The End (Mammoth song)

"The End" was the first release under the Mammoth name after Wolfgang Van Halen secured the trademark and dropped the "WVH" initials from the band's name.^[1][2] Wolfgang described the track as "over-the-top and shreddy" while also calling it "melodic and controlled", adding that he was "doing different things on this record."^[3] He said the song's tapping pattern originated from a 2014 demo that had initially been set aside before he revisited it and built a song around it. He added that he was "maybe worried about too many comparisons" regarding guitar tapping, but later said that "at the end of the day I've realized that's going to happen either way" and that he "might as well just have fun and enjoy myself".^[4] He also added that he used Eddie Van Halen's "Frankenstein" guitar to record the song's main tapping section and slap part,^[5] and said anxiety surrounding the Los Angeles wildfires affected his writing process, describing "The End" as being about acceptance.^[6]

The song was released alongside a music video.^[7]

The song was developed with producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who had previously worked on Mammoth's earlier releases.^[8][9] Wolfgang noted that the song's intro contains a callback to Van Halen's "Source of Infection" from OU812, saying: "There's a little callback in the intro to 'Source of Infection' off of Van Halen's OU812, where I think maybe Donn Landee says 'Take one'... I actually yelled that into the pickup of the guitar on 'The End'". He said the song's verse riff originated as a slap bass idea that he demonstrated on guitar, after which Baskette suggested continuing with guitar for the part.^[10]

The song opens with a two-handed tapping riff,^[11][12] and features fast-paced verse sections and a melodic chorus.^[3]

Heavy Consequence praised Wolfgang Van Halen's guitar playing and vocal performance.^[13] Philip Wilding of Classic Rock wrote that the song combined elements of Van Halen and 1980s-era Rush.^[14] Steve Beebee of Kerrang! said that "The End" put Wolfgang's musicianship and melody into "an explosive little capsule".^[15] Reviewing "The End", Rock 'N' Load highlighted the tapping introduction and hybrid-picking guitar work,^[16] while Distorted Sound praised the song's opening guitar work, writing that it was "impossible not to be impressed".^[17] Loudwire ranked "The End" at No. 1 on its list of best rock songs of 2025.^[6] Spill Magazine wrote that it was among several singles that reflected a "slightly meaner sound" on the album.^[18] James Christopher Monger of AllMusic identified "The End" as one of the album's standout tracks.^[19]

Wolfgang Van Halen came up with the concept for the music video,^[20] which was co-directed by Robert Rodriguez and horror effects artist Greg Nicotero, who also contributed by creating zombies, werewolves and vampires.^[21] The video depicts the band performing at a bar inspired by From Dusk Till Dawn and are greeted by Danny Trejo.^[22] It features cameo appearances by Slash, Myles Kennedy, Valerie Bertinelli,^[23] and Wolfgang's wife,^[24] and opens with the disclaimer: "Due to my strong personal convictions, I wish to stress that this film in no way endorses a belief in the occult."^[25] The video also closes with this disclaimer as an homage to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video. Loudwire noted visual similarities to "Thriller", including a shot of Wolfgang turning toward the camera with yellow eyes. The video also features recurring "Wolfgang" characters from previous Mammoth videos, who are shown to have arranged the events in an attempt to regain their place in the band.^[26]

Mammoth performed "The End" at WDHA's "Mammoth For Ya' Mama!" event at Debonair Music Hall in Teaneck, New Jersey, on May 11, 2025.^[29][30] An acoustic version of the song was performed at Rock Fore Down Syndrome during the 2nd Annual Tremonti Family Charity Golf Tournament in Nashville on October 2, 2025.^[31] Wolfgang commented that "trying to do the tapping acoustically" was "very funny".^[32]

"The End" reached number one on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart on August 2, 2025, becoming Mammoth's third song to top the chart.^[33]

Credits adapted from Apple Music.^[34]

Mammoth

• Wolfgang Van Halen – vocals, all instruments, songwriter

Additional credits

• Michael "Elvis" Baskette – producer, mixing engineer, recording engineer
• Brad Blackwood – mastering engineer
• Josh Saldate – assistant mixing engineer, additional engineer
• Jeff Moll – editing engineer, recording engineer