Album review: AMMUNITION – Shanghaied

AOR Heaven [Released 26.01.15]

Wig Wam may sadly be no more, but the band’s ex-members are certainly busy with guitarist Trond Holter teaming up with Jorn Lande on their rather good ‘Dracula’ themed album and now vocalist Åge Sten Nilsen has formed this band Ammunition. His main counterpart in the band is Erik Mårtensson of W.E.T./Eclipse fame. The band also includes bassist Hal Patino (ex-KING DIAMOND/PRETTY MAIDS) and keyboardist Lasse Finbrathe (CIRCUS MAXIMUS/ex-WIG WAM).

The album starts off with the strong duo of ‘Silverback’ (the sort of song that should be on rock compilations if they avoided all the usual suspects) and ‘Give Me A Sign’, good, solid hard rock. The bizarre gospel meets rock of ‘Take Out the Enemy (Hallelujah)’ is one of the album’s more quirky moments and one of the best songs on here. ‘Wild Card’ is simply immense, like classic Wig Wam featuring an instant chorus, catchy guitar riffs and Åge Sten Nilsen on fine form.

They get the power ballads in to with ‘Heart’s Not In It’ being the pick of the bunch, like Bon Jovi in their prime. The title track and ‘Road To Babylon’ do sound a little pedestrian though compared to the other songs on here.

This is a good start for this new band and it is good quality hard rock, sure to please fans of melodic rock and of course Wig Wam. However hand on heart I prefer Wig Wam still – but only just! ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 28 October 2024

IZZY REIGN Spooky Scary Skeletons (FiXT)
THE RASMUS Rest In Pieces (Better Noise Music)
THE PLAGUE What Else Can I Do (FiXT)
STAR CIRCUS Turn The Tide (indie)
DEFENCES Breathe It In (Long Branch Records)

Featured Albums w/c 28 October 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)