Bad Wolves aren’t just a band, they’re a sonic wrecking ball that’s destroying everything in their path. The act—which is composed of drummer John Boecklin (ex-Devildriver), vocalist Tommy Vext (Divine Heresy, Snot) as well as guitarists Doc Coyle (ex-God Forbid), Chris Cain (Bury Your Dead) and bassist Kyle Konkiel (ex-In This Moment), may seem like they just exploded onto the scene, but the idea has been percolating in Boecklin and Vext’s heads since 2015. “When I heard the initial batch of songs I was really impressed because what John was doing was very creatively experimental and it gave me an opportunity to also do more vocally experimental things,” Vext explains. The result is of this joint effort is Disobey, an album that music fans have been clamoring for and that has already birthed a viral single via their impassioned (and seemingly ubiquitous) cover of the Cranberries’ 1993 protest song, “Zombie,” which has racked up over 33 million views over Facebook and YouTube, hit #1 on Spotify's viral chart in over 40 countries countries and gone to #1 on the iTunes songs chart.

Recorded at various studios spanning three states and producers—including Kane Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Papa Roach) who mixed “Remember When” and “Zombie”—Disobey is a collection of songs that sees this group of Los Angeles music veterans stretching out and exploring sonic space they’ve never veered into in the past. “Everything seemed very natural once we decided that we wanted to be in a band that featured more singing than screaming,” Boecklin explains. “There are some very different songs on this record from track to track, from almost ballad stuff to heavier-edged material; we really spread our wings and had no problem tearing down any walls when it came to stylistic traits,” he continues, adding that Vext helped take this varied collection of tracks to the next level. “I think Tommy's performances on this album have blown away everyone who’s heard it. He has the songs that allow him to showcase what a powerful performer he is and we really harnessed that here.”

From driving anthems like “No Masters” to the syncopated Faith No More-worthy rocker “Better The Devil,” the crushing power of “Learn To Live,” and the soaring ballad “Hear Me Now,” Disobey is an album that showcases elements of rock, metal, hip-hop and progressive rock into a instantly infectious amalgam of music that’s as infectious as it is groundbreaking. Then there’s the band’s aforementioned cover of “Zombie,” which has hit the top of the charts on iTunes and Shazam and already garnered seven million total streams, an almost unheard of accomplishment for a band like Bad Wolves. “Recording ‘Zombie’ was Tommy’s idea and he really hit it out of the park,” Boecklin recalls. “When we finished recording it we sent it to [Cranberries singer] Dolores O’Riordan and she loved it and was supposed to record vocals on the version the day that she passed away,” he continues. “The fact that the song has gone so viral is completely unexpected and the success is bittersweet.” Subsequently, the band decided to give all of the proceeds from their reimagined cover of the nineties hit to O’Riordan’s three children.

In the spirit of protest songs like “Zombie,” Disobey is teeming with lyrics that see Vext tackling everything from the current political state of our nation to the prevalence of racism, not the typical fodder for an album that's already birthing hit singles. “This album is a commentary, but it’s also a diary,” he explains—and that’s especially evident on the painfully personal ballad, ‘Remember When.’ “I have a twin brother who is serving 17 years in prison because he attempted to murder me in 2010 during a home invasion,” Vext explains. “I've never gotten so vulnerable in songwriting before and talked about this situation, but it just felt natural on this album. No one broke my heart more than my own brother and nothing breaks my heart more than knowing he’s a danger to others and himself.” In the wake of this incident Vext, who has been sober for nine years, became a sober companion and coach in order to save others from similar fates. “There’s a lot of deep meaning in that song for me and I didn’t go into writing those lyrics with a conscious thought, I just heard the riff and all of these emotions poured out of me that I’d been keeping inside for a long time.”

That catharsis is ultimately what lies at the core of Disobey. “I listen to Meshuggah, but I also listen to Lana Del Rey and Busta Rhymes, not that we would be touring with those bands,” Vext says. “But I think we have a sound that kind of vacillates between extreme music and hard rock, which could be dubbed ‘commercial’ and I don’t think that’s a bad thing, I think it’s a strength of ours.” Additionally, the members of Bad Wolves all come from touring bands so they’re excited to get out on the road and bring these songs to audiences live who have been waiting for an album like Disobey for a long, long time. “This is the greatest body of work I’ve ever participated in over the course of 20 years of making music,” Vext summarizes. “It’s also the most creative and honest thing that I’ve ever worked on and we can’t wait for people to be able to hear these songs and share them with us live. Because there really are no limitations to what the five of us can accomplish with this band.”

