Bad Wolves Post New Single, “Lifeline”

Bad Wolves have released “Lifeline,” the first single from their heavily anticipated new album, Dear Monsters, and also the first to feature new vocalist Daniel “DL” Laskiewicz (ex-The Acacia Strain).

Laskiewicz replaces Tommy Vext (né Cummings), who split with the group at the start of 2021. The band issued a statement earlier this week claiming that Vext was “emotionally and physically abusive” during his tenure with the group, and addressing what they referred to as “fraudulent claims” made by Vext with regards to songwriting credits for the band’s work.

The adult performer Karma Rx leaked a version of “Lifeline” last week with Vext’s vocals on it, adding 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 himself previously filed his own lawsuit against the band’s manager, Allen Kovac, and Better Noise Music. 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.

You can listen to “Lifeline” below. Dear Monsters will arrive on October 29 via Better Noise.