Album Review: Bad Wolves – “Disobey”

Bad Wolves have only recently exploded onto the scene, but the members in the band are no strangers to the music industry. The idea for the band began in 2015 and consists of drummer John Boecklin (ex-Devildriver), vocalist Tommy Vext (Divine Heresy, Snot), guitarists Doc Coyle (ex-God Forbid) and Chris Cain (Bury Your Dead) and bassist Kyle Konkiel (ex-In This Moment). With the members all coming from strong metal bands, it is no surprise that Bad Wolves’ debut album Disobey, released earlier this month, is such a strong debut.

On this album, you get a variety of sounds. Vocals range from softer and more melodic to really aggressive growls and screams. The drums are absolutely fantastic on every single track and the bass manages to stand out, unlike in most albums where it usually disappears. The guitar is amazing and because there are two, Bad Wolves are able to play with softer sounds, but also can take it to the next level where the guitar becomes forceful and uncompromising. The album is prolific and shows off the expertise of the musicians. Disobey has a really big sound; it is an album that will fill arenas.

There are many standout tracks on Disobey, but the fourth track on the album is the one that gained Bad Wolves their notoriety, their cover of “Zombie.” It is a superb cover of a well-known and respected song and honors Dolores O’Riordan with the heart and soul that was poured into it. It is not easy to cover a song like “Zombie,” but Bad Wolves make it modern without stripping any of the song’s original message. With their video for “Zombie” at 63 million views at the time of writing, it is obvious that this is the track that will define their career. The originals on the album, though, are nothing to scoff at. “Hear Me Now” has some similar elements to “Zombie,” but holds its own against the iconic track. It is one of the softer songs on the album; the vocals are more melodic, as is the guitar. “Officer Down,” on the other hand, is faster and much more determined. Those aggressive vocals are on display, but they are also emphasized with sung vocals. “Run For Your Life” is another standout track on the album. The drums are unforgiving and the guitar is powerful. Again, aggressive vocals are present, but it is not just all screaming; the black vocals have a reason to be there. Bad Wolves does an excellent job of mixing screams and growls with sung vocals, which emphasizes the ferocity of the song.

Disobey is an impressive debut from a band that was making their mark on the scene before the album even released. With such a strong album now to back them up, Bad Wolves are undoubtedly going to continue making headlines.

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Post by Karen Shalev

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