Review MAMMOTH WVH ‘Mammoth II’

His father, Eddie van Halen, was one of the most influential guitar heroes in rock and metal. Since a few years, his son Wolfgang decided to embark on a musical journey too which included with the formation of Mammoth WVH a crucial step after having been a member of Tremonti, the solo outlet of the Alter Bridge guitarist.

The successful Mammoth WVH debut was launched in June 2021 and after having been on a tour as support act for Alter Bridge, Wolfgang van Halen announced the sophomore record called ‘Mammoth II’.

Recorded at the famous 5150 Studio and with Michael ‘Elvis’ Baskette at the helm, the new Mammoth WVH album shines brightly. A total of ten songs reflects the greatness of rock music which is perfectly interpreted by the multi-instrumentalist. As on the debut, the new longplayer is a one-man project too. Van Halen played all instruments as well as he is the songwriter and singer.

‘Right?’ is the rocking opener that sets the scene for the other nine songs on the album. A certain level of hardness, combined with a great sense for melodies, that is what characterizes the first song on the album. ‘Like a Pastime’ is next and shows a different aspect of ‘Mammoth II’. A straight beat and an atmospheric approach differentiate the tune from the opener while still reflecting the sound of Mammoth WVH.

Photo: Travis Shinn

A solid drum beat kicks off “Another Celebration at the End of the World”. The thundering rocker is another proof of the versatility of “Mammoth II”. With a strong spirit of rock acting as the clue between songs, none of the tracks on this longplayer sound too similar. Each of the songs unveils its own identity under the umbrella of Mammoth WVH, and the emotional “Take a Bow” is another example of the breadth of sound.

‘Optimist’ is a bass-driven rock song with a strong groove, while ‘I’m Right’ comes as a straight rocker with some chart potential. Calmer and touching, that is ‘Waiting’ before ‘Better Than You’, with its Beatles references, ends a great record.

Mammoth WVH released with ‘Mammoth II’ an excellently crafted rock album that strengthens the musician’s own identity. This album proves that Mammoth WVH has much more to offer than just a big name.