Dear Monsters
Studio album by
Bad Wolves
ReleasedOctober 29, 2021 (2021-10-29)
Recorded2020–2021
StudioSparrow Sound, Glendale, California
Length45:03
LabelBetter Noise
Producer
Bad Wolves chronology
N.A.T.I.O.N.
(2019)		 Dear Monsters
(2021)		 Sacred Kiss EP
(2022)
Singles from Dear Monsters
  1. "Lifeline"
    Released: September 7, 2021[1][2]
  2. "If Tomorrow Never Comes"
    Released: October 28, 2021[3]
  3. "Sacred Kiss"
    Released: July 29, 2022

Dear Monsters is the third studio album by the American heavy metal band Bad Wolves. It was released on October 29, 2021 through Better Noise Music and was produced by Josh Gilbert.[4] It is the first album to feature vocalist Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz, after the departure of Tommy Vext from the band in January 2021 and the final to feature rhythm guitarist Chris Cain, following his departure in April 2022.

Background and recording

Following the completion of their tour promoting N.A.T.I.O.N. (2019), Bad Wolves began writing music for their third studio album. In an interview in October 2020, former Bad Wolves vocalist Tommy Vext confirmed that the band had almost completed their third studio album and that they may release it six months early exclusively via Patreon.[5] However, on January 8, 2021, Vext announced his departure from the band, with intention to launch his own solo career.[6]

On June 2, 2021, Bad Wolves announced Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz had joined the band as their lead vocalist and that they were working on their third album called Dear Monsters, which they claimed would be "the best Bad Wolves album to date".[7] Laskiewicz was previously involved in the songwriting of N.A.T.I.O.N.

According to Laskiewicz, "The album [Dear Monsters] was about 60% done when I joined the band." Despite this, Laskiewicz was involved in the songwriting and helped the other band members with the completion of the remaining 40% of the album.[8][9]

Release and promotion

It is supported by the singles "Lifeline" and "If Tomorrow Never Comes". Bad Wolves was originally going to promote the album as a support act on Tremonti's European tour in January 2022 but the tour was later rescheduled.[10] They instead supported Papa Roach's Kill The Noise tour in March 2022.[11] A deluxe edition of the album was released on October 28, 2022.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Hysteria Magazine7/10[12]
Wall of Sound6/10[13]

Dear Monsters was met with mixed to favorable reviews. KJ Draven of Wall of Sound writes "They [Bad Wolves] have written some cool heavy riffs and more melodic tracks to put together a collection that has peaks and valleys that make for a great drinkin' and singin' album… There are decent album tracks, and might even make good singles, but they don’t rock me."[13]

Alan Ronson of Brutal Planet wrote that "Bad Wolves has proved they can not only make great music but can sustain the behemoth of the music industry and endure a change in their lineup. It takes a special kind of determination to undergo all that affliction and come out on top with an album as stunning as this. 'Dear Monsters' is an intense and passionate response to all the beasts who attempted to devour them."[14]

Track listing

Dear Monsters track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Sacred Kiss"4:04
2."Never Be the Same"3:50
3."Lifeline"3:13
4."Wildfire"3:16
5."Comatose"4:03
6."Gone"3:40
7."On the Case"3:27
8."If Tomorrow Never Comes"3:08
9."Springfield Summer"4:16
10."House of Cards"4:19
11."Classical"3:33
12."In the Middle"4:09
Total length:45:06
Deluxe edition
No.TitleLength
13."Mama, I'm Coming Home (Ozzy Osbourne cover)"3:50
14."If Tomorrow Never Comes (featuring Spencer Charnas)"3:09
15."The Body"3:51
16."Sacred Kiss" (featuring Aaron Pauley)4:04
17."Up in Smoke"4:09
18."I Don't Wanna Feel"3:21
19."Wildfire" (orchestral)4:03
20."Sacred Kiss" (acoustic)2:32
21."If Tomorrow Never Comes" (acoustic)3:14
22."Lifeline" (acoustic)3:35
Total length:80:35

Personnel

Bad Wolves

  • Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz – lead vocals
  • Doc Coyle – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Chris Cain – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
  • Kyle Konkiel – bass, backing vocals
  • John Boecklin – drums, percussion, producer

Production

Charts

Chart performance for Dear Monsters
Chart (2023) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[15] 83
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[16] 94
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[17] 42
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[18] 29
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[19] 16

References

  1. ↑ "Bad Wolves unveil Lifeline, their first single with new vocalist Daniel 'DL' Laskiewicz". Kerrang!. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Bad Wolves introduce 'Dear Monsters' with the first single, "Lifeline"". Knotfest. September 8, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  3. ↑ "BAD WOLVES Drop Music Video For 'If Tomorrow Never Comes'". Blabbermouth.net. October 29, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  4. ↑ "BAD WOLVES To Release 'Dear Monsters' Album In October; First Single 'Lifeline' Out Now". Blabbermouth.net. September 8, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Interview: Bad Wolves (14/10/2020)". October 30, 2020.
  6. ↑ Pasbani, Robert (January 9, 2021). "Tommy Vext Reportedly Out of Bad Wolves". Metal Injection. Archived from the original on January 9, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  7. ↑ "We are Excited to Officially Announce That Bad Wolves Has A New Singer − Daniel 'DL' Laskiewicz". June 2, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  8. ↑ Arto Mäenpää (October 26, 2021). "Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz about "Dear Monsters": "The album was about 60% done when I joined the band"". chaoszine.net. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  9. ↑ Gary Graff (November 2, 2021). "New Singer, Seventh Top 10 Hit: Bad Wolves Share What's Next". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Bad Wolves on Instagram: Wolfpack! We're headed to Europe to tour with @tremontiofficial and play our new album #DearMonsters!". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Bad Wolves on Instagram: Better grab tickets 🐺".
  12. ↑ "Bad Wolves // Dear Monsters". Hysteria Magazine. October 25, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  13. 1 2 Draven, KJ H. "Bad Wolves – Dear Monsters (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  14. ↑ Ronson, Alan (October 28, 2021). "BAD WOLVES: Dear Monsters". BPM. Retrieved December 5, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bad Wolves – Dear Monsters" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Bad Wolves – Dear Monsters". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
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