Album Review: BAD WOLVES - Disobey

01. Officer Down

02. Learn To Live

03. No Masters

04. Zombie (The Cranberries cover)

05. Run For Your Life

06. Remember When

07. Better The Devil

08. Jesus Slaves

09. Hear Me Now

10. Truth Or Dare

11. The Conversation

12. Shape Shifter

13. Toast To The Ghost

Disobey is the debut album from Metal supergroup Bad Wolves, which boasts the talents of ex-Divine Heresy / Snot singer Tommy Vext, ex-God Forbid lead guitarist Doc Coyle, ex-Bury Your Dead guitarist Chris Cain, ex-In This Moment bassist Kyle Konkiel, and ex-DevilDriver drummer John Boecklin. I'm a big fan of all of those bands, and in particular I loved Tommy's vocals on that first Divine Heresy album, so I've been really looking forward to this. I also remember hearing a track that he recorded with Snot that was on their MySpace page a long time ago that I don't think was ever officially released, and recall how his voice lent itself so well to a more melodic style. Disobey really shows off his multi-faceted ability as a singer, and gives him a platform to be recognised as one of the best vocalists in Metal right now.

Musically, they have a 'Metalcore-meets-Nu Metal-meets-Djent' thing going on, and weave in some melodic post-Grunge, melodic vocal sections that are reminiscent of Seether and 3 Doors Down, which gives a mainstream viability to this otherwise brutal Metal record.

Opener Officer Down is a perfect example of the above genres being masterfully spliced together. Initially, it brought to mind both Mudvayne and Periphery, until the poly-rhythmic savagery and aggressive vocal styles is juxtaposed with some melodic singing that's laden with hooks.

This formula is prominent throughout the majority of the record, giving Disobey a contemporary Metal sound, but with enough massive sing-along-choruses to give Bad Wolves the potential for massive mainstream appeal. 

I think my favourites are No Masters, with its Sabbath-esque riffs and jaw-dropping chorus, and their emotive cover of Zombie, which put the band in the spotlight internationally after the passing of The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan.

Disobey is a very strong debut album from a group of musicians who I'd expect nothing less from. I'm sure we'll see big things from Bad Wolves in the near future, and I'll be amazed if I'm wrong.