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Out with the old, in with the new.
Notice something different from this album cover? Some of you eagle-eyed fans will notice that a certain 3 letters have gone missing from the artist’s name. That’s right – from this day forth, Wolfgang Van Halen’s solo band will now be simply called Mammoth, instead of its former name of Mammoth WVH. But why the change?
It’s no secret at this point – Wolfgang Van Halen is the son of the late and legendary Eddie Van Halen from the band… uhh… Van Halen. Obviously. If you have listened to Wolfgang’s previous 2 solo albums, it will become abundantly clear that he has got his father’s musical intuition and a pure gift for music in general. His namesake is a topic that he himself has addressed on social media countless times – often going so far as to jokingly troll the haters, fighting back with smart, snarky remarks. People are quick to make comparisons to him and Eddie, which will, more often than not, unfairly shape their perceptions of both himself as well as his music. But here, on his 3rd offering, ‘The End,’ Wolfgang is here to prove to the haters that he is more than just a surname – he is a bona fide rock genius.
Wolfgang kicks the album off with One of a Kind, a track that starts off with a thunderous drum pattern, coupled with a balanced mix of acoustic and electric guitars, before throwing you headfirst into a big tempo change that fuels the song further. It’s a song that Dave Grohl would be kicking himself over not having written earlier, and one that would take even the most casual listener by surprise! Wolfgang then leads us into a breakdown where he tells us “You’re not pretty when you’re talking like that / You’re not pretty when you’re walking like that / We know that you’re better than that” before ripping into the biggest solo you’ll hear on the entire album, one that helps build the foundations on what is easily the best intro song he’s written yet. The album’s lead single, The End, follows this and begins with a frenzy of Eddie-styled tap guitar that melts your face, before it turns a corner and takes on a new groove (quite literally) with its delectable rhythms. Honestly, if you can listen to this track without pulling a stank face (especially after THAT slap bass section), then you deserve a medal, frankly!
It’s important to note that, stylistically, this album is much more different when compared to his 2 previous self-titled records. One recurring genre that Wolfgang elements perfectly is 90s grunge, which he showcases in particular on Selfish. Beginning with a very loose and wailing introduction, it transcends into a gritty chorus that sounds like it would set off crowds worldwide. Wolfgang’s drumming in the outro, particularly the half-time-to-normal-time-to-double time flow, is absolutely phenomenal, and somehow makes the instrumentation sound more evil than it did in the intro! Another track that is pure grunge-infused is Happy – it uses a chord sequence that is incredibly unconventional, almost monochromatic, but it works so well and adds to that loose and gritty feel. The solo is drenched in that classic Smells Like Teen Spirit sound, and the “Yeah!” yell at the end of the track feels like a scream of relief, as the storm has passed and calm has been restored.
Hats off to Wolfgang on I Really Wanna, though. This song was absolutely insane to listen to for the first time, and sounds just as tasty on the 10th! A single, loud “Woo!” kicks things off as it transcends into a crushing riff that is tuned all the way down. Its chorus is very simplistic yet highly memorable, as it only consists of “Oh, I really want to fuck with you” which, to be honest, I was not expecting from the title! At the very end, you can hear a pair of drumsticks collide with the floor, and the track is over. Just like that. Pure rock and roll.
It all has to end sometime, though, and the finale on ‘The End’ is the fantastic All in Good Time. Backed by a healthy acoustic and electric guitar mix (like the album’s intro), the track serves as a perfect ending for a perfect record. Its chorus of “All in good time / I need you here, I feel that I’ll be left behind / All in good time / I see it all so clearly now that I’ve survived” is sung so majestically and is supported by some luscious harmonies – it genuinely stopped me in my tracks upon my first listen. Of all the choruses on this album, this is by far the strongest and most cohesive – it fully deserves all of the praise it can get. And if I’m being honest, it really should’ve been a single.
Simply put, this 3rd record is excellent. It goes far beyond the scope of what I would’ve expected going in (and, I’m sure, far beyond everyone else’s expectations of it too!) to become Wolfgang’s strongest effort yet. Every song on the album is interesting and unique – which is what makes a record timeless, in my opinion. As well as this, the fact that Wolfgang plays every instrument himself on every song is another reason to love him and his craft – his multitalented musical aura oozes effortlessly into your ears and truly stays put for the record’s duration. Even though this album is called ‘The End’, it’s clear to see that this is, actually, just ‘The Beginning.’
‘The End’ is available now, more information HERE.
Review – Joe Richardson
Portrait photo credits – Travis Shinn
Live image – Callum Scott
Mammoth 2025 The End Tour Dates
Oct 31 – Rancho Mirage, CA – Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa
Nov 1 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
Nov 4 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues
Nov 5 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
Nov 7 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
Nov 8 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
Nov 9 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
Nov 11 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
Nov 12 – Boston, MA – Citizens House of Blues
Nov 14 – Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater
Nov 15 – Pittsburgh, PA – Roxian Theatre
Nov 18 – Cleveland, OH – The Agora
Nov 19 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit
Nov 20 – Columbus, OH – KEMBA Live!
Nov 22 – Onamia, MN – Grand Casino Mille Lacs Event Center
Nov 23 – Green Bay, WI – EPIC Event Center
Nov 25 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory at The District
Nov 26 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues
Nov 28 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
Nov 29 – La Vista, NE – The Astro
Dec 2 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
Dec 3 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
Dec 6 – Tempe, AZ – Marquee Theatre
Dec 7 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues Anaheim
More information on all tickets and VIP passes can be found at www.mammoth.band. Stay tuned for international touring news.
