Album Review: Bad Wolves - Disobey

The unexpected crossover success of their striking cover of The Cranberries' Zombie, and the accompanying narrative whereby the late Dolores O'Riordan was scheduled to contribute guest vocals to this version, afforded metallers Bad Wolves a sizeable leg-up over most new bands.

Its inclusion on their debut LP - curiously four songs in, rather than as a tacked-on bonus - should also afford the record a handy boost. However, the momentum will ultimately count for nought if they can't deliver with original material. Given the collective experience assembled (former members of DevilDriver, In This Moment, God Forbid and Divine Heresy), the metallic pedigree is certainly there.

The songwriting chops and musicianship are present and correct, too. The punchy sound infuses elements of djent, metalcore and hard rock, bolstered by soaring melodies and grooves wider than the Grand Canyon. There does seem to be a few too-obvious stabs at rock-radio play such as Hear Me Now and perhaps a superfluous track or two could have been culled. Elsewhere, Better The Devil's syncopated fury and Toast To The Ghost's tasty fretwork resonate, and No Masters offers a rallying cry for festival crowds and arena support slots.

Bad Wolves seemingly represents an opportunity for several seasoned metal musicians to embrace their second shot at major-player status. This is a promising first step.