Bad Wolves

After decades on the US underground rock scene, drummer John Boecklin brought together a gang of seasoned, metal warriors to work on new material in 2017. By the following year Bad Wolves were enjoying a worldwide hit with a full-throated cover of The Cranberries' “Zombie”. First to join was front man Tommy Vext who had grown up in the New York hardcore scene in the 1990s fronting a variety of bands including Snot, Divine Heresy, and Westfield Massacre. He'd made it out to Los Angeles as a motivational speaker and 12-step program mentor, and was re-invigorated when he heard Boecklin's new songs. Alongside guitarists Doc Coyle (formerly of God Forbid), Chris Cain (Bury Your Dead) and bassist Kyle Konkiel (In This Moment), they set about turning metal thunder and punk chaos into an epic soul-bearing, sonic-shifting new sound inspired by Faith No More. Early singles “Learn to Live” and “Toast to the Ghost” won over metal and hard rock loyalists and landed them a deal with the Eleven Seven label. After hearing “Zombie” whilst hanging out in Venice Beach coffee shops, Vext suggested the band cover the 1990s classic. They were set to record a version of the song with its writer Dolores O'Riordan on backing vocals but on the day they were due in the studio The Cranberries singer passed away. The 2018 track quickly became the most downloaded song in 40 countries, notching up over 55 million YouTube views in two months. Their debut album Disobey followed and, amid songs about America's political divisions, police brutality, and social injustice, they concocted a sound full of speaker-blowing ferocity and earnest intensity that drew comparisons with Rage Against the Machine, Pantera and Meshuggah. They dropped N.A.T.I.O.N. in 2019. Tommy Vext exited the band and was replaced by The Acadia Strain’s Daniel Laskiewicz. The new line-up released the single “Lifeline” in 2021 in anticipation of their new album Dear Monsters. All the while, they feuded publicly with their former lead singer.

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