Mammoth WVH (album)

Mammoth WVH
Studio album by
Mammoth WVH
ReleasedJune 11, 2021
Recorded2013–2018, 2020
Studio5150 Studios
Genre
Length58:08
62:45 (Japanese pressing)
LabelEX1
ProducerMichael Baskette
Mammoth WVH chronology
Mammoth WVH
(2021) 		Mammoth II
(2023)
Singles from Mammoth WVH
  1. "Distance"
    Released: November 16, 2020
  2. "You’re to Blame"
    Released: February 11, 2021
  3. "Don't Back Down"
    Released: March 26, 2021
  4. "Think It Over"
    Released: March 26, 2021
  5. "Feel"
    Released: April 23, 2021
  6. "Mammoth"
    Released: May 21, 2021
  7. "Epiphany"
    Released: December 7, 2021
  8. "Talk & Walk"
    Released: September 16, 2022
  9. "Goodbye"
    Released: November 11, 2022

Mammoth WVH is the debut studio album by American rock band Mammoth WVH. The album was released on June 11, 2021, by EX1 Records.[1][2]

Background

The album's origins can be traced back to 2013 after Wolfgang Van Halen finished the A Different Kind of Truth Tour with Van Halen and began working on his own music.[3] The album was completed in 2018.[4]

For the opening track, "Mr. Ed", Wolfgang used the original Electro-Harmonix Micro-Synthesizer that his father, Eddie Van Halen, used for the 1981 Van Halen track "Sunday Afternoon in the Park".[5]

Wolfgang used his father's original Frankenstrat guitar for the solos on "Mammoth" and "Feel".[6]

The album cover features a painting by American painter John Brosio of a giant crab terrorizing a parking lot. When asked about the significance of the crab, Wolfgang Van Halen responded on Twitter with a screenshot of the synonyms of the word "mammoth", further stating that "We all know it takes being a Van Halen to understand that the word mammoth means 'big.'"[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic79/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
ConsequenceB+[9]
Kerrang!3/5[10]

Mammoth WVH received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 79, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 4 reviews.[8]

It was elected by Loudwire as the 28th best rock/metal album of 2021.[11] In 2021, the single "Distance" was nominated for Best Rock Song for the 64th Grammy Awards.[12]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Wolfgang Van Halen[13]

Mammoth WVH track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Mr. Ed"3:44
2."Horribly Right"3:39
3."Epiphany"4:28
4."Don't Back Down"3:45
5."Resolve"5:03
6."You'll Be the One"3:01
7."Mammoth"4:30
8."Circles"3:58
9."The Big Picture"3:15
10."Think It Over"3:55
11."You're to Blame"4:06
12."Feel"3:57
13."Stone"6:33
14."Distance"4:12
Total length:58:08
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleLength
15."Talk & Walk"4:37
Total length:62:45
Digital deluxe edition
No.TitleLength
15."Talk & Walk"4:35
16."As Long As You’re Not You"3:41
17."Goodbye"4:20

Personnel

Credits for Mammoth WVH adapted from liner notes.[13]

Mammoth WVH

Production

Charts

Singles

Title Peak chart positions
US Main.
"Distance" 1
"Don't Back Down" 1
"Epiphany" 9

References

  1. ^ "Mammoth WVH by Mammoth WVH on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  2. ^ Hiatt, Brian (2021-02-11). "Wolfgang Van Halen Previews Debut Album 'Mammoth WVH'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  3. ^ "Wolfgang Van Halen Drops Latest Mammoth WVH Track 'Feel'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  4. ^ Kielty, Martin (3 July 2018). "Wolfgang Van Halen Completes His Solo Album". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  5. ^ "Wolfgang Van Halen On Including Van Halen's 'Sunday Afternoon In The Park' Synth On Mammoth WVH Song 'Mr. Ed'". Van Halen News Desk. 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  6. ^ Astley-Brown, Michael (2021-05-26). "Wolfgang Van Halen used his father's original Frankenstein guitar on the upcoming Mammoth WVH album". guitarworld. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  7. ^ DiVita, Joe (May 26, 2021). "WVH Has Best Responses to Questions About Huge Crab on Solo Album". Loudwire. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Mammoth WVH by Mammoth WVH Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  9. ^ "Wolfgang Van Halen Forges His Own Musical Path on Mammoth WVH's Self-Titled Debut: Review". Consequence. 2021-06-04. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  10. ^ "Album review: Mammoth WVH – Mammoth WVH". Kerrang!. 2021-06-09. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  11. ^ "The 45 Best Rock + Metal Albums of 2021". Loudwire. Townsquare Media. December 10, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  12. ^ "Mammoth WVH Song 'Distance' Nominated For Grammy Award". Van Halen News Desk. 2021-11-23. Retrieved 2022-02-06.
  13. ^ a b (2021). "Mammoth WVH liner notes". In Mammoth WVH [CD booklet]. EX1.
  14. ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums Chart: Week of June 26, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  15. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Mammoth WVH – Mammoth WVH" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  16. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  17. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Mammoth WVH – Mammoth WVH". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
  18. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  19. ^ "Billboard 200 Chart: Week of June 26, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  20. ^ "Independent Albums Chart: Week of June 26, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  21. ^ "Hard Rock Albums Chart: Week of June 26, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  22. ^ "Top Rock Albums Chart: Week of June 26, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved June 22, 2021.
  23. ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2022.