Mammoth, 24th June 2026, Hades, Copenhell Festival, Denmark

Photo: Zoran https://www.sonic-shot.com

Wolfgang Van Halen has spent much of his career surrounded by larger-than-life personalities. First as the son of Eddie Van Halen, then as Van Halen’s bassist, and now fronting Mammoth. Ironically, the defining trait of his own band is restraint.

That restraint was evident from the moment Mammoth took the Hades stage at Copenhell. Wolfgang didn’t even say hello. Instead, he casually waved towards the half-filled crowd before launching straight into “One of a Kind.” It was a low-key start that perfectly reflected the band’s philosophy: let the music do the talking.

Opening the festival’s second-biggest stage at 2 PM on the first day was hardly the easiest assignment. Add a brutal heatwave sweeping across the Danish capital, and Mammoth were never likely to be greeted by a packed or energetic audience.

What followed immediately showcased why Mammoth have become one of rock’s most sought-after support acts. The band played with remarkable precision, every riff and harmony exactly where they needed to be. From a purely musical standpoint, there was very little to criticize.

Mammoth’s greatest strength, however, also proved to be their biggest weakness. Their understated approach makes them refreshingly free of rock-star clichés, especially considering the legacy that inevitably follows Wolfgang Van Halen. Rather than trying to emulate his father, he has clearly chosen to let the music speak for itself. But on a festival afternoon, restraint doesn’t always translate into excitement. The songs were there. The musicianship was there. The spark that pulls casual festivalgoers into a performance wasn’t.

The set also sagged slightly in the middle. “Same Old Song” and “Stone” slowed the momentum at exactly the point where the performance needed another injection of energy.

Fortunately, both the band and the audience seemed to shake off the afternoon lethargy towards the end. “Don’t Back Down” provided a much-needed jolt of energy before the fittingly titled “The End” closed the set on its strongest note.

Mammoth already have the songs. They already have the musicianship. What they are still searching for is the confidence to let go of some of that restraint when the occasion demands it. Once they find that balance, there will be very little standing in their way.

SETLIST:

1. One of a Kind
2. Another Celebration at the End of the World
3. The Spell
4. Epiphany
5. Like a Pastime
6. Same Old Song
7. Stone
8. I Really Wanna
9. Take a Bow
10. Don’t Back Down
11. The End