So many beloved rock and metal acts found their third album to be their most defining: Metallica’s Master of Puppets, Iron Maiden’s The Number of the Beast, and Deftones’ White Pony. I got the same impression when I first listened to The End. I didn’t want to compare Wolfgang Van Halen to anyone; I just wanted to hear him. What I heard was an album that doesn’t chase trends or nostalgia; the ten songs sound like a man who knows exactly what he wants to say and how he wants to say it.
Wolfie’s confidence stands out throughout the whole thing. You can tell he has nothing left to prove. He’s not trying to be louder, faster, or flashier than anyone else. He’s just writing from an honest place, and that gives the album real weight. From the opening track, “One of a Kind,” to the closer, “All In Good Time,” Wolfgang plays with confident precision without really showing off. Sure, this guy can shred like few others, but those moments have more emotion to them than technique.
The three singles released are “The End,” “The Spell,” and “I Really Wanna.” The music video for “The End” was released a while ago, and if you haven’t seen it yet, you have to check it out. It’s a full-on horror show that features cameos by Danny Trejo, Slash, Myles Kennedy, and Valerie Bertinelli. The second single, “The Spell,” is really groovy and features some killer riffs, both guitar and bass. The promotional single, “I Really Wanna,” is one of my favorites musically. Still, it is the only song on the album I don’t feel comfortable playing around my young kids due to its frequent use of strong language. Another favorite song of mine is “Better Off.” It’s slower-paced, but heavy and intense.
I’m a fan. I’ve listened to each of Mammoth’s albums countless times, enjoyed watching him open for Shinedown, Alter Bridge, and Metallica, and bawled my eyes out watching his episode on MTV’s Behind the Music. It amazes me that, with the loss he’s walked through, the criticism he’s faced, and the expectations that come with his last name, he finds the strength to bear his heart through his music. But the songs on The End aren’t bitter. You hear peace, maturity, and focus. Despite its name, The End doesn’t sound like a goodbye. It sounds like freedom from pressure, comparison, and the need to prove anything.
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