Wig Wamania – Fireworks [uk]
“WIG WAMANIA” Wig Wam Album review by Dawn Irwin
It was with excitement and a little trepidation that I opened the package from Norway. I had only heard two tracks from this album and couldn’t wait for the follow up, despite the nagging concern of how the boys were ever going to top their “perfect” first album. Well, they have. There is better production, and they’ve added an extra kick to their seventies influenced style of melodic rock that will please those who are more appreciative of the, shall we say, heavier side of this genre. The title track Wig Wamania is a Rocky Horror-esque spoken intro. This is followed by a gutsy drum and bass tribal rhythm and guitar intro which explodes into a crunching guitar riff that will get heads banging. Rock My Ride is the ultimate album opener, and also opens the shows on the current tour. Featuring a classic Teeny solo, this track has a much heavier sound with a great chorus and extraordinarily high harmonies. Slave to your Love has a pop feel with a rock and roll backbone – a classic power ballad in fine Scorpions tradition, with a hook so catchy it will have you singing the words even if you didn’t know them before. Gonna Get you Someday is the big stadium rocker from the Norwegian film Lange Flate Ballær (Long Flat Balls – a football term, apparently). Features an a-cappella intro similar to In My Dreams. This went to Number 2 in Norway. Catchy verse lines with wonderfully tongue in cheek lyrics such as “my room mate was businessman … killed his friend with a frying pan”. I LOVE this song. Mid-tempo Bygone Zone doffs the cap to Def Leppard circa Hysteria. All about forgetting to appreciate what you have until it’s gone. Great melody and a power ballad chorus with a passion-drenched vocal from Glam. Dare Devil Heat is all about life on the road and always having to race against time. This is another heavier track with a feral guitar riff from Teeny underlying huge screams from Glam. Guaranteed to get you jumping around pumping your fist into the air. Kill My Rock ‘n’ Roll is the Glam Rock number for this album with influences from Slade and The Sweet, and a riff that is somewhat reminiscent of a current British catsuit-wearing combo! Another catchy hook with soaring high harmonies. I wondered whether Teeny was going to be able to top instrumentals Erection and The Drop from the first album, and with The Riddle I am not disappointed. I had visions of this being played at a party and after a couple of drinks not being able to resist doing my Michael Flatley impression (no, Dawn, don’t even go there). With strong Celtic influences, delivered at breakneck speed, he then proceeds to build layer upon layer of theme and harmony, pace and intensity. After a quieter interlude, and a repeat of the main theme, the unexpected ending leaves you baying for more. At the End of the Day is a huge production number which showcases the band’s skills not only in composition but also with orchestration. This piece would sit happily alongside the best that Aerosmith and Bon Jovi have to offer with, in my opinion, Glam’s best vocals to date. This is definitely one to get the lighters out for, and has “Our Song” written all over it. I can foresee this being played at weddings in years to come. A Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl Like You features an opening riff which is extremely reminiscent of My Sharona. However, the intro riff is the only similarity and it develops into a catchy rocker very much in Wig Wam’s own style that will have you singing along behind the wheel. Can’t Get Her Out of My Bed oozes all the sleaze of the LA Strip in the 80’s. This song’s about getting caught with your clothes off by HER biker boyfriend, and features such delightful lyrics as “giving her bone’s gonna send me straight to hell”. ‘Nuff said. Fantastic! For the album closer, a music box plays the Brahms Lullaby over which a child’s voice sings “twinkle twinkle little star, heavy metal’s who you are”. This is a fabulously tongue in cheek trad metal diatribe pointing a nail polished finger of fun at those who think that, in spite of their tender years, wearing a studded jacket makes them “hard”. Features high octane primal screams that Rob Halford would be proud of. Classic! I know it’s only June, but this will in all probability be my album of the year. An absolute must-have for anyone who still believes that fun belongs in rock and roll.
It was with excitement and a little trepidation that I opened the package from Norway. I had only heard two tracks from this album and couldn’t wait for the follow up, despite the nagging concern of how the boys were ever going to top their “perfect” first album. Well, they have. There is better production, and they’ve added an extra kick to their seventies influenced style of melodic rock that will please those who are more appreciative of the, shall we say, heavier side of this genre. The title track Wig Wamania is a Rocky Horror-esque spoken intro. This is followed by a gutsy drum and bass tribal rhythm and guitar intro which explodes into a crunching guitar riff that will get heads banging. Rock My Ride is the ultimate album opener, and also opens the shows on the current tour. Featuring a classic Teeny solo, this track has a much heavier sound with a great chorus and extraordinarily high harmonies. Slave to your Love has a pop feel with a rock and roll backbone – a classic power ballad in fine Scorpions tradition, with a hook so catchy it will have you singing the words even if you didn’t know them before. Gonna Get you Someday is the big stadium rocker from the Norwegian film Lange Flate Ballær (Long Flat Balls – a football term, apparently). Features an a-cappella intro similar to In My Dreams. This went to Number 2 in Norway. Catchy verse lines with wonderfully tongue in cheek lyrics such as “my room mate was businessman … killed his friend with a frying pan”. I LOVE this song. Mid-tempo Bygone Zone doffs the cap to Def Leppard circa Hysteria. All about forgetting to appreciate what you have until it’s gone. Great melody and a power ballad chorus with a passion-drenched vocal from Glam. Dare Devil Heat is all about life on the road and always having to race against time. This is another heavier track with a feral guitar riff from Teeny underlying huge screams from Glam. Guaranteed to get you jumping around pumping your fist into the air. Kill My Rock ‘n’ Roll is the Glam Rock number for this album with influences from Slade and The Sweet, and a riff that is somewhat reminiscent of a current British catsuit-wearing combo! Another catchy hook with soaring high harmonies. I wondered whether Teeny was going to be able to top instrumentals Erection and The Drop from the first album, and with The Riddle I am not disappointed. I had visions of this being played at a party and after a couple of drinks not being able to resist doing my Michael Flatley impression (no, Dawn, don’t even go there). With strong Celtic influences, delivered at breakneck speed, he then proceeds to build layer upon layer of theme and harmony, pace and intensity. After a quieter interlude, and a repeat of the main theme, the unexpected ending leaves you baying for more. At the End of the Day is a huge production number which showcases the band’s skills not only in composition but also with orchestration. This piece would sit happily alongside the best that Aerosmith and Bon Jovi have to offer with, in my opinion, Glam’s best vocals to date. This is definitely one to get the lighters out for, and has “Our Song” written all over it. I can foresee this being played at weddings in years to come. A Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl Like You features an opening riff which is extremely reminiscent of My Sharona. However, the intro riff is the only similarity and it develops into a catchy rocker very much in Wig Wam’s own style that will have you singing along behind the wheel. Can’t Get Her Out of My Bed oozes all the sleaze of the LA Strip in the 80’s. This song’s about getting caught with your clothes off by HER biker boyfriend, and features such delightful lyrics as “giving her bone’s gonna send me straight to hell”. ‘Nuff said. Fantastic! For the album closer, a music box plays the Brahms Lullaby over which a child’s voice sings “twinkle twinkle little star, heavy metal’s who you are”. This is a fabulously tongue in cheek trad metal diatribe pointing a nail polished finger of fun at those who think that, in spite of their tender years, wearing a studded jacket makes them “hard”. Features high octane primal screams that Rob Halford would be proud of. Classic! I know it’s only June, but this will in all probability be my album of the year. An absolute must-have for anyone who still believes that fun belongs in rock and roll.
