How a heavy metal band used a prank to parody genre fanatics
In short: In 2011, the experimental metalcore band Iwrestledabearonce announced they were pivoting to pure black metal. They even promised to wear corpse paint. It was a calculated joke designed to mock the over-serious attitudes of certain music fans, proving that even the heaviest genres can be played for laughs.
Formed in 2007 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Iwrestledabearonce became known for a chaotic, genre-defying sound. Their music frequently shifted between blastbeats and breakdowns, contrasted by melodic, 'lounged-out' interludes. They drew influences from diverse artists ranging from Radiohead and Björk to The Dillinger Escape Plan, incorporating elements of jazz, synthpop, and even hillbilly music.
This experimental spirit led to one of their most famous maneuvers. In 2011, guitarist Steven Bradley claimed the band was tired of being pigeonholed into 'core' genres and intended to release an album titled 'Ruining It for Everybody' that was 90% black metal. The band even planned to adopt the corpse paint aesthetic to match the shift. However, the announcement was a coordinated prank orchestrated with the website MetalSucks to parody the intense seriousness of black metal enthusiasts.
The band's lineup saw significant changes over their nine-year run. Original vocalist Krysta Cameron left in 2012 due to pregnancy, replaced by Courtney LaPlante. LaPlante and guitarist Mike Stringer eventually left the group to form Spiritbox, noting they felt like 'replacement people' who wanted to avoid stagnation. While the band's activity became uncertain after 2015, bassist Mike Martin revealed in December 2024 that discussions regarding a reunion between himself and Cameron were underway.
Despite the labels of mathcore or deathcore, the band's legacy remains rooted in their refusal to stay within a single musical box. Their discography includes four full-length albums, including the Billboard Top Heatseