2025 Wrap Up!

2025 Summary

With very little going on in the pedal building world for me this year, I thought I’d sum up my 2025 in a more general fashion. I talk about band stuff but focus more on my personal perspective on my world at large. Here goes -

2025 Pedals...

OK let's get this one out of the way, the elephant in the room... there have been no new pedals since the ETG Distortion in very late 2024. Sad face. I've been feeling a while that I'd like to invest a greater amount of time into my next pedal project, and 2025 has simply not afforded me the time to do this. Between band activities, other projects and family I am sorry to say that designing and building pedals sits last in the pecking order. It's also something that I can't jump in and out of, I need to focus on it to get the best out of it, so it's also one of the most time consuming of my pursuits. I'd like to format some aspects of my designs and aesthetics for future consistency, meaning some of the basics are covered each time I start a new pedal, I wouldn't have to go back to square one, perhaps square two. Back in August I breadboarded and tested a reverb pedal I was intending to start making before Xmas, however I wasn't quite happy with the prototype, it was a bit 'meh' and quite honestly not something I'd use as it was. As with the few pedals I've made so far, the golden rule I abide by is 'would I use it?', in this case the answer was 'probably not'. The experience was valuable though, moving into the world of DSP programming, it's a very different approach to my all analogue pedals thus far. I intend to revisit, so watch out for this in 2026. Maybe.

2025 Massive Wagons...

This is documented at length elsewhere so I shall surmise succinctly. Busy year. I feel we focussed the lens a bit on who we are and what we do. After over a decade and 7 albums you can maybe lose perspective of what you are trying to achieve in your life, I certainly did through 2024. Through several tours and festival runs this year we were the most consistent we have ever been in terms of setlists and image, I really feel this is paying off. It's fair to say we are hard to fit in a neat little box, we are rock, we are punk, we like a heavy riff or two... I wouldn't have it any other way but the truth is that's hard to market.

This year we hit em' with a consistent barrage of energy and hooks, culminating at our live album recording for over 2000 folks in Lancaster University in September over two nights. I was heavily involved in the compiling and mixing of the results and was well chuffed. Not to get too self-congratulatory but it's a bloody ballsy thing to do in this day and age, for a band (who don't lean on backing tracks, as MANY others do it has to be said) to hit record over just two nights. Roll on March when the results will be 'out there' - I can't wait. We continue our journey with a new record label Reaper Entertainment, an independent German label who keep a tight roster of alt-rock artists, we already feel right at home. We released our first single with the Reaper team 'Everywhere We Go' in October, and already it has earned a bigger reaction than anything we have ever done. The future is bright.

2025 Fitness...

Like many years previous (and I'm sure I'm not alone here..) I vowed to look after myself better on the health and fitness side. My day job through my 20's involved being hunched over a computer or workbench for 8 hours a day. Combined with starting a family and being tired all the time I just never looked after myself properly, I have no terrible habits, just a bit lazy. However isn't sloth deemed the worst of the 7 deadly sins? I'm not sure, wrath is pretty bad. I've seen Se7en... But hang on, isn't working out a form of vainglorious self-love? This makes me guilty of Pride, you can't win can you, the 7 contradictory sins. Anyway, the point is by the time my mid 30's hit I was starting to feel the effects of my sedentary lifestyle, to the point where gigs were a struggle, changing nappies an ordeal. I got out of breath over mild exertion, painful knees, hips and ankles etc, it really started to get to me and I had to get a grip for my sanity. So Jan 2025 rolled around and I joined the gym. As mentioned, my time is already stretched to the max so nothing crazy, a couple times a week in the evening or (very) early morning but I kept it consistent, I gained 10kg over the year and feel a lot stronger in myself. Hips and ankles still knackered but working on that, I can do things now I couldn't a year ago so I'm happy. Back running more regularly too, without feeling like my right leg is gonna drop off, Alex goes running most days on tour so I drag myself out with him. I also took up cycling, again on a very casual basis. I made the 11 mile commute to the band HQ and back through the summer, and went on some longer rides with my Dad and 80 year old Grandad, who with no exaggeration is fitter than us both. I still like running but cycling is far better for me and takes less of a toll on the joints, plus it enables the nerd in me to pointlessly study gear ratio's and derailleurs and such. I kinda love it. I even have the lycra.

Here's me and Al outside the bus about to run for our lives through some dodgy Berlin park at night.

2025 Books...

I always read books avidly, but since further lining the coffers of our dystopian overlord Jeff Bezos with an Audible audiobook subscription, I now rattle through them at a furious pace. At the gym, on the bike, in the car, the books never stop. I'll sum up some of the highlights listened to/read through the year.

Conn Iggulden: Songbird/Bloodline/Trinity/Ravenspur - Historical fiction set through the 15th century War Of The Roses. A great bringing to life of some historical figures, along with the fictional Derry Brewer who offers the 'man on the ground' commoner perspective. The author embellishes history a little here and there to serve the story, but highlights these changes from reality at the end of each book which is appreciated, a perfect blend of drama and real history. Four heads on spikes out of five.

Christopher Hitchens: God Is Not Great - A short but intense deconstruction of religion in all its forms. Pulls no punches, not that I needed convincing. Four Hitch-slaps out of five.

