Wig Wam-Wall Street

Frontiers
2012

Norway's WigWam return with their first new album in two years. Their last album "Non stop rock -n roll" received varying responses with some people praising it and others being left cold. I found it to be uneven although it definitely leaned towards the good side. For those hoping the new album would be more consistent-well, I'll get to that. This band is not deep and they do not play highly involved tracks. This is simple anthems that are big on volume and melody but lack skill and depth. However they have proved over the years that they can pull this style off better than most bands. They know how to write some catchy songs. The new albums begins strong with the explosive title track and "OMG! I wish I had a gun" blasting on. The pace slows down with "Victory is sweet" but the momentum keeps going because this one offers up sweet and smooth melodies. "The bigger the better" falls somewhere between decent and filler. Even though it runs just over two and a half minutes it still felt like they work out enough before recording it. "Bleeding daylight" comes with the band trying to sound serious. Despite a wall of squealing solos this still sounds stretched thin. You are losing me guys, so what do they come up with next? Yep, a ballad. "Tides will turn" tries to be slick and it's not sickening, but it's very dull. "Wrong can feel so right" comes on with slowed down groove that eventually plays to the band's strength and they run with it. They hit the big choruses and the album is beginning to get back on track. "One million enemies" comes bouncing on big and loud yet it never takes the time to catch it's breath. It also never does enough to hook me or establish itself. "Try my body on" begins promising enough with a heavy charge, but half way through I am staring at the running time waiting for it to end because it's just alright. "Natural High" goes a different route with a slow winding path leading to the build-up. The change of pace is adequate, but the results are just decent. The albums ends with "Things money can't buy. Yes, which is a slow instrumental the revolves around a lot of guitar squeals that are stretched out, but nothing special. Not a bad song, but not a great choice to close the album. So it's another mixed bag that's about half good solid hard rock and the other half is average or just plain filler.

Clash of the albums covers

Big vehicles and guitars is the theme today and it's an old one against a new one.



Def Leppard-On through the night

vs.



Wig Wam-Non stop rock 'n roll


***Which cover do you choose?

Wig Wam-Non stop rock and roll

Frontiers
2010

Norway's Wig Wam have been knocking out their blend or AOR tinged hard rock for some time. Their latest release isn't a lot different. It's catchy, semi-sugary hard rock with some definite nods to Journey, Def Leppard and Bon Jovi. However I'll be darned if it isn't one of the catchiest albums I have come upon in some time. They just know how to knock out the kinds of songs that are going to stick in your head and have the choruses going through your brain for hours after the song ends. The lyrics are cliche as are the topics, but it's smooth and you are likely to be hooked on it rather quickly. I must say that I was not as big on their ballads as I was on the more rock oriented tracks. The ballads tended to start fine and the vocals were good, but they fail to build any real steam or try to utilize building any momentum. The rock songs do more than make-up for the slower tracks. Sometimes sugary hard rock is just fluff that I can pass up and know that I didn't miss out, but other entries like this one will have me coming back for more.