Review: IWrestledABearOnce – Late For Nothing
Artist: IWrestledABearOnce
Album: Late For Nothing
Rating: 10/10
Change can be both a blessing and a curse. When original vocalist Krysta Cameron left the band IWrestledABearOnce in the middle of the 2012 Vans Warped Tour, due to her first pregnancy, she left some big shoes to fill. Fans were skeptical when UNICRON vocalist, Courtney LaPlante, joined the band but luckily she fit the bill perfectly. With the release of, “Thunder Chunky”, the first track with Courtney behind vocals, all fears were put aside. In fact, in more ways than one, “Late For Nothing” as a whole is one of the best, if not THE best IWABO album to date. Why do I claim this? Well, let’s dive deep into the woods and explore, shall we?
Song Structure & Instrumentation: Let’s face it, IWABO was never a band that was meant to be taken seriously. They are a band who is meant to be listened to loudly at parties with lots of drinking and goofing off. However, this new album seems to be their first attempt at making a serious record. Every song is structured well enough to be considered a serious track, while keeping that IWABO flavor that we’ve all come to love (or hate) depending on who we’re talking to. The instrumentals are better than ever. The band has pulled out all the stops and truly put their heart and soul into this to show that, regardless of the sudden change, they remain unstoppable. You’ve got crazy, out there songs like IWABO has been known for (I.E. Thunder Chunky, Letters to Stallone), you’ve got a ballad or two (Mind the Gap) and then you’ve got more experimental tracks like “Carnage Asada” which features the legendary Steve Vai shredding it up with the band! What more could you ask for?
Overall: I have enjoyed this album from the very first time I finished it until now, by which point I’ve probably listened to it at least 20 times over. I, like many IWABO fans, was skeptical of how the album would sound but my fears were quickly put to rest upon my first spin of the record. “Late For Nothing” is a pinnacle in the band’s career and you can tell that they wanted to do something different with this record. Change turned out to be a great thing for them, making it their best album to date. While you’ll be expecting the sporadic, silly moments that have defined IWABO in the past, you will get not only that but SO much more upon listening to this album. Chase the white rabbit down the rabbit hole and pick up your copy of “Late For Nothing” on Century Media on August 6th! Discover that the Bear is far from hibernation!
