later in 2020 the first single was released from this album called "Distance".  I caught on to this track as it came out and really was impressed with it.  The vocals and the guitar were amazing.  Such a sweeping, anthemic song.  Ever since its release Wolfgang has had to face comparisons to his dad and he reacts to those people quite publicly on social media.  But as the singles came out such as "You're to blame" and "Think it over" it was clear to me that Wolfgang was doing his own thing here.  I do think the likes of his dad and Mark Tremonti were influences not surprisingly having toured, recorded with those bands.  But everyone has their influences.
 
So, I was quite excited for this album coming out.  I have now listened to the album through 4 or 5 times and I am left slightly disappointed with it.  There is no doubt to me that the songs are good, and Wolfgang deserves to be talked about in his own right. He deserves his place in the spotlight rather than "Being the guy who had a famous Dad".  But the reason I am slightly disappointed is not because the songs aren't good, it's just they all sound the same.  They all seem to follow the same formula.  With the singing, all the vocals are delivered in the same way.  Sure, the guitar work shows off his potential and there are some nice solos on here.  But more variety would be welcome. And I don't mean he needs to go off genre hoping between songs like Wolf Alice.  When I listen to albums this year by the likes of the Foo Fighters, The Offspring, Greta Van Fleet, Royal Blood and Mason Hill etc.  These albums offer so much more in terms of pace and temp changes and really taking you on a journey.

 Overall, I say this is not a bad album by any means.  But for me it's too much of the same. I really think Wolfgang would benefit getting more band members to help him out to be more creative in the song writing department.  But listening to the singles as one-off songs its clear he is very talented and has an exciting future ahead of him.

 

Wolf Alice - Blue Weekend

 

Although I saw Wolf Alice support the Foo Fighters a few years ago, it wasn’t until the second single from the band’s 3^rd album came out that I really stood up and paid attention to them. That single is called “Smile” and is an absolute beast of song which is so much fun. From the bass intro to the absolute monster riff which comes between the punchy versus delivered with attitude with Ellie’s vocals. Then you have the soaring chorus which in complete contrast is almost angelic.  Such a fantastic song and this really drew me into the band.

From listening to that song, I went back and listened to the first song released from the album which was “The Last man on earth”.  This is not only completely different to “Smile”; but on further inspection compared to their first 2 albums “My Love is Cool” and “Visions of a Life”. This song is different to anything they have done before. Really it is a piano ballad.  What impresses me the most about this is the fact that it is the first time they have used the piano so dominantly in a song, and not only is it good enough to be put on the album. But it is so good that they release it as the first single.  The way the song builds up throughout is on point, the strings are amazing and once again Ellie’s vocals are fantastic.

From here 3^rd single “No hard feelings” takes the band in yet another direction with an acoustic ballad “No hard feelings” which feels miles away from “Smile” and “The Last Man on earth” showing off the sheer versatility of the band like never before. The last track to be released before the album came out was “How Can I make it ok?” another great track with a synth led intro.  There are moments in this which remind me of Haim in the style of which Ellie sings some of the vocals. But this is only parts of the song.  It really is the biggest compliment to Haim to have a band in the 2010s who are influencing bands like Wolf Alice.  Wolf Alice are by no means ripping Haim off here. It’s almost doing these style of vocals certain parts as a respect to their peers.

Yet another great song but how do all these songs fit on an album?  I must admit I found the first few listens of “Blue Weekend” quite difficult. Maybe because I was doing other things at the time so wasn’t absolutely fully focused.  But it did seem to jump about a bit in terms of tempo and pace.  But after listening more it’s something I am getting used to and starting to appreciate more.  The diversity of the songs is really something to behold on this album.  “Feeling Myself” is quite stripped back and the drums in the core of the song remind me of Massive Attack’s “Teardrop”.  “Safe from Heartbreak” is a wonderful acoustic track where Ellie’s vocals have an Abba type feel to them which is never a bad thing.

The intro song “The Beach” and outro song “The Beach II” didn’t really hit for me initially. I was looking to see if they connected in anyway apart from the title of the tracks.  Musically it doesn’t really feel like it and seems that they are more connected lyrically.  The intro is growing on me though and I do like the way it builds up.  When thinking of track placement though I can’t help but think that due to the sheer epicness of “The last man on earth” maybe that should have been either the first or last track.  Bands normally put their best tracks in prominent places on the album but “The Last man on earth” is track 9 which would normal be a place for an album track that sneaked onto the album. But I guess that this shows the sheer strength of the album.

Elsewhere on the album “Play the Greatest Hits” is another great and fun song.  Without doubt the heaviest song on the album.  And when you look at the album, it is really this song and “Smile” are the only really heavy moments on the album. But I can imagine “Play the Greatest Hits” would really go down a storm live as you can really bounce around to it in totally care free way.  This leaves “Delicious things” and “Lipstick on the glass” as the 2 tracks left I haven’t talked about.  Certainly, gentler songs sitting at tracks 2 and 3.  But still just as epic as the rest of the songs on the album.

And overall, what an absolute corker of an album this really is.  It’s taken many listens now to fully appreciate it as I did the singles that led up to the release.  The London based band for me have delivered an album which could put them further into the big time than they already are. Already set for a headline appearance at Latitude festival you would think and hope it’s the first of many headline sets.  Also, it feels like the song “Play the Greatest Hits” could become ironic. As over 3 albums now, unlike many bands, they have enough amazing songs already to form a greatest hits album. But let’s hope it’s not and they keep this hot streak they are on going into album number 4.  But for now, we have plenty to sink our teeth into with this.