Mammoth – The End Album Review

 

It’s been a tough year for rock ’n’ roll fans. We’ve lost some true legends — none more impactful than Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in July, and Ace Frehley, just this past week. In times like these, having an artist like Wolfgang Van Halen there to help carry rock ’n’ roll forward with his band Mammoth means more now than ever. It’s everything.

With two acclaimed albums already behind him, Wolfgang returns with The End — and it just might be his best yet.

The End clocks in at around 40 minutes with 10 songs, the longest just over five minutes. It’s my favorite kind of rock ’n’ roll record — get in, kick ass, and get out. No filler, no fluff, no nonsense. Wolfgang says more in those 40 minutes than most artists manage in their entire careers.

Yes, this record is that good.

We could talk all day about the guitar solos, the drums, and the melodic hooks — and trust me, we will. But what really sets The End apart is its humanity.

 

 

The Humanity Behind The End

Wolfgang Van Halen has been open about the anxiety he’s faced over the past year, and that’s exactly what inspired the album’s title. Sometimes you look at life and think, “Well, that’s the end of everything good.” Other times, you realize, “Maybe that’s the end of the bad.”

Ever feel that way? I know I have.

That duality — the push and pull between despair and hope — runs through the entire record. You can listen to The End in two ways:

• Like you’re hearing someone wrestling with their own doubts, trying to convince themselves it’ll all work out.
• Or like a friend sitting beside you, talking you through your own mess — no sugarcoating, but always reminding you it’ll get better.

Either way, hope oozes from this record. Tracks like “The End,” “The Spell,” and “Something New” make you believe that even in your darkest moments, there’s still light ahead.

 

 

The Musicianship: A Masterclass in Every Instrument

Following in the footsteps of visionaries like Prince and Lenny Kravitz, Wolfgang once again writes, performs, and produces every note on this record. He’s the drummer, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, and vocalist — and he does it all with excellence.

I don’t drop the names Prince and Kravitz lightly, but I truly believe Wolfgang Van Halen belongs in that company.

Recorded at 5150 Studios with longtime producer Michael “Elvis” Baskette, the album was created in a refreshingly organic way. Instead of building songs on a computer, Wolfgang tracked everything live — literally running back and forth between instruments. I can only hope we get to see video of that process someday.

 

 

Guitars, Drums, and Vocals That Hit Hard

 

It’s easy to call Wolfgang a guitar hero, but The End proves he’s so much more. This album showcases him as a drummer and vocalist on another level entirely.

The opening track, “One of a Kind,” hits with pounding drums that set the tone immediately. “Same Old Song” and “Selfish” continue to highlight his power and creativity behind the kit.

Vocally, Wolfgang’s always been strong, but here his delivery carries real weight. There’s an intensity and purpose in every line — it’s not just the words he sings, but how he sings them that makes you believe every word.

And, of course, we can’t ignore the guitar work. The first single, “The End,” opens with that unmistakable finger tapping that instantly brings to mind his father, Eddie Van Halen. It’s a subtle nod to his dad’s legacy, but it’s also entirely Wolfgang’s own voice — short, sharp, emotional, and absolutely killer.

 

 

 

Where is the WVH?

While he pays tribute to that classic sound, Wolfgang also takes a big personal step with this record — dropping the “WVH” and going simply by Mammoth. It’s a quiet but powerful move that says a lot about where he’s at as an artist.

He’s not just trying to prove himself anymore; he’s standing tall in his own identity. The End captures that confidence perfectly.

 

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Final Thoughts

At its core, The End is about endurance — emotional, creative, and personal. It’s an album that looks struggle in the eye and answers back with hope.

Wolfgang Van Halen has made a record that’s as much about the journey as the destination. It’s heavy, heartfelt, and honest. And while it may be called The End, it feels like anything but — it feels like the beginning of something even bigger.

In a year when rock has lost some of its loudest voices, Mammoth is carrying the torch forward with conviction, craft, and soul.

If this is the sound of “the end,” then rock ’n’ roll is in very good hands.

 

 

 

Track Listing 

One of A Kind

The End

Same Old Song

The Spell

I really Wanna

Happy

Better Off

Something New

Selfish

All In Good Time