ERROR (2022)
With ERROR, The Warning cements their reputation as one of the most unique voices in modern rock. This third album blends intensity with sophistication, drawing listeners into a layered world where themes of self-discovery, societal scrutiny, and resilience collide. Building on the raw, commanding energy that characterizes their music, ERROR takes The Warning’s sound to new heights with inventive production, dynamic instrumentals, and complex song structures. The album feels like a statement of both musical growth and profound intent, as it tackles subjects as varied as personal struggle, generational identity, and the ever-present tension between authenticity and conformity. From start to finish, ERROR pulses with emotion, grit, and an undeniable urgency that makes it impossible to ignore.
Intro 404 acts as the prelude and gives us an instrumental taste of what’s coming—a mix of soaring backing vocals and industrial, almost mechanical sounds that paint the sonic landscape we’re about to enter. It’s a small but meaningful introduction to the tone of ERROR, hinting at the intensity that’s about to unfold.
If any track on ERROR commands attention right from the start, it’s Disciple. It’s tyrannical, a rock number that strikes like a rallying cry with Pau and Dany’s vocals firing back and forth in a duet that feels almost like a fierce call to arms. The high-octane energy, aggressive yet melodic, is a thrill to listen to, with a guitar riff that drives hard and fills that are as quick as they are powerful. And Ale’s work on her five-string bass here is relentless, giving the song a thick, commanding backbone. Disciple tackle the idea of power and control—“Kill the system / Kill the man / Strip the power from their hands” hits with raw defiance, a theme that runs through the album, making this track feel like a wake-up call, something primal and uncompromising. But if not, “You shall remain / Inside your space of ignorance.”
Choke is a big, dynamic number, balancing intense emotion with a touch of restraint. Dany’s vocals are powerful, belting out with that from the mountaintop kind of presence. The chorus brings the passion and aggression full force, but then the verses ease off just enough to let us catch our breath. The way the harmonies come together is masterful, pulling you deeper into the song’s feeling with every line. The song itself is cathartic, an emotional release about feeling backed into a corner and fighting for the air to breathe. Feeling so overwhelmed by your feelings that you start to drown in them. The frustration comes through strongly, making it a raw and relatable track that’s hard to shake.
Animosity kicks off with Ale’s bass, laying down a beat that demands your attention. It’s a heavy pop-rock number with Dany’s soaring vocals taking over in the chorus, balancing edge with accessibility. The bass-driven intro and the hard-hitting melody give it a darker but strangely catchy quality. Animosity feels like it’s working through unresolved bitterness—anger directed at someone who’s left behind damage that’s hard to ignore. “Drown in your guilt / If karma doesn’t hit you, then I will.” It’s that sense of betrayal that comes through, the need to confront the mess and the pain left in its wake. Animosity also delivers us one of the band’s greatest bridges. There are many things on this blog that I want hooked up to an IV and pumped into my veins; the bridge in Animosity is easily one of them.
Money is one of the absolute highlights of ERROR. Money is just loaded with swagger. The track feels iconic even on the first listen, like a future staple of the band’s sound. The Warning brings in a hint of Pink Floyd’s own track by the same name, with production sounds that tap into something classic, while still keeping their own edge. The guitar riff is infectious, the bassline is a force, and the whole song practically demands a sing-along. The message is sharp, cutting into the greed and superficiality that drives so much of the world today. “It’s all about that cold hard cash, hon” and other lines hit hard, like a protest in song form, making it as thought-provoking as it is fun to shout along to. “‘Nother stack of sins to be buried in / Diamond noose at your throat.” Tackling the greed of the rich and the lengths many of them will go to for profit. Ah … The Warning … My liberal queens!
In Amour, we get a taste of The Warning’s more romantic rock style. It’s still a rocker at heart, but there’s a certain brightness to it, a mix of the tender and the edgy that captures the love/hate blend of a toxic relationship. The drumming and basslines feel more affectionate in tone, even if there’s an undertone of grit just below the surface. The lyrics mirror this complexity, bringing out that sense of a relationship where love and hate coexist. Lines like “Would you die for me?” drive home the addictive, conflicting nature of it all, while the French bridge adds a haunting beauty in its translation “I hate you, love of my life.”
