The Untold Truth Of Bad Wolves

From Five Finger Death Punch to Bad Wolves, the world of melodic metal features no shortage of talent. The Bad Wolves — in particular — captured mainstream attention in 2018 with their insatiable cover of The Cranberries' iconic hit "Zombie." It isn't the only cover the Los Angeles, California, group has done either, as they also produced a tantalizing version of Ozzy Osbourne's "Mama, I'm Coming Home" later on. However, Bad Wolves remains more than just a cover band as they have released their own catalog of smashing singles and alluring albums, helping them secure coveted slots on big music festivals and tours with established artists such as Papa Roach and Volbeat.

Like any other metal band, though, they have had their fair share of drama and controversy. From the much-publicized and ugly departure of original vocalist Tommy Vext to becoming fodder and a punching bag for internet trolls, Bad Wolves has had to bare its teeth and stand their own ground on the odd occasion. Throughout it all, the band evolved from its initial vision (and original name) to become a different beast altogether, once again proving that no one knows what the future holds when starting something new.

Considering Bad Wolves' members came from previous bands, such as Divine Heresy, DevilDriver, God Forbid, and In This Moment, it would be expected for them to have a wide range of musical influences to pull from. This does come across in their songs as they veer from hard rock to metal while also incorporating elements of rap rock and pop. However, as ex-vocalist Tommy Vext revealed to Forbes, Bad Wolves sounded far more prog metal in their initial stages of development. Before Vext joined the band, drummer John Boecklin and guitarist Chris Cain laid down a handful of demos that were slightly different to how the music sounds now.

"They were on the cusp of being like a Tool-Animals As Leaders vibe, and when I joined the band a lot of the songs had like six, seven, or eight parts, and they were really long songs," Vext said. "For what I wanted to accomplish it was a lot of trimming, so ... taking these really intricate musical ideas and then placing them into traditional Beatles-Nirvana song structure."

Vext added how they all collaborated and worked together on these songs to find their own unique sound. In an interview with Backseat Mafia, he explained how the band draws inspiration from Faith No More's eclectic approach to songwriting, while his own vocal influences range from Muse to Justin Timberlake.

In the early 2000s, God Forbid rode the wave of the metalcore movement. The band might never have had the monumental success as the likes of Killswitch Engage and Trivium, but they established themselves as a staple of the scene. In 2013, though, the group announced its break-up; however, they regrouped nearly a decade later in 2022.

Considering how God Forbid had been on the cusp of the big time but never quite made it, it's understandable that guitarist Doc Coyle believed the time had come and gone for his musical dreams to prosper. However, even he is surprised that Bad Wolves gave him a second chance. "I am amazed to just still be here doing this," Coyle told New Transcendence in 2018. "I had resigned myself to be making money outside of music and doing music for fun, so this band taking off really took me by surprise."

In a separate interview with Metal Insider, Coyle explained how their previous bands didn't possess the accessible and adaptable nature of Bad Wolves. While the group is capable of producing heavy music to fire up the mosh pit, it also knows how to pen radio-friendly tunes for the wider audience to enjoy. As a result, they are able to draw more listeners to their music.

The internet connects the world, allowing the opportunity for communities to come together and celebrate what they love — as well as hate. Bad Wolves experienced their own share of critics after the success of "Zombie," with the vocal part of the fandom lambasting them for supposedly selling out by reaching the top of the radio rock charts.

Speaking to Loud, Bad Wolves guitarist Doc Coyle acknowledged the criticism of his band, equating it to the stick that Nickelback usually receives online. The musician elaborated on how the internet creates a warped perception where commentators dogpile and talk smack about successful acts, but they are still selling out concerts and merchandise offline. For some reason, commercial achievement remains frowned upon by certain music fans.

Coyle added how it's important to shut out the dissenters at times, since success always attracts higher levels of criticism. "But you can't take the negativity personally, because it's not real," he said. "It's an illusion. This is real — we're in the reality. That's why so many people I know, the more successful they get, they stay off social media, they get off the phone, because it mostly poisons you."

The best art comes from a personal place, and Bad Wolves dug deep for the track "Remember When," which is off their 2018 debut album "Disobey." Ex-vocalist Tommy Vext explained how the lyrics took him eight years to write, as it's a song he wrote for his twin brother who was in prison.

"We both took separate directions in life," Vext told Loudwire. "I wound up doing music and getting sober. He stayed involved as a drug dealer and became addicted to drugs. And in 2010 he broke into my apartment, and I came home to a home invasion. And he struck me with a crowbar, fractured my skull, broke my arm, and beat me up until my spleen burst."

Vext testified against his brother in court, which resulted in him receiving a 17-year sentence for attempted murder. The singer admitted to Kerrang! it wasn't easy to sing the song in the recording studio, but it was also part of the healing process for him.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

There are few bands that go throughout their entire existence without a member change or two. However, replacing a singer almost always brings about more scrutiny, since they are the literal and figurative voice of the group. In Bad Wolves' case, DL had no involvement in Tommy Vext's departure whatsoever, but he would be coming in and facing the music — in both senses of the word here.

Speaking to Knotfest, DL revealed he never had any hesitation in joining the band, regardless of the drama and tension surrounding Vext and Bad Wolves. He said, "I just saw it as an opportunity to make music I've always wanted to make with a group of extremely talented guys that I've known for a long time."

On an appearance on "Loudwire Nights," he explained how the situation was no different than the one that Killswitch Engage went through when it replaced Jesse Leach with Howard Jones, then vice versa. DL understood there would be people who would prefer the older material, others who would like the new songs, and several that appreciated both. He only urged the fans to give him and this new version of the band a chance to at least prove themselves.

To call the rift between Bad Wolves and Tommy Vext messy would be the understatement of the century. Ever since the singer's split with the group, stories about the behind-the-scenes drama leaked and painted a picture of a band in utter disarray. Yet, time continues to be the great equalizer, healing all wounds and band disputes.

In September 2023, Vext posted a video to address his fans. In a lengthy message, the singer opened up about the tumultuous period and what transpired between him and his former bandmates. He discussed how the issues affected his own personal mental health, while also acknowledging what it did to others and the severe impact it had on them.

The musician explained how he is on a journey of making amends and already had conversations with his former label head Allen Kovac as well as ex-Bad Wolves guitarist Chris Cain. In closing, Vext expressed gratitude for his fans and asked them to not engage in harassing his former bandmates any longer.