When I decided to have the category “Rookie Of The Year” in this years Monster Entertainment Awards, I was trying to leave supergroups out of the category because usually they don’t last especially if guys are still in their other projects. Something though seemed a little different about Bad Wolves because they were being marketed much like Five Finger Death Punch, a band of guys who had been in the industry that were banking on themselves. So in the long run, Bad Wolves proved to be a formidable band and they took home the award for their album Disobey. The band which features Tommy Vext (Vocals, Ex-Divine Heresy), Doc Coyle (L. Guitar, Ex-God Forbid), Chris Cain (R. Guitar, Ex-Bury Your Dead), Kyle Konkiel (Bass, Ex- In This Moment), and John Boecklin (Drums, Ex-Devildriver) released their first album on May 11, 2018 and it was produced by Boecklin and Vext alongside Mark Lewis, Wzrdbld, and Philip Naslund while it featured cover art by Five Finger Death Punch’s Zoltan Bathory. The album was a big success for the band as it peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Top 200 Charts as well as number four on the US Top Rock Albums chart.
1. Officer Down– an intense in your face opening track that talks all about police brutality and it definitely reflects on the times with the social climate on police brutality. 4.5/5
2. Learn To Live– The band has a Slipknot like intensity to this track and it’s no surprise with the caliber of the guys in the band. The track is all about people struggle every day with just life itself, but if you want to survive you better learn how to live. 4.5/5
3. No Masters– This may be one of my favorite tracks on the album because it’s a bad ass riff that has that metal swagger to it in this song that is all about going against the grain and let no man control you. 5/5
4. Zombie– The band was originally supposed to have Cranberries vocalist Dolores O’Riordan do the song with the band as a duet, but unfortunately she passed away before they could and the band finished recording the cover in tribute to her. The song was also voted cover song of the year in this years Monster Entertainment Awards. 5/5
5. Run for Your Life– a track with a little more of a commercial feel to it that is all about someone who realizes that they lived as slaves to the grind and now it’s time to escape before it’s too late. 4.5/5
6. Remember When-a more melodic track from the band that is all about reflecting on the past and saying to yourself if you only knew… 4.5/5
7. Better The Devil– Tommy flexes his more melodic singing ability on this track and combines it with the intensity of his vocals on the chorus in this very Nu-Metal like track in this track that I think gives awareness to suicide. 4.5/5
8. Jesus Slaves-a pretty cool track that I believe is talking about Werewolves and that once you’ve been turned into one not even Jesus can save you. 4.5/5
9. Hear Me Now– a very commercial track that is featuring DIAMANTE who sings vocals on the track in the same style that Linkin Park had Kiiara for Heavy and Papa Roach had Skylar Grey for Periscope. It’s not a bad track by any means, but there’s a trend here. 4.5/5
10. Truth Or Dare– The band stays melodic for this track that is all about being daring because life is just a game anyways. 4/5
11. The Conversation– Another track on the album that is looking to be socially aware as it questions the way we’ve been living and that as Americans, we need to start questioning the establishment more. 4.5/5
12. Shape Shifter– I am not a fan of the guitar riff on this track, but the rhythm section definitely helps carry this tune that is all about a woman who is more than men can handle. 4/5
13. Toast To The Ghost– This was the first single released off of the album and it has a build up that leads to an in your face track that is all about how we forget all those that fought and died for our freedom and the very belief of it. 5/5
My Final Thoughts– The album has a theme behind as almost every track touches on the idea of not being controlled or freedom and while the music touches upon the best elements of Slipknot, Nu-Metal, and some FFDP, I can see these guys having a future. My favorite track on the album is No Master, that is a song that I would love to hear live. My least favorite track is Shape Shifter just cause I’m not a fan of the guitar riff. I am going to give the album 4.5 stars out of five for a final grade.
If you are a fan of the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival then you’ll certainly like this piece of news. The festival which once again returns to the Worcester Palladium April 15 and 16TH will feature Killswitch Engage as a headliner on the April 16TH show. The festival will also feature acts like Bury Your Dead, The Black Dahlia Murder, Unearth, Earth Crisis, Ringworm, Memphis May Fire, 36 Crazyfists, Zao, Reflections, and so many more. Tickets for the shows go on sale this Friday (January 29) and you can get them 
Filter / Orgy / Vampires Everywhere / Death Valley High 2016 Tour
Have you ever gotten bothered by those guys outside the concert venues all across America that bug you to buy their t-shirts because it’s cheaper than inside and the t-shirts never look any good? Well, everyone’s favorite Aussie rock band AC/DC has decided to do something about it. The band has filed a lawsuit preventing anyone from selling counterfeit shirts at concerts. According to a report from TMZ and Loudwire, “the Australian rock powerhouse has moved forward in filing a lawsuit which will send U.S Marshals and police officers to several cities on their upcoming tour. The first stop will be in Tacoma, Wash. and AC/DC would like these authorities to arrest all offenders and seize all counterfeit merchandise. The band will be out in support of their 2014 release, Rock or Bust and everyone in attendance better rock or get busted!” They’re just like me, I hate crappy knockoffs and fake tour shirts.
In other tour news, Sevendust has just unveiled a spring tour which will see the band headline various gigs across the country with Trivium and Like A Storm. The trek starts on April 26TH in Baton Rouge. LA and heads all the way until May 28TH when the band plays at Rocklahoma in Pryor, OK. Singer Lajon Witherspoon had this to say about the tour, “We can’t wait to embark on our first Kill The Flaw headline tour of the States! Looking forward to jamming with our brothers in Trivium and Like A Storm for the first time as well. Can’t wait to see you all on the road!” Check out the tour dates below to see if they are playing new you.
Moshpits And Movies 