Out Now: The Debut Album from Wolfgang Van Halen is Here — and ‘Mammoth WVH’ Delivers on the Promise (Listen)

Previewed over the past few months with a series of impressive singles, Mammoth WVH — the album project helmed by Wolfgang Van Halen, son of the late Eddie Van Halen — has finally arrived, and it’s a powerhouse rock and roll record unlike any other this year.

M A M M O T H W V H

Available NOWhttps://t.co/7vQ5D8z65u pic.twitter.com/yyTMR3CTOO

— Wolf Van Halen 🐺 🚐 🙌 (@WolfVanHalen) June 11, 2021

Truly a personal project for Wolfgang, who wrote all of the music and performs all of the instrumentation and vocals throughout the album’s 14 songs, it showcases a particularly adept songwriting process, not to mention some serious vocal chops (check the soaring chorus on album opener, “Mr. Ed” and guitar riffs that would make his father beam with pride).

Click here to pick up Mammoth WVH on CD from our Rock Cellar Store
Click here to pick up Mammoth WVH on 2-LP from our Rock Cellar Store

On an album of roaring anthems, “Epiphany” is one of the most immediate, Wolfgang adopting the sort of vocal flourish reminiscent of bands like Shinedown:

Will you wake me? I’m falling down
But I’ve never felt so alive
Will you hate me when it’s all done?
‘Cause I’ve never felt more alive

The album’s promotional cycle launched in earnest with “Distance,” a heartfelt song Wolfgang shared as a tribute to his father. When it premiered in early 2020, it hit No. 1 on the rock radio charts, an affecting song of raw emotion:

“Don’t Back Down” was another recent track shared from the album, and now has a full-band live performance video to showcase the Mammoth WVH band:

This project had been in the works for a while, but news of his father’s cancer progression halted it for the time being:

Wolfgang Van Halen has been preparing to release music from his solo band Mammoth WVH for some time. That plan was altered when his father and guitar icon Eddie Van Halen called him and told him his cancer had returned. Wolfgang decided to put everything on hold to be with his father through his battle.

Explained Wolfgang Van Halen in a statement:

“As my pop continued to struggle with various health issues, I was imagining what my life would be like without him and how terribly I’d miss him. While the song is incredibly personal, I think anyone can relate to the idea of having a profound loss in their life.”

“I never intended ‘Distance’ to be the very first piece of music people would hear from me, but I also thought my father would be here to celebrate its release. This is for him. I love and miss you, Pop.”

With Mammoth WVH, Wolfgang Van Halen truly steps out on his own, asserting his place in the hard rock scene. It’s a fascinating and relentlessly impressive introductory statement from an artist to be reckoned with for years to come.

Catch Mammoth WVH on the road with Guns N’ Roses on GnR’s recently rescheduled 2021 North American tour dates — click here for more info.

Listen to the album below.