Various authors: Horus Heresy Books 1,2,3,4,5,6,9 &10 - First batch (of about fifty!) books of The Horus Heresy, kind of a prequel to the Warhammer 40K universe. I've lumped these together because honestly I can't remember exactly what happens in what book... I read them one after the other through the summer. It's not ever so clever but I like the simple stories and some are far better than others, author depending. Anything by Dan Abnett seem to be the better, more character driven books. Most participants are either 2 dimensional goodies or baddies, but there are some twists. Highlights so far would be Legion and Flight Of The Eisensten, I may work my way through the series skipping some of the less essential novels, there seem to be plenty of articles out there saying which of the series carry the main narrative and which ones are 'filler' for super nerds/fans only. All in all, good simple fun. For the Emperor! etc. Three heretic scums out of five.

Joe Abercrombie: The Devils - For me, the absolute GOAT of fantasy fiction, or any fiction for that matter. I've read all his books several times, and nothing compares to how well written these characters are, not a dull one among them and each has their own entirely plausible reasons for doing what they do. The Devils is the first in a new series and is somehow better than what was already the best. Every scene and conversation plays out like a well written movie, stirring every emotion with ease, it's terrific stuff. This is a world of grey morals and dark humour, if you haven't already please read this book, I beseech you. Five vigga-wolves out of five.

Tom Clancy: Without Remorse - Having read all Jack Ryan books, I thought I'd make a start on the John Clarke series. Top notch cloak and dagger stuff, if a little sterile at times, it's Mission Impossible without the exploding chewing gum. Red Storm Rising and Kardinal Of The Kremlin are two of my favourite books ever so I'll give any TC a go. Four nuclear submarines out of five.

The Plantagenets: Dan Jones - Non-fiction now, historian Dan Jones gives us a thorough biography of the English royals from 1154 - 1386 or Henry II to Henry IV. I'm quite into this period of English history, it's real life Game Of Thrones stuff, sans Dragons. The English crown is also intertwined with the history of Scotland, Wales, Ireland and of course France so you learn a lot. It's pretty dry, but it's non-fiction and Dan Jones does a great job on speculating why things played out why they did, with sound reasoning and obviously thorough research. Three quashed rebellions out of five.

Henry V: Dan Jones - Such were the exploits of Englands hardest mofo King he gets his own book. He spent many of his 35 years on campaign in France, winning the infamous Battle of Agincourt amongst others before dying of, well... the shits. It reads like Henry V took no crap at home or abroad and made England as stable as it gets for the time. Of course the crown passed to his utterly useless son Henry VI and things soon went tits up again. Four battle codpieces out of five.

Tim Ferriss: Tools For Titans - A compilation of interviews, stories and life advice from the super successful, rich, fit, or all of the above. Motivating and fascinating, good to listen to on the morning commute. Four 3am ice baths out of five.

Justin Currie: The Tremelo Diaries - A tour diary covering a year of touring from the Del Amitri frontman. The title references Justins diagnosis of Parkisons right before heading off on a huge tour of the US and Europe, the content is brutally honest and often hilarious. It's not sensationalising anything, it's very real in all aspects. Incidentally, I personally feel Justin Currie is a contender for one of the best songwriters of all time. Really! Four underrated gems out of five.

David Mitchell: Unruly - Sticking with the history theme I'm audiobooking David Mitchell basically slagging off of every English/British monarch from the Anglo Saxons to present day with his unique brand of sarcasm. I'm doing this one an audiobook, which DM himself narrates, so you get the full effect of his humour. Hands down the funniest book I've got for some time, still unfinished at the time of writing but I highly recommend to just about anyone whether you are into history or not.

2025 Songwriting...

Moving into 2026 I am knuckling down with writing more MW tunes. I'm really just staying relaxed about it and seeing what comes out for now, when we approaching a full albums worth of material then I usually start to push the boat out a bit with some more whacky ideas. At this time I'll start listening to more music again for inspiration or ideas worth the stealing, I find this can spike creativity when you get a bit stuck for kicking off new songs, all in all though it's flowing nicely. We had a writing spree in the summer, which bore fruit in Everywhere We Go, but also a couple of other decent songs that will definitely carry over onto into MW album no.8. Number bloody 8... bands have reached the top, fallen down, broken up, got back together and broken up again in that amount of albums. I try not to think about it...

2025 At Home...

We moved house in October, stayed local but yeah, it's a faff to say the least. The move was scheduled for August so we lived out of boxes for a few months during the delay, but with what you see/read in the news every day that's really nothing to complain about is it. We're in now, and the kids are making their marks, literally, in the new place.

The Year Ahead

Definitely recording another MW album, more tours, some really cool festivals in the summer, maybe another tab book.. I'm undecided. They take a few weeks to type out and format, but I'm sure I can squeeze one in, the truth is it is a really miserable prospect to me to spend time relearning a bunch of old songs, but if the demand is there I will dutifully transcribe away, like some modern day monk. As mentioned at the beginning of this blog, if I get the time I will certainly endeavour to have more pedals in 2026 but no promises.

Hope 2026 brings you happiness!

Adam x