Recommended Tracks: “S!CK,” “Apologize,” “Satisfied”
Artists You Might Like: The Pretty Reckless, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Evanescence
Armed with the power of sisterhood and a deep love for music, The Warning is a rising rock act that only gets stronger every day. The band, made up of sisters Daniela or “Dany,” Paulina or “Pau,” and Alejandra or “Ale” Villarreal, has been years in the making, ever since the girls were children living in Monterrey, Mexico. Over the years, they have been able to turn their childhood dreams of playing music together into a reality, making a name for themselves as they released singles, performed alongside artists like Foo Fighters and Muse, and appeared in features for notable publications like Vanity Fair and Cosmopolitan. Their bond and drive are what keep them going, especially as they worked on their fourth album, Keep Me Fed. Written between tours, The Warning were giving it their all on and off stage, totally consumed by their work. While it was a lot to handle, they craved every second, and as they unleash these songs to the world, The Warning invite others to crave Keep Me Fed, too.
Living life on your own is complicated enough, as you try to meet your own needs and wants. It becomes a lot more complicated when other people are thrown into the mix, and throughout Keep Me Fed, The Warning speak on these situations. We are given several songs that touch on becoming a different version of yourself for someone else, which can be dangerous. On “Satisfied,” for instance, we hear lines like, “Like a machine / I will complete / I will obey / I will perfect / My every move / My every word / Till there is nothing of me left,” as The Warning try to be more than satisfactory. Amidst the semi-sunny melodies and sinister tones, they suggest that becoming this exemplary robot of a person will not suffice, that “you can take all that you want but it will never be enough.” This idea comes across again on “Sharks,” an anthem about breaking free and protecting yourself. There is a frenetic energy and sense of urgency to the track, reflected in the fast-paced guitar and vocals. It all implies that there is no time to waste, made clear in lines like, “There’s something lurking in the water / You better swim a little faster now” and “If we only bring silence / All we’ll ever be is good as dead.”
It is natural to want more from these situations, and The Warning get into the drama that comes from suppressing your desires or refusing to act on them. On the unapologetic “S!CK,” we are encouraged to actively participate in life. Over prominent drum beats and lively guitar, lines like, “Bleeding just to feel alive / I’m rotting in my place / Life is nothing more than passing time / Give me violence! / Kill the silence! / Till it makes me feel SICK!” will have anyone reconsider their aspirations in life. Basically, you can “make mistakes and live in regret,” or you can passively sit around and watch as life passes by. Obviously, “MORE” touches on this concept as well. Throughout the track, which features catchy downward melodies in the choruses, there is a sense that the person in the song is stuck. One on hand, they “find desire leaves me frozen, stranded” but claim, “I love it when you feed me / Yet you leave me begging for more.” When these conflicted feelings become too much, it’s easy to shut down. We feel this on “Escapism,” which focuses on tuning out. It’s a bittersweet listen, taking us to a place that is quiet but lonely. You can’t shake that optimistic pessimism when you hear, “It’s the hope that kills you / So I close my eyes till it all fades” and “Stepping into the void / Even if it amounts to nothing / Silence is to avoid / Reaching out to hold onto something.”
Of course, being the fierce rockers they are, The Warning will not be defeated. They have the final word on “Six Feet Deep,” which opens the album. The energy pushes and pulls, giving way to lyrics such as, “Can’t get any lower now / ‘Cause it’s over / Six feet deep / I’ll be seeing you underground” and “It’s countless how many times you / Pushed me over again.” It is very taunting and vengeful, making it a proud breakup track for those who want to come out on top. Also ready to pack a punch is “Qué Más Quieres,” which is the only song on the album that is entirely in Spanish. Embracing their heritage while flaunting their edgy ways, The Warning help pave the way for Mexican women in rock with this song. It was inspired by the ‘Gatekeep Gaslight Girlboss’ phrase from TikTok, and we can pick up on these tones as we listen. The dark sounds and exclamatory choruses conjure an empowering spirit as we hear, “Dime ¿qué más quieres?” or “Tell me, what else do you want?”
Still, they are only human, so this tough exterior may crack from time to time. The album closes with “Automatic Sun,” which elaborates on this notion. Much like the powerful forces of the sun, there are forces of love that are undeniable and intense. Throughout this track, we are faced with a relationship that is toxic but magnetic. Lines like, “The way you hurt me is never enough / This addiction’s hard to give up / If you want it all, then just take it / ‘Cause you got me, you got me,” demonstrate the conflicting nature of being human, where your thoughts and your feelings are not always in sync.
All in all, Keep Me Fed unleashes the force that is The Warning. Emotionally, the sisters are filling us with drama and rage as they explore relationships, mental health, and control. Musically, they give us anthemic choruses, dynamic vocals that playfully change from hard to soft, tempos that smartly speed up and slow down, and melodies that rise just as fast as they fall. Their ability to weave these details together into one rock song after the other just demonstrates their proficiency as artists, and the fact that they were able to do so while on the road is all the more impressive. If you are hungry for it, Keep Me Fed will definitely satisfy your cravings, just like it did for Dany, Pau, and Ale.
You can listen to Keep Me Fed on platforms like Spotify, SoundCloud, and Apple Music.
Check out our latest interview with The Warning here.
Catch The Warning on tour here.
Keep up with The Warning: Instagram // Facebook // X // TikTok // YouTube // Website
