Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway
“Learn To Live‘”, the first official video single from the new project Bad Wolves is being debuted below.
Bad Wolves is the realized vision of former DevilDriver drummer John Boecklin (drums, guitars) and vocalist Tommy Vext (Westfield Massacre, Vext, Divine Heresy, Snot). Joining them in this metallic venture are guitarists Doc Coyle (God Forbid, Vagus Nerve) and Chris Cain (Bury Your Dead), and bassist Kyle Konkiel (VIMIC, In This Moment).
After a few years spent getting Bad Wolves prepared to unleash upon the public, Boecklin states:
“We sound like a heavy-slightly prog rock band that tunes low and cuts off most of the fat,” he explains. “Watching FAITH NO MORE on the reunion tour made my thought process change. I was standing there, and it hit me that I don’t want to be in a metal band with screaming all the time. We’re heavy, yet from track-to-track, things change quite a bit.”
“More was revealed, so more was required,” adds Vext. “The overall tonality and approach resonated with me as an opportunity to challenge myself and grow as a vocalist. I was given a platform to tap into some musical influences I hadn’t yet explored in previous bands. All in all, it was some of the most diverse, original material I’ve gotten to wrap my hands around.”
“Starting from scratch is never easy,” admits Boecklin. “Many musical roads were traveled before getting to what you hear today — it’s trial and error. I kept reminding myself not to do what I’ve done before. Eventually, we started to hear what we wanted.”
Bad Wolves‘ debut album was tracked at Audiohammer Studios with longtime collaborator Mark Lewis (Trivium, All That Remains).