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Wig Wam - Never Say Die
Wig Wam - Never Say Die Album Art

Wig Wam: Never Say Die

Melodic Metal Rock
4.0/5.0

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Frontiers Music
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 20.01.2021 | Released: 22.01.2021

Rising from the "where have they been" file, Norwegian rockers Wig Wam reunite and return once more for a new studio album, appropriately titled Never Say Die. The resilient glam-stars, vocalist Glam (Åge Sten Nilsen), guitarist Teeny (Trond Holter), bassist Flash (Bernt Jansen), and drummer Sporty (Øystein Andersen) may be older, and perhaps a little heavier around them middle, but they haven't forgotten how to rock and roll.

Wig Wam - Click For Larger Image

Wig Wam

But, when I recall Wig Wam, I remember their rise in the mid 2000's with the essential Wig Wamania and culminating with the classic live album (and a nod to Cheap Trick), Live In Tokyo. These were the best years for this fan. In my humble opinion, what followed, Non Stop Rock'n'Roll (2010) and Wall Street (2012) never quite found the energy and enthusiasm of previous material. But they were still fine albums. Now we come to Never Say Die. Stage attire aside, the days of Wig Wam's fun loving, double entendre, more than popish glam rock seems to be fading away. Though the band has not lost their strong appreciation of song melody, vocal harmony, ripping guitar solos, and catchy refrains, Never Say Die drifts more towards heavy metal rock and, perhaps, more musical experimentation.

To the former, the title cut, Hypnotized, Dirty Little Secrets, and Shadows Of Eternity demonstrated Wig Wam's heavier riffs and rhythm section while still offering their signature glam groove. Also of some interest here, with Shadow Of Eternity, but also Where Does It Hurt and Call Of The Wild, Nilsen seems to be playing with some new vocal nuances. Which make him sound muted (or sometimes even overcome by the music). To the latter, a bit more experimentation or novelty, there's the steel/slide guitar and subtle blues underpinnings of Kilimanjaro and Hard Love. Alternatively, Wig Wam still remembers the value of a melodic arena anthem when they offer Silver Lining or My Kaleidoscope Ark with its fine vocal harmony and song melody.

A final observation to mention is the strength of Trond Holter's guitar work which is more mature, expansive, and stronger across the entire album. Yet his instrumental Northbound doesn't quite have thrilling vibrancy of his Erection (double entendre intended). All said, Never Say Die finds a a seasoned and mature Wig Wam offering fans more melodic metal rock rather than pop glam rock pomp. But that latter enthusiasm and fun is still lingering underneath. Recommended.




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The Bottom Line

All said, Never Say Die finds a a seasoned and mature Wig Wam offering fans more melodic metal rock rather than pop glam rock pomp. But that latter enthusiasm and fun is still lingering underneath. Recommended.

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