WIG WAM: Never Say Die (MELODIC HARD ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

And yet another reformation that we no longer expected! When Wig Wam split in 2014, we had seen Glam leave to form the very good Ammunition with Erik Martensson (Eclipse, W.E.T., etc...) while Teeny and Flash joined Jorn. However, the quartet came back on the stage in 2019 to participate in a few festivals and it is therefore a new opus logically entitled "Never Say Die" which comes to validate this resurrection of the leaders of the Norwegian glam-FM.

The 11 tracks of this new offering proves that Wig Wam is still a big shot when it comes to energetic melodies. The unstoppable choruses follow one another and the particular recipe of the Oslo gang is still going strong. First of all, there's the delicate balance between the power of riffs that come straight out of metal, melodies and catchphrases typical of melodic hard rock, and a festive attitude characteristic of glam. All this is carried by a rhythm section without flaw, a Teeny that multiplies sharp riffs and luminous solos, and a Glam with undeniable charisma and a grain of voice not unlike a certain David Coverdale (Whitesnake).

Following this guideline, the titles are varied without losing the coherence of the whole. Launched by 'The Second Crusade', a cinematic introduction, the eponymous title is an unstoppable single combining power and dynamism with an euphoric chorus. Second extract from this opus, 'Kilimanjaro' is just as catchy, borrowing a more classic-rock voice with Bon Jovi accents and the scent of adulterated alcohol. And if it is difficult to extract some tracks from an ensemble without any real weakness, we will however note the powerful and aptly named 'Hypnotised', the sharp and reptilian 'Where Does It Hurt' and the monumental and bluesy 'Hard Love' with their Whitesnake-like touches. The ballad 'My Kaleidoscope Ark' takes us back to the great era of Cinderella and Poison while the punk 'Call Of The Wild' is more surprising, as is the instrumental 'Northbound'.

It is on a very 70's 'Silver Lining' swinging between the Beatles and Led Zeppelin that the whole ends in a soothing and positive atmosphere concluded by a luminous solo. With his energetic mix, Wig Wam marks the beginning of this melodic year with his imprint. In these troubled times, this delivery combining power and good humor brings a beneficial freshness that will allow amateurs, and others, to recharge their batteries, and Norwegians to directly take back their place on the top of the genre. - Official website

WIG WAM

NEVER SAY DIE

FRONTIERS RECORDS

MELODIC HARD ROCK