Wallop is a tale of a grand return brought about by frustration and a need to show the world what you’re made of after your previous assignment collapses before your eyes. Stefan Arnold is a German drum legend who made his bones and cemented a legacy with the once-mighty Grave Digger. He was ousted from the band under mysterious circumstances and decided to resurrect a prior project. I was not familiar with Wallop at all when THENWOTHM Editor Rob shook me awake in my hospital bed and dropped their latest album into my lap before he was promptly dragged away screaming by the nursing staff. I know Stefan Arnold is a total pro, so let’s see if he and his original bandmates bring the heat with Hell on Wheels…

1. Battle Cry starts off the album with a slow feedback fade into some of that tough, precise drumming that Grave Digger fans will know and love. Vocalist Mikk Wega comes in with a piercing and effective delivery that tells the listener that this is a no-nonsense record. Simple but powerful guitar playing anchors the track and cements it as a solid opener and a fine introduction to the band itself for this brand new listener.

2. World on Fire kicks things off with a heavier riff that leads into a good, old-fashioned mid-tempo stomper. The vocals reach gruff lows and wailing highs to add some dynamics. There’s a bit more rumbling bass here, which is always a treat when an engineer remembers to leave them in the mix! This is another solid track.

3. Hellfire gets things going at a higher tempo with some faster downstroke picking which makes for another nice change of pace. The chorus isn’t very imaginative but when your song is called ‘Hellfire‘ there isn’t too much room to play. Some very nice guitar soloing pulls it together and helps this song add to the diversity of the album.

4. American 4-4-0 joins many of the best rock ‘n’ roll songs in the history of music by using one of the most timeless tricks in the songwriting toolbox: when in doubt, write a track about a woman… OR A TRAIN. The guitar riffs are kept simple and as they ring out, the drums are given some room to play. This one is simple but very satisfying. It’s easy to see why this would be released as a promotional single and is one of the stronger tracks on the album. This is one for the rails!

5. Stand Up picks the speed back up with a faster, anthemic approach. This is the shortest track on the album at just over two-and-a-half minutes and the band wastes no time while somehow giving each instrument space to breath. This is another testament to the album’s excellent mix. A fun and impactful call to action.

6. Hell on Wheels is a fun track about the TV series of the same name. This is a treat for dorky western fans like me! We’re back to the mid-tempo stomping and the fun chorus makes this one of my favorites on the album. If you’re needing a new show to binge, I do recommend Hell on Wheels if you’re looking for some genuinely good frontier railroad cowboy drama.

7. Strike Down begins with some quieter, clean guitar and tasteful percussion that gives way to another speedier metal track. Punchy and effective gang vocals help set this one apart from the preceding tracks. This is more solid fun.

8. Darkness Comes Rising proceeds to switch things up a bit by opening with a sweet bass solo. The guitars slowly join in and downpick the listener into a pleasant oblivion. The variety in vocal styles is a nice way to freshen things up but this track just feels a bit weaker compared to the others. There’s another great guitar solo but it’s not enough to save this track from some slight tedium at this point in the album.

9. Blinded Eyes brings back the clean guitar intro before kicking into higher gear with a very ’80s riff that calls back to the great and powerful Jake E. Lee‘s work during Ozzy Osbourne‘s Bark at the Moon/Ultimate Sin era. This is easily my favorite track on the album, and I honestly wish there was a bit more of this flavor to be found on this record.

10. One Track Mind pulls you right into the thick of things with a pounding and speedy riff. The action then leads into a track that will remind you of the earlier Satanic libertarian era of Running Wild. The drums bang away, the guitar shreds, and the bass thumps as everything comes together for an exciting closer that calls back to a raw and exciting time of German metal.

Wrapping up:

This album was a fun surprise for someone who was totally unfamiliar with Wallop until hearing it for this review. The musicianship is solid, with the drums and guitars being the true standouts. As a Grave Digger fan who just wants to see the almighty Stefan Arnold make more music and do well for himself, it’s a total treat. Hell on Wheels is not going to change the game or blow anyone’s socks off, but it isn’t trying to be something it’s not. This is a meat-and-potatoes heavy metal record for the working man. If you want something simple and punchy in your metal diet this summer, you can’t go wrong with this one. I look forward to what this band will bring to the table in future releases. This is a solid recommendation.

THENWOTHM Score: 7/10