REVIEW: THE WARNING – Everything’s Falling

 

THE WARNING – Everything’s Falling

Lava / Republic Records

A Cosmopolitan Reach for the Stars

In a fast-paced world, perseverance still pays off. It’s already been twelve years since the Enter Sandman cover by three Mexican sisters — Daniela “Dany” (main vocals & guitar), Paulina “Pau” (drums) and Alejandra “Ale” Villarreal (bass) — then just 14, 12 and 9 years old — of The Warning exploded on YouTube. After more than a decade of touring the planet with heavyweights like Muse, the Foo Fighters, Def Leppard, and Halestorm, and releasing four highly acclaimed albums, their new record Everything’s Falling marks the next clear milestone.

What should listeners expect? While the band’s first two records were firmly rooted in hard rock and classic rock of the ’70s and ’80s, The Warning’s sound has grown sharper, more modern and multifaceted with every release. One of the strongest points of that evolution is these twelve tight, high-impact tracks, none of which crack the four-minute mark. Drawing freely from pop, electronic, alternative, funk, industrial and whatever other styles the band deems useful, they prove they don’t need epic lengths. The goal is simply great songs that transcend genre barriers.

Although the arrangements of the songs are generally worthy of praise, a particular strength lies in how the vocals are treated. The Warning never use their voices merely as a vehicle for the lyrics; instead they treat them as an additional instrument that enriches the overall texture. Sophisticated harmonies, layered backgrounds, rhythmic vocal lines and carefully placed ad-libs are woven into the fabric of the songs in a way that occasionally recalls the meticulous craft of The Beatles or ABBA. This approach has been part of The Warning’s identity from the beginning, but on Everything’s Falling it feels especially refined and effective. Several stripped-down acoustic versions of the new material already circulating on YouTube further underline the inherent quality of the songwriting.

Lyrically the band continues to explore emotional intensity, power dynamics and personal resilience with increasing directness. Tracks such as “Why Do You Like It When I Cry?” and “Waste Your Time on Me” dig into toxic relationships and questions of self-worth without becoming overly explanatory. The title track paints a darker, more cinematic picture of collapse and confrontation. The lyrics remain sharp, singable and perfectly matched to the tight song structures.

Two tracks deserve special mention. The opener “Ritual” is a monster in the best sense of the word: a highly melodic yet hard-rocking banger with industrial edges and a rhythmic drive that may remind some listeners of Soulfly. Its accompanying video is a piece of art in its own right. Equally striking is the title track “Everything’s Falling,” which throws me emotionally back to my early-to-mid-twenties — roughly the current age of the three sisters — when grunge still dominated the airwaves. Its dark, cinematic atmosphere has already sparked lively discussions on social media about how well it would work as a James Bond theme. Both songs demonstrate that true epic impact does not even require four minutes when The Warning are involved.

Listeners who prefer more straightforward rockers will find strong material in “Why Do You Like It When I Cry?”, “Waste Your Time on Me” and especially “Kerosene.” The latter recently climbed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart — a genuine milestone, as it made The Warning the first Mexican band and the first all-female band to achieve this.

It will probably be difficult for the band to choose a setlist for even a 90-minute headlining show. The quality of their material across five albums is consistently high, and several tracks not mentioned in this review are likely to become standout live moments. Many people claim that live performance is The Warning’s true superpower, and after watching numerous recordings I fully agree. Exploring their entire discography — preferably including live versions — is highly recommended.

In the end, Everything’s Falling is proof that rigid genre thinking has largely outlived its usefulness in 2026. At their core The Warning remain a rock band, yet with their cosmopolitan blend of styles they deliver exactly the variety that the American thrash metal band Sacred Reich once demanded in their funky tune “31 Flavors”: “Don’t be an ignorant fool. There’s so much music for you to choose.”

A cosmopolitan reach for the stars — and the Villarreal sisters have delivered.

Ben Sollberger