Since re-releasing their first record in 2008, Pop Evil has developed their following the hard way. They have toured the US continuously since their first release, playing nearly 400 shows in two years and only taking time off to record their new album, War of Angels.

Leaving no stone unturned, no fan's question unanswered, and no road untraveled, the group pulled themselves up from their bootstraps and built themselves into a radio rock powerhouse that conjures the dirtiest hooks of the hard rocking 70ʼs, the hair metal 80's and the grunge-fueled 90ʼs…filtering it all through a modern prism coupled with a philosophical and spiritual outlook.

War Of Angels is a testimony to Pop Evil's resilience. Having been down a major label route fraught with the frustrations felt by far too many bands, the group has emerged with a Top 5 Active Rock single. They toured with Papa Roach and Judas Priest and created what Spin Magazine called one of the "10 Best Moments of Rock on the Range" where in front of tens of thousands of their heartland of the U.S.A. rock fans, they ceremoniously tore up their old contract and announced a new dawn.

With an output that easily appeals to students of Guns N' Roses, Pantera, Motley Crue and Aerosmith, Pop Evil is still nevertheless possessed with a talent, charisma and overall musical aesthetic that is decidedly and distinctly their own. They have put their stamp on the hard rock landscape with assured confidence and expert precision. "Weʼre just a bunch of guys that grew up together and are hungry for rock nʼ roll," frontman Leigh Kakaty simply states. "There are no othersecond options for us. Itʼs just music. Thatʼs what weʼve done, this is where we've always wanted to be, and grind is what weʼll continue to do."

Coming from Michigan, one of the states in the nation hit hardest by the economic downturn, Pop Evil knows something about hardship and the heart that it takes to persevere, to overcome and to conquer. They know the meaning of hard work, too. Their indie debut, Lipstick on the Mirror, resulted in a re-release through a major label and several inroads on rock radio but it's been word-of-mouth and live shows that have really driven the recently renewed momentum behind the band as their unique story continues to build.

"Weʼre just a good old fashioned Midwestern band that believes in grassroots and doing it from the ground up" Kakaty explains. "Weʼre the same band thatʼll rock your face with some heavy metal riffs then bring out the acoustic guitar and play some ballads."

Their very monicker represents something of a lifestyle to these five men. "Pop" represents the band's impressive hooks and well-crafted choruses while "Evil" conjures the more aggressive, hard rock side of the band. The band is a true mixture of pop sensibilities and "evil" sounding rock n' roll. It's not so much about distancing themselves from the mainstream as it is about forcing the mainstream to come to them on their own terms. "I think all five of us didnʼt really fit in, in our own ways, growing up," Kakaty reasons. "Pop Evil is kind of our way of saying, "this is our fraternity, our home.'"

The songs on War Of Angels reflect the various shapes, colors and emotions represented in a Pop Evil performance. The album provides a brilliant showcase for Kakaty's impressive range and various approaches, the guitar showmanship of Dave Grahs and Tony Greve, the solid bottom end of Matt DiRito and the rhythmic pulse of drummer Dylan Allison.

"Last Man Standing" is a shot across the bow, serving notice to the rest of rock radio-land that Pop Evil crafts music of a higher caliber. "It's amazing to see the reactions we get from the fans and how much the song means to them. That is priceless," Kakaty says.

"Bosses Daughter" was co-written with the legendary Mick Mars of Motley Crue. "It's got that rockin' vibe where it picks up and just doesn't stop," points out DiRito. "I get such a kick out of playing it live. I feel like I'm in Motley Crue. It becomes my Nikki Sixx moment!"

Other standouts include "Monster You Made," which addresses some hard times and points to the power of positive thinking to overcome obstacles. There's also "Broken & Betrayed" which has beautiful melodies and incredibly memorable singalong harmonies. "Next Life" is perhaps the album's most reflective song, particularly for Kakaty, who lost his father earlier this year. "Obviously itʼs a very personal piece for me as well." "And the list goes on with every song," he adds. "I donʼt think thereʼs any one I love more than the other, I usually listen to the song that best fits my mood."

With a career-defining sophomore album in their arsenal, Pop Evil are primed and ready to take their rightful place in the hard rock pantheon amongst their contemporaries and heroes. "We want to be known as a band with great music and a great live show," DiRito says.

Pop Evil is no fly-by-night, fair-weather band. War Of Angels is just one more giant leap in a career that has been built on a solid foundation and is intended to continue onward. Kakaty concludes, "At the end of the day, we want our fans to know that we've sacrificed our personal lives for them. We want the people who listen to our music to know that they've become our new family. That's why weʼve given up so much to do this. They are loved. Music is Love!"