Theatre of Fate Mamoth (Jive) 1989 new

1.      All the Days (3:22)
2.      Fatman (4:12)
3.      Can't Take the Hurt (4:20)
4.      30 Pieces of Silver (3:09)
5.      Dark Star (5:51)
6.      Bet You Wish (4:03)
7.      Long Time Coming (5:22)
8.      Bad Times (5:15)
9.      Home From the Storm (7:43)

I always thought that John McCoy was a commanding presence on stage. His large stature, bald head and beard always stood out when he played with Gillan. Following the demise of Gillan, with Ian Gillan joining Black Sabbath, bassist/songwriter/producer John McCoy recruited session drummer Vinnie "Tubby" Reed, guitarist "Big" Mac Baker and vocalist Nicky Moore to form a band initially called Dinosaur. Nicky Moore had formerly been with the NWOBHM band Samson. Apparently the name Dinosaur was already taken by a U.S. band, so McCoy renamed his new outfit Mammoth. The name was also a tongue-in-cheek reference to the large size of the band members. Funny thing is, there is even a song titled "Fatman", a hooky, hard rocker, that was released as the band's first single. Mammoth play 80's-style hard rock that is much more melodic and commercial than the heavy metal of Gillan. One thing about John McCoy is he knows how to write a hook, regardless of whether it's heavy metal or this more melodic style of hard rock. The albums opening track is really a tell-tale sign of what to expect. The song is a beautiful love song, but is not a ballad. It is an upbeat, melodic, pop rocker with a ton of melody and hook. The follow-up song, "Fatman" is just as hooky and was, I believe, a minor hit for the band. Other tracks like "Long Time Coming" and "Can't Take the Hurt" rock a bit harder, but still retain that melodic nature. ( "Can't Take the Hurt" also appeared on the soundtrack of "Nightmare on Elm St. 5".) "Dark Star" and "Home from the Storm" are the obligatory ballads, the later being a slow, bluesy number, as opposed to a sappy, made-for-radio number. Moore has a soulful voice with just a hint of grit and fits this album like a glove. Mammoth is an album that sounds very polished and very 80's. I do not hold it on the same level of esteem as Gillan. However, it's still a good disc. It's unfortunate that the band didn't see a bit more success.

John McCoy
John McCoy

Related collections:
Gillan | Samson

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