Album review: Bad Wolves - N.A.T.I.O.N.

For this weeks album review I am reviewing the brilliant second album by the American heavy metal band Bad Wolves, the album is called N.A.T.I.O.N. and follows their incredible debut album Disobey. I can easily say that Bad Wolves are one of my favourite bands and definitely a family favourite with my toddler doing a head bang and dance every time they come on. This album hasn't been as successful as their first album, it did not chart in the UK (Disobey peaked at number 51), it charted at number 78 in the US while Disobey peaked at number 23 and in Australia it peaked at number 46 where Disobey hit number 9.

I must say that from the moment I first heard their cover of The Cranberries Zombie I have loved everything Bad Wolves have done and we definitely listen to them a lot. Their first album Disobey is incredible, making it a tough act to follow, however their second album almost matches perfectly and is an amazing second album. There are several things that make this band stand out for me, the lead vocalist Tommy Vext has such an amazing voice that he uses incredibly on every song, whether it's a really heavy song or a lighter one his voice fits the whole range meanwhile conveying every emotion. As mentioned their songs range in heaviness allowing them to fit a variety of styles into one album and stay true to themselves, the content of their songs is also quite varied covering things from relationship troubles to drug addiction to picking yourself up after something has gone wrong.

My favourite song on the album is Killing Me Slowly, this is probably around the middle of the heaviness range on the album and for me is a pretty perfect rock song. The song is about being unable to let the person you love in on all your pain but not wanting to lose them because you love them so much, essentially feeling like you are causing yourself a slow death. Tommy sings this so powerfully and gives such emotion that really brings across the hopelessness of the situation as he has been through this with a difficult past making it hard to open up.

Honourable mentions for this album go to Learn To Walk Again and Sober. Firstly Learn To Walk Again which is on the heavier end but is also really catchy, with a powerful message of needing to fall to be able to pick yourself back up and be strong again, the heavier aspect of this song makes it even more hard hitting and memorable. Then Sober, this is probably the softest and slowest song on the album with a very raw vocal from Tommy, this song delves into someone who is lying about being sober with Tommy holding out hope that they will come through the other side and actually be sober, this is almost certainly about his brother, hence the raw vocals.

Now time for my ratings of each song on the album;

1. I'll Be There - 9/10

2. No Messiah - 8/10

3. Learn To Walk Again - 9.5/10

4. Killing Me Slowly - 10/10

5. Better Off This Way - 8.5/10

6. Foe Or Friend - 8/10

7. Sober - 9.5/10

8. Back In The Days - 9/10

9. The Consumerist - 8.5/10

10. Heaven So Heartless - 8.5/10

11. Crying Game - 9/10

12. L.A. Song - 8/10

I would love to know what you think of Bad Wolves and their album.