Album Review: Massive Wagons - Welcome To The World
Reviewed by Tim Finch
It’s easy to forget that Massive Wagons are not a relatively new band, they’ve been around for fifteen years now, and despite their youthful looks they are well seasoned veterans with six full length albums under their belts.
Back in 2016 they made their big breakthrough with ‘Welcome To The World’, originally released by Off Yer Rocka Recordings. As many of you will know it’s a monstrous album that allowed the band to break through to a wider rock audience. Whilst it can almost be considered a classic, it was recorded in just twelve days and over the years the band have thought about the tweaks they could have made to it.
Frontman Baz comments: “The album was originally recorded from start to finish in about 12 days due to work and money constraints. At the time, we were happy with the finished product, but over the years we have always said we wished we could have spent more time on certain songs.”
Hence this week we see the album re-released, but this isn’t just a repackaging or remastering job. The band have gone back into the studio and given the work the attention it deserves to bring their fans the ultimate version of this much beloved record.
From the off of ‘Nails’ and its chuggy, addictive guitar riff you are dragged into this record kicking and screaming. It’s a beast of an opening track, and from the opening notes you can hear the lift in quality and the attention to detail the band have paid to this.
‘Ratio’ is still on regular rotation in the bands set list and just sounds huge on this record, that wonderful bass intro with Baz’s unique vocal stylings really bring it to life. ‘Shit Sweat Death’ shows the bands willingness to experiment with sound and tempo, a song that gives the album added oomph and one whose influence you can hear in their later works.
Tagged onto the end of this release are a number of bonus tracks, ‘Sixteen’, ‘Everybody Dies’, an acoustic version of ‘Aeroplane’, ‘Fighting Jack’ with an alternate solo and my personal favourite; a cover of Sir Ozzy Osbournes ‘Mr Crowley’.
Some re-issues are there for the band to just bring in a few extra bucks. This one however highlights the bands search for perfection. The effort that’s gone into reworking a break through album and bring it back to the fans long after it’s gone out of print is to be commended. Whether you have heard this album before or not, go and check the new version out, you will not be disappointed.
