Bad Wolves will release their heavily anticipated new album, Dear Monsters, on October 29, the band has announced. The first single, “Lifelife,” will be released this Wednesday, September 8.
The album will be their first with former The Acacia Strain guitarist Daniel “DL” Laskiewicz on vocals.
Laskiewicz replaces Tommy Vext (né Cummings), who split with the group at the start of 2021.
In a statement heralding the impending release of Dear Monsters, the band elaborates upon their split with Vext, alleging that the vocalist “abusive – both emotionally and physically – while in the band.”
The claims echo those of Vext’s ex-girlfriend, fitness model and personal trainer Whitney Johns, who was granted a restraining order against the singer in December.
Bad Wolves’ statement in full:
“Since Tommy Vext quit Bad Wolves in January, we have all largely stayed silent.
“We were prioritizing our search for a new singer, making music and focusing on the band’s future. We have all put a tremendous amount of heart and soul into Bad Wolves, and we owed it our fans to make a third album that is the band’s best yet.
“We are happy to share that we’ve accomplished that, and we can’t wait for you to hear it.
“The album is called DEAR MONSTERS and it will be out October 29. The first single, called ‘Lifeline,’ is coming out this Wednesday, September 8, with a new music video. It will be the first taste of the next chapter with our new singer DL, who is an incredible talent and welcomed addition to the band.
“We think our fans will appreciate the renewed energy and range he brings to Bad Wolves.
“It’s unfortunate we must bear witness to Tommy Vext’s never-ending temper tantrums on social media, filled with fraudulent claims and sad attempts to defame members of our band and our team. The truth is that Tommy was abusive – both emotionally and physically – while in the band, and he continues to be abusive since quitting the group. He has childishly asserted many falsehoods. Refuting them all would be a waste of time and divert our energy from making music, which is our priority.
“However we will not stand for our artistic contributions to be diminished, so here are some points that we feel are important to clarify before we move ahead with the next chapter:
“-Ten of the 13 songs on our first album Disobey were musically written and recorded before Tommy ever joined the band.
“-‘Killing Me Slowly’ is an example of a song done in collaboration with outside writers. Tommy changed a few lyrics and then publicly claimed to be the mastermind behind the song. That is false, which is why others, including members from the band are credited on the track.
“-When were shooting the video for ‘Better Off This Way (feat. Dorothy)’ [a song co-written by Doc Coyle, John Boecklin and Brandon Sammons]. Tommy refused to let any other members be in the video. Then, to make matters worse, he illegally leaked it after quitting the band.
“Bad Wolves is and will remain a creative collective, where no one member inside or outside the band, holds the keys to the group’s success.
“– Bad Wolves”
The adult performer Karma Rx subsequently leaked what we believe is a version of the upcoming single “Lifeline” with Vext’s vocals on it. It’s not clear what this is meant to prove, other than Vext once recorded a version of the song, which nobody denies. Vext has not addressed the abuse allegations.
The leak could add fuel to the lawsuit against Vext filed last month by Bad Wolves’ record label, Better Noise Music, claiming copyright infringement. That complaint alleges that Vext has been engaging in “retaliatory conduct” since splitting with Bad Wolves, and “has resorted to actively sabotaging the Band by posting unreleased music videos and sound recordings without permission.” The suit also categorizes Vext’s recent announcement that he’ll soon been touring under the name ‘Tommy Vext and The B@d W8lv3s’ as “a blatant attempt to confuse concertgoers into thinking this is an approved tour.”
Vext’s attorney, Malcolm S. McNeil of Arent Fox LLP, asserts to Law360 that the lawsuit against his client is “in retaliation” for a different lawsuit that he filed against Kovac and Better Noise Music last month. That complaint alleges breach of fiduciary duties, breach of various agreements, and unjust enrichment. Furthermore, Vext alleges that Kovac, who is white, routinely used racial slurs. This despite the fact that in June of 2020, at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement’s protests spurred by the murder of George Floyd, Vext said in a video that “racism… doesn’t exist” in America.
Kovac and Bad Wolves have denied Vext’s allegations.
[via The PRP]