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Ammunition: Ammunition
Amnunition 2018 Self-titled Album CD Album Review

Ammunition: Ammunition

Melodic Hard Rock/Metal
4.5/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 15.01.2018

You may not know Norway's Ammunition (this is my first experience with them), but you probably know the two principal founders of the band: guitarist Erik Martensson (Eclipse, W.E.T., Nordic Union) and Age Sten Nilsen. Don't know that second name? That's Glam from the now defunct Norwegian glam rock band Wig Wam (a favorite). Now my interest was piqued. Ammunition self-released their first album, Shanghaied in 2015. They return now with their second album, simply self-titled Ammunition on the Frontiers Music label.

Amnunition Band Photo

Ammunition

Now, my first question, and maybe yours as well, was, does Ammunition sound like Wig Wam? Or, also, is Ammunition playing classic Eighties melodic glam rock? The answer to both questions is yes and no. Ammunition doesn't have the entire slick sleaze glam rock thing going on, but there are undercurrents. Ammunition plays more generic classic melodic hard rock with an obvious metal edge inside an AOR wrapper.

Said another way, Ammunition is heavier than Wig Wam. First, there's abundance of brisk twin guitar riffage and then, secondly, a more sturdy and heavy rhythm section. This isn't necessarily found in every song here, but definitely within Caveman, Time, Tear Your City Down, and Wrecking Crew, by example. But that last song is also an example of how Ammunition blurs the line between melodic hard rock and heavy metal by putting the arrangement into a catchy AOR wrapper with a big groove and a memorable refrain. A similar example comes with Guns Ho, which moves by edgy riffs and a big beat, and then tempered by a solid harmony in the vocal arrangement.

Something of a twist in the mix comes with Klondike. It's largely a big beat rocker with a strong vocal arrangement. Then, about at the two and a half minute mark, that vocal arrangement offers a bluesy Nilsen vocal break down, to be followed by a stinging guitar solo. Alternatively there are lighter moments within the album, notably with Miss Summertime. Much different from the other songs, the song is definitely an AOR number, nearing that breezy West coast style. Yet, there's still some big beat heaviness to it, and Nilsen is at his emotional best.

While not Wig Wam, Nilsen and Martensson's Ammunition offers classic melodic hard rock, heavier with a metal edge, yet still AOR accessible. With several spins, you will gain appreciation for their classic style. Ammunition's self-titled Ammunition is easily recommended. Get it.



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The Bottom Line

While not Wig Wam, Nilsen and Martensson's Ammunition offers classic melodic hard rock, heavier with a metal edge, yet still AOR accessible. With several spins, you will gain appreciation for their classic style. Ammunition's self-titled Ammunition is easily recommended. Get it.

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