Ammunition: self-titled (Frontiers)

When Norwegian melodic rockers Wig Wam disbanded, there was a silver lining to that dark cloud: namely that vocalist Age Sten Nilsen would launch an exciting new project alongside Eclipse singer/guitarist Erik Martensson. The new band was called Ammunition (or more properly Age Sten Nilsen’s Ammunition), and their 2014 debut album Shanghaied was very well received. They made a few tweaks for the 2018 follow-up album. This time around they’re called simply Ammunition, and that’s the name of the new album. Ammunition features newcomers Victor Cito on bass and Magnus Ulfstedt (Eclipse) on drums. It also marks their debut on the Frontiers label, which should expose the band to a larger audience.

Aside from some minor changes, the style and overall energy that characterized Shanghaid is very much present on Ammunition. Nilsen and Martensson once again prove to be a formidable songwriting team, capturing the polished European melodic rock sound and just enough of Wig Wam’s quirkiness. The result is very hard to resist. The big hooks, slick melodies and huge backing harmonies are very effective ear candy, and Nilsen serves as a very charismatic ringmaster for this rock n’ roll circus.

Ammunition has eleven songs, and it’s pretty much one big party. The bouncy, shout-along (and whistle along) anthem “Wrecking Crew” is a personal favorite, and I really dig the harder rocking “Freedom Finder” and “Tear Your City Down.” The slowed-down number “Eye For An Eye” is arguably the best song on the album, reminding me a lot of Nordic Union’s “Every Heartbeat.” The last couple of tracks find the momentum stumbling a bit, but overall there’s still a lot to love here.

It’s really nice to see that Ammunition wasn’t just a one-off project. These guys have great chemistry and they’ve now made two very memorable melodic rock albums together. Needless to say, fans of Wig Wam and Eclipse will love this album. So should fans of the European melodic rock scene in general. Whether that’s H.E.A.T or Brother Firetribe or Art Nation or W.E.T, Ammunition has set the bar very high for 2018 melodic rock albums.