Evolve pulls in with a Rush-like intro before it explodes into one of the album’s heaviest rock riffs. It’s musically challenging, and Dany’s guitar work is mind-blowing here. The riffs alone are tough, but the way she nails them is pure skill, and we even get a bit of a scream from Pau that just pushes the intensity higher. Thematically, Evolve feels like a track that’s about humanities obsession with evolution and the harsh realities of growth and change. It’s powerful, both musically and in spirit, capturing a kind of raw, transformative energy that acts as a warning not to lose our humanity in evolution.
There’s something almost sci-fi about Error. It’s haunting, like stepping into a cyber-dystopian world, with the band’s signature style adding gravity to the futuristic vibe. The binary coding references in the lyrics create a matrix-like atmosphere, all while keeping the band’s unique edge intact. Once again reminding me a little bit of Rush, specifically The Body Electric, with it’s use of binary. Lines like “I’m the error you hide / But you will always want me so” capture the feeling that we’ve knowingly made errors in trying to tackle the issues of today, and instead of freeing that coded error, we try to hide it. Error and this record as a whole is tight in both sound and concept.
Z starts with thumping floor toms and a busy bassline, building into another killer guitar riff. Z is a plea, high-energy, raw, and directed toward Gen Z. Dany’s guitar solo here is just on another level, and the track brings with it an energy that feels validating for the struggles of a generation navigating their place in the world. Lines like “watch out ‘cause the truth they sell is rarely true” have an unsettling honesty to them, spoken as a plea for this generation to be wary of social media and its influences on the mind. Facts are facts, don’t get sucked into what is not.
Immediately softer, 23 pulls us into a more vulnerable space. Pau’s vocals are tender, almost serenading, with Dany’s guitar shining in a way that gives it a shimmering, uplifting feel. This one leans toward a power ballad, but there’s so much more depth here that gives it a unique edge. The song’s about hanging on to people we know that we shouldn’t. “Consciously choosing pain / Stop me, stop me” - We are willing to do so much and put ourselves through so much for the prospect of love, even when we know the love is only on our end. The right ones are out there, girls! 23 is a standout on the second half of the album and shows the band’s ability to pull back without losing impact.
Atmospheric and groovy, Kool Aid Kids brings a slower, more danceable vibe to the album. The drums have a clap-like quality, creating a rhythm that’s just fun. However, this song is a warning about us trusting people in positions of power and an encouragement for people to think for themselves. Depicting the events of the Jonestown Massacre, “Down your cup so we don’t drown / And we drink” - a reminder to be wary of blindly following trends or beliefs and to think critically about what we consume.
Starting with an acoustic intro, Revenant brings in a haunting, almost ghostly quality that’s deeply moving. Pau’s vocals here are soft, but the harmonies add layers that make it feel rich and full. Ale’s bass is especially atmospheric, grounding the sound with a weight that’s powerful and full-bodied. There’s almost a spiritual or religious undertone, like a song about reckoning, reflecting, and owning up to one’s mistakes. It’s a heavy, emotional track that lingers long after it ends.
A Spanish number, Martirio brings a power ballad feel, with dramatic rises and falls that feel like waves crashing and receding. The tone is both uplifting and intense, showing the band’s cultural roots and giving the album a touch of their heritage. Based of the translation of the lyrics, I feel this track tells the listener that we are all going to go through painful experiences in life so there is no use fighting against it. Instead, to learn from those who came before us and to embrace our fates and make peace with them.
Closing out the album, Breathe is soft, delicate, and emotional. Pau’s light piano and filtered vocals feel almost ethereal, making this a reflective, somber end to the record. Much like Choke, Breathe speaks to the feeling of being so overwhelmed and consumed by pain and isolation but the importance of surviving and getting through it.
Ultimately, ERROR isn’t just an album to listen to; it’s one to experience in full. This is a record that asks for attention, inviting listeners to engage deeply with each track and the stories they tell. The Warning has crafted a work that feels cohesive yet wildly varied, blending everything from stadium-ready anthems to haunting ballads with a remarkable sense of purpose. The Warning solidifies their place as a band with something to say, creating a record that’s as intense in its themes as it is in its sound.
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Highlight Songs:
DISCIPLE
CHOKE
MONEY
AMOUR
23
MARTIRIO
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
ERROR is the kind of album worth owning—a testament to the band’s ability to capture the raw, electric power of rock music while offering fresh insights into the challenges and triumphs of our time. Holding this album in your hands or playing it on repeat lets you fully appreciate The Warning’s artistry, making ERROR a must-have.
