bolgy99
07/24/09, 06:15 PM
iwrestledabearonce - It's All Happening
Record Label: Century Media
Release Date: June 2, 2009
Rising from the recently popular "experimental grindcore" scene, iwrestledabearonce begin to carve their own niche among bands with equally ridiculous band names with their first full length, It’s All Happening.
I was skeptical and somewhat excited when I ordered this album. Grindcore seems to be a fairly dull scene full of bands trying to prove they can riff twice as fast as the last band, so much so that it’s impossible to hear anything even remotely rhythmic. It all just seems like a great waste of what could be fairly talented musicians. I am, however, a sucker for almost anything with that has experimental attached to it, so I bought this album in hope that it would set itself apart from what I expected. After the first couple of songs, I was pleasantly surprised by what I was hearing. Constantly changing styles, keeping the listener entertained, and displaying technical proficiency, they were not failing to impress.
One of the most obvious factors that set iwrestledabearonce apart from the rest is their choice of a female singer. Although this might concern someone on their first listen, Krysta Cameron won’t take long to convince that she can growl like the rest of them, and with her robust melodic vocals, she becomes a powerful asset for the band. Her distinctive voice is put on display right from the first song, “You Ain’t No Family,” soaring over blast beat drumming in an impressive display of what’s to come.
For anyone who’s heard the self-titled EP in the short span of time it’s been around, it is obvious they have moved forward at an alarming rate. Cameron’s melodic vocals are utilized particularly well throughout the album, allowing the band to change styles constantly throughout songs, and with seamless transitions from grindcore to hard rock to jazz, and then straight back into grind with a throaty roar. I still don’t quite understand where iwrestledabearonce are coming from vocally, although there is a great improvement in the flow of the lyrics, and most of them seem to tie into one another, though you can’t hear most of it anyway in typical grind/death fashion.
All the hype in the more "scene" bands going around is their use of electronics/samples, and iwrestledabearonce are no exception. However, they do it with a little more style. An up-tempo, poppy electro rhythm introduces “The Cat’s Pajamas,” which then opens hard into a noisy, not-so-poppy wall of sound to great effect. They then go on to use them to a completely different effect in songs such as “Black-Eyed Bush,” where a haunting ambience is created with just an electronic beat and Cameron’s vocals echoing, almost in the background.
This mixture of grind/death/jazz proposes an intense and technical style, and requires a lot from the band, but they handle it as if it’s a four-chord pop-rock band. It’s only two years since their first release, and iwrestledabearonce show off their prowess instrumentally as if it’s been ten years. Even if this isn’t your style, it is undeniable that these are talented musicians.
On first listen, the band’s fairly corny attempts at a bit of fun and humor will undeniably stand out and smack you in the face. After three minutes of intensity, there isn’t much need for what seems like a little farmyard skit with bluegrass guitar and a horse neighing. At first, it completely ruined the song. After a couple of listens, it was mildly annoying. Now, it just blends in as part of the song. If iwrestledabearonce are going to be taken seriously, they are going to do it on their own terms, playing music the way they want to. Playing music is about enjoyment, and, in the end, your own satisfaction. They were criticised heavily about it after their EP release, and although they have dulled it down, it is still very much present. It’s not going to change, and personally that won’t stop me from buying their next album.
Displaying outstanding technical ability, plenty of experimentation, a refreshing vocalist, and just a little bit of fun, iwrestledabearonce has created a solid album that will hopefully catch the ears of some of the trend-following bands, proving that you can make music your own way and still get some recognition.
mathcore, experimental metal, female vocals
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/iwrestledabearonce)
Record Label: Century Media
Release Date: June 2, 2009
Rising from the recently popular "experimental grindcore" scene, iwrestledabearonce begin to carve their own niche among bands with equally ridiculous band names with their first full length, It’s All Happening.
I was skeptical and somewhat excited when I ordered this album. Grindcore seems to be a fairly dull scene full of bands trying to prove they can riff twice as fast as the last band, so much so that it’s impossible to hear anything even remotely rhythmic. It all just seems like a great waste of what could be fairly talented musicians. I am, however, a sucker for almost anything with that has experimental attached to it, so I bought this album in hope that it would set itself apart from what I expected. After the first couple of songs, I was pleasantly surprised by what I was hearing. Constantly changing styles, keeping the listener entertained, and displaying technical proficiency, they were not failing to impress.
One of the most obvious factors that set iwrestledabearonce apart from the rest is their choice of a female singer. Although this might concern someone on their first listen, Krysta Cameron won’t take long to convince that she can growl like the rest of them, and with her robust melodic vocals, she becomes a powerful asset for the band. Her distinctive voice is put on display right from the first song, “You Ain’t No Family,” soaring over blast beat drumming in an impressive display of what’s to come.
For anyone who’s heard the self-titled EP in the short span of time it’s been around, it is obvious they have moved forward at an alarming rate. Cameron’s melodic vocals are utilized particularly well throughout the album, allowing the band to change styles constantly throughout songs, and with seamless transitions from grindcore to hard rock to jazz, and then straight back into grind with a throaty roar. I still don’t quite understand where iwrestledabearonce are coming from vocally, although there is a great improvement in the flow of the lyrics, and most of them seem to tie into one another, though you can’t hear most of it anyway in typical grind/death fashion.
All the hype in the more "scene" bands going around is their use of electronics/samples, and iwrestledabearonce are no exception. However, they do it with a little more style. An up-tempo, poppy electro rhythm introduces “The Cat’s Pajamas,” which then opens hard into a noisy, not-so-poppy wall of sound to great effect. They then go on to use them to a completely different effect in songs such as “Black-Eyed Bush,” where a haunting ambience is created with just an electronic beat and Cameron’s vocals echoing, almost in the background.
This mixture of grind/death/jazz proposes an intense and technical style, and requires a lot from the band, but they handle it as if it’s a four-chord pop-rock band. It’s only two years since their first release, and iwrestledabearonce show off their prowess instrumentally as if it’s been ten years. Even if this isn’t your style, it is undeniable that these are talented musicians.
On first listen, the band’s fairly corny attempts at a bit of fun and humor will undeniably stand out and smack you in the face. After three minutes of intensity, there isn’t much need for what seems like a little farmyard skit with bluegrass guitar and a horse neighing. At first, it completely ruined the song. After a couple of listens, it was mildly annoying. Now, it just blends in as part of the song. If iwrestledabearonce are going to be taken seriously, they are going to do it on their own terms, playing music the way they want to. Playing music is about enjoyment, and, in the end, your own satisfaction. They were criticised heavily about it after their EP release, and although they have dulled it down, it is still very much present. It’s not going to change, and personally that won’t stop me from buying their next album.
Displaying outstanding technical ability, plenty of experimentation, a refreshing vocalist, and just a little bit of fun, iwrestledabearonce has created a solid album that will hopefully catch the ears of some of the trend-following bands, proving that you can make music your own way and still get some recognition.
mathcore, experimental metal, female vocals
MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/iwrestledabearonce)