The Wait is Over! ERROR, the Latest Full Album by The Warning Is Here!
Recorded in 2020, the release of ERROR was delayed for two years due to the pandemic leading to a late 2021 release of the MAYDAY EP comprising six of the tracks that are included on ERROR. The new album includes the brief instrumental “INTRO 404” as well as the bonus track “BREATHE” plus six other tracks, beyond the recently released single “MONEY”, the title track and newest single, “ERROR”, “AMOUR” – which features a verse sung in French, “KOOL AID KIDS”, “REVENANT”, and “23”.
If you haven’t yet heard of The Warning (or haven’t read my previous review dated 1.18.22 for their MAYDAY EP) the band consists of three hard-rocking sisters from Monterrey, Mexico who have been performing together for over ten years. They began as children recording videos of music covers from such bands as Metallica, Muse, Foo Fighters, Twisted Sister, and more, several of those videos have long since gone viral. They are currently under contract with Lava/Republic Records. ERROR is their third studio offering, the two previous albums – XXI CENTURY BLOOD and QUEEN OF THE MURDER SCENE were independently produced and financed by their ever-growing legion of fans. They have released two EPs: ESCAPE THE MIND and the aforementioned MAYDAY. Their discography also includes NARCISISTA, a stand-alone single performed in their native Spanish, and ENTER SANDMAN, a reimagining of Metallica’s chart-topping single. The Warning’s version features Grammy Award-Winning artist Alessia Cara and was included on last year’s 30th Anniversary Black List tribute album.
Dany (Daniela Villarreal), 22, the band’s lead guitarist who also plays piano, is the lead vocalist on “MONEY”, “AMOUR”, “ERROR”, and “KOOL AID KIDS”.
Pau (Paulina Villarreal), 20, who is the band’s regular background vocalist as well as the percussionist and occasional pianist, serves as lead vocalist on three of the new tracks -“23”, “REVENANT”, and “BREATHE”. The latter is a simple but powerful and emotional acoustic track featuring Pau’s talent on the keys.
Ale (Alejandra Villarreal), 17, the youngest of the sisters, is the bassist and background vocalist who anchors the instrumental elements of the band, consistently laying down the rhythmic foundation with inventive runs around the chord sequences.
My Take:
Obviously, The Warning didn’t have much of a choice about when to release the songs. Not only did the pandemic intervene to thwart their efforts, but it also delayed their North American Tour in support of the release of their MAYDAY EP twice before a successful start earlier this year. Since the EP songs appear on ERROR, they have been performing half of the new album’s songs live as they have traversed the US and eastern Canada, meeting their fans and performing to adoring crowds. Several of their venues were sold out.
Of the new tracks, ERROR and AMOUR are likely candidates for immediate airplay with Dany’s powerful voice. However, I find the new tracks that feature Pau’s vocals intriguing. They are a bit more subdued that the usual fare I’ve come to expect from The Warning. Pau’s voice is always an interesting change-up from her sister’s, lending a husky rawness that stands out. Even though her role is more often to blend and harmonize, her performance on the three tracks that feature her are stunning examples of her potential up-front, something I’d love to see more of in the future. Also, having two lead vocalists in the band (as Pau does perform in the lead role on several of their past songs) allows Dany’s voice to rest during concerts. As the band’s tour schedule expands in the near future, this will become increasingly important.
We can expect more great things from The Warning as their fanbase continues to expand based on the exposure their music is now receiving through airplay and featuring at sporting events. I can’t wait to see what they do next. With over fifty tracks in their current discography, I have yet to hear a song I don’t like. That’s pretty rare. Their lyrics are never ill-guided or meaningless fluff. These young women have something to say and being multi-lingual, they’re more than able to communicate to the masses on a level that is rare in Rock music. Yes, most of their songs are composed in English, but their command of the language is impressive considering their ages. They have very slight accents that are easily overlooked. And in concert, there are a lot of native English speakers venturing a few words of Spanish as they sing along to MARTIRO and NARCISISTA.
Rumor has it they are working on a tour of the UK and Europe for next year. But closer to home, this Summer they are touring with Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless, Lilith Czar, and later in the Fall, they will be touring Canada with Three Days Grace. With this level of exposure before larger crowds, expect future US and Canadian tours to be on a grander scale in much larger venues. If you didn’t see them on this tour, you may have missed your chance at catching an intimate performance in a small club.
For more information: THE WARNING BAND
