Bad Wolves will release their third studio album, Dear Monsters, on 29 October, via Better Noise Music. The first single, Lifeline, has been released, which marks the official introduction to new lead singer DL, who has replaced Tommy Vext.
The very public exit of Vext has sparked a large number of social media posts, and Bad Wolves have released a statement to defend their creative legacy and dismiss inconsistent claims against their integrity. You can read the full statement below.
Lifeline is backed by an official video, which sets the tone for the new album and its theme of confronting your demons. With DL on board, Dear Monsters has been described by the band as “our best album to date.”
DL, a creative force
DL, a founding member and lead guitarist of the metalcore band The Acacia Strain (2001-2013), has also worked on projects with All That Remains, Legion, and For the Fallen Dreams. He collaborated and was credited on the Bad Wolves 2019 album N.A.T.I.O.N., which was the starting point of their creative relationship.
In June, John Boecklin [drums], Doc Coyle [lead guitar, backing vocals], Chris Cain [rhythm guitar], and Kyle Konkiel [bass, backing vocals] welcomed DL to the band, saying, “DL is one of the most talented and hard-working people we have ever had the pleasure to know. He is a team player, a creative force, and overall a great human being who fits perfectly with our BW family.
“It feels incredible to be surrounded with such positive energy, and the music we’ve made is certainly reflective of this newfound optimism and collaborative spirit. This new album shows a more cohesive and unique reflection of the band.
“There is a lot to prove, and expectations are high with a new singer coming in. And we nailed it. We are sure you will agree that this is our best album yet.”
Bad Wolves are expected to announce tour dates shortly in support of Dear Monsters. The album can be pre-ordered at badwolves.ffm.to/dearmonsters
Bad Wolves statement
Since Tommy Vext quit Bad Wolves in January, we have all largely stayed silent. We were prioritizing our search for a new singer, making music and focusing on the band’s future. We have all put a tremendous amount of heart and soul into Bad Wolves, and we owed it to our fans to make a third album that is the band’s best yet. We are happy to share that we’ve accomplished that, and we can’t wait for you to hear it.
The album is called DEAR MONSTERS, and it will be out 29 October. The first single, called Lifeline, is coming out this Wednesday, 8 September, with a new music video. It will be the first taste of the next chapter with our new singer DL, who is an incredible talent and welcomed addition to the band. We think our fans will appreciate the renewed energy and range he brings to Bad Wolves.
It’s unfortunate we must bear witness to Tommy Vext’s never-ending temper tantrums on social media, filled with fraudulent claims and sad attempts to defame members of our band and our team.
The truth is that Tommy was abusive – both emotionally and physically – while in the band, and he continues to be abusive since quitting the group. He has childishly asserted many falsehoods. Refuting them all would be a waste of time and divert our energy from making music, which is our priority.
However, we will not stand for our artistic contributions to be diminished, so here are some points that we feel are important to clarify before we move ahead with the next chapter:
â—Ź Ten of the 13 songs on our first album Disobey were musically written and recorded before Tommy ever joined the band.
â—Ź “Killing Me Slowly” is an example of a song done in collaboration with outside writers. Tommy changed a few lyrics and then publicly claimed to be the mastermind behind the song. That is false, which is why others, including members from the from the band, are credited on the track.
â—Ź When we were shooting the video for “Better Off This Way (feat. Dorothy)” [a song co-written by Doc Coyle, John Boecklin and Brandon Sammons], Tommy refused to let any other members be in the video. Then, to make matters worse, he illegally leaked it after quitting the band.
Bad Wolves is and will remain a creative collective, where no one member, inside or outside the band, holds the key to the group’s success.
-Bad Wolves
