 | Tracklist:
1. You Ain't No Family
2. White Water In The Morning
3. Danger In The Manger
4. I'm Cold And There Are Wolves After Me
5. Tastes Like Kevin Bacon
6. The Cat's Pajamas
7. Pazuzu For The Win
8. Black Eyed Bush
9. Eli Cash vs. The Godless Savages
10. See You In Shell
Release Date: 2009 | |
| | other reviews | Comatorium. (4)
Eclectic, weird, and heavy. Also better than ANY other female fronted band out there.... | Rationalist (2.5)
This band crafts interesting tidbits here and there, but riddles these interesting bits with music t... | Zipzop5565 (1.5)
Attempting to stand out amongst a sea of female-fronted bands, Iwrestledabearonce’s endeavor is mo... |
On 13 Lists
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| Summary: It's All Happening shows signs of a more mature and focused iwrestledabearonce. But really, they're still pretty damn goofy. |
15 of 15 thought this review was well written
Iwrestledabearonce is clearly a divisive band, and it’s easy to see why. Their self-titled EP from 2007, while featuring their token spastic grindcore/metalcore sound, was marred with goofy interludes and throwbacks to Inspector Gadget and Super Mario Bros. While I do enjoy that EP from time to time, I fully accept its flaws and simply treat it as a guilty pleasure. While iwrestledabearonce’s sense of humor certainly hasn’t gone away with this album, it’s used in a much more contained fashion and shows a new sense of focus. It’s All Happening clearly isn’t the strongest effort that this band could produce, but hey, they’re young and clearly progressing. Iwrestledabearonce is also progressing quite rapidly as musicians, which is the most obvious through Krysta’s vast improvements both with her now surprisingly brutal low growls and crystal-clean melodic singing.
It’s All Happening’s strongest moments come from the contrast between electronica and the huge, soaring metal moments that follow. Listeners were given a taste of this last year when “Tastes like Kevin Bacon” was released. While the first half of that song is definitely iwrestledabearonce, it doesn’t really get going until the song settles down, and finally explodes with what is vocalist Krysta Cameron’s most menacing performance to date. The band runs with this electronic/metal contrast on several other songs, such as the beginning to “I’m Cold and There Are Wolves after Me” and “The Cat’s Pajamas”, the latter of which is probably the least gimmicky, and therefore, the most accessible and focused song on the album. “Pazuzu for the Win” is another incredibly focused song from this group, as it shows both their most effective use of breakdowns and much more compelling riffs than on previous songs in the album. It’s All Happening really reaches its peak right in the middle of the record and truly blew me back in parts.
Even though the general goofiness can be a major turn-off for many of those who aren’t fans of the band, it’s enjoyable in spots. While iwrestledabearonce do have a problem with dicking around a little too much on this album, there are a few instances where it’s simply fun to listen to. “You Aint No Family” would be a great example of this, where the band enters a full on hoe-down section, followed by a horse neighing before entering yet another chug-a-lug-a-wee breakdown. Sure, iwrestledabearonce does have a severe case of musical-ADHD, but in a few spots it pays off. Some of their goofiest moments will clearly become some of their most memorable on the record, and some of the most effective parts of their live performance. “See You in Shell” would probably be the only other tune that shows a very strong use of vast musical contrast. The song, starting off with their technical grindcore sound, quickly enters the album’s most technical breakdown with Krysta’s best clean vocals to date. And then not too much later you’re hit with a full on disco-break. It sounds outright silly on paper, but man would it make for an interesting song in concert.
I want to outright love this band and album, but the same reason I was drawn to them in the first place is the same reason they are now holding themselves back. While you can see in certain songs that iwrestledabearonce is clearly progressing and maturing as musicians, you can also see that the band doesn’t want to abandon their sense of humor which made them so popular so quickly. I’d give them a few more albums before they are a completely focused and effective force in the metal world, but for now I’ll gladly take my breakdowns with my hoe-downs and just accept It’s All Happening for what it is: fun metalcore.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 3.5
It's probably pretty obvious that I haven't reviewed since January.
Digging: Saint Vitus - Lillie: F-65 Digging: Saint Vitus - Lillie: F-65 | | | Album Rating: 3
quirky
Digging: Love American - Disquiet Digging: Love American - Disquiet | | | Album Rating: 3
the same reason I was drawn to them in the first place is the same reason they are now holding themselves back.
i feel the same way but i still love this band. nice review
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music | | |
Fuc k I should be liking this band/album as much as I am.
I'm not sure about a rating yet but it will prob be around 3, their gimmick wears off quick imo.
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nice cover. will check it out soon.
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sounds decent, i'll listen to the stream
Digging: The Walkmen - Heaven
| | | Album Rating: 2
Album sucks but the singing is great
Digging: Animal Collective - Honeycomb/Gotham | | | Album Rating: 3.5
Pazuzu For The Win is awesome.
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weird album art
Digging: Dot Hacker - Inhibition Digging: Dot Hacker - Inhibition
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i can't wait for this album cover to get off the front page
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Excellent review Thor. Band makes me laugh but I just can't take them seriously enough to actually purchase one of their albums.
Digging: Vaura - Selenelion Digging: Vaura - Selenelion
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Band name brings the lulz
Also, Pazuzu For The Win
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i'll probably check this out.. The Inspector Gadget breakdown on their EP was pretty fucking hilarious
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i've never listened, and usually this kind of stuff isn't my thing, but what song has the inspector gadget breakdown?
and on a related (kind of) note, the idea of a inspector gadget breakdown is not new...check the song anti circle by the roots (off of organix)
| | | Album Rating: 3
@ cfbassist - on their first ep, the song Ulrich Firelord.
album is alright. gets old mega fast.
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"Ulrich Firelord: Breaker Of Mountains" has the breakdown. It's off their EP
| | | Album Rating: 2
this band is a joke
great review though.
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Good lord, this chick can scream. And sing?! I definitely am going to check this out.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off
Why is this in punk? Also great review.
This whole band wouldn't be as good without the samples, which says something. Real gimmicky, but fun.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
because it is grind and grind is filed under punk
Digging: Psycroptic - The Inherited Repression Digging: Psycroptic - The Inherited Repression | | | |
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