Wig Wam
Wig Wamania

Wikipedia: "despite their clear Norwegian origin, Wig Wam invented a fake band history: on April 1st, 1970, the band was formed in the Bronx, New York. Over the years, Wig Wam released albums like "The Black and Red Album" (1974) and "The Yellow Purple Brown and Black Album" (1975), which sold quite a few copies. In 1976, as the legend goes, Wig Wam emigrated to Norway, where they started performing and selling records."

These lines, borrowed from sister Wikipedia, help me introduce these four Norwegians: crazy, trashy, aesthetically unappealing, yet excellent ambassadors of that hair metal revival that in recent years has been producing several valid bands (Brother Firetribe, Steel Panther, Hardcore Superstar to name a few).

Indeed, this "Wig Wamania" (2006) aims to be a tribute to the commercial hard rock of the eighties. The band draws heavily from the past and does so knowingly (the intro of "Gonna Get You Someday" is identical to "You Give Love A Bad Name" while "A R 'n' r Girl Like You" is almost a cover of "My Sharona"), having fun and most importantly entertaining. Examples of this are "Rock My Ride","Dare Devil Heat" and "Can't Get Her", perfect "arena rock" tracks in the style of Def Leppard.

Obviously, as per tradition, a hard rock album couldn't lack ballads, and they indulge us with the tear-jerker "At The End Of The Day" and the classic power ballads "Slave To Your Love" and "Boygone Zone".

The cherry on top is finally "The Riddle", an instrumental track in which the ghost of Eddie Van Halen hovers several times.

Sure, it all sounds familiar, but I assure you the album flows wonderfully and is also played quite well.

The rating would be 3.5, but Debaser hasn't included halves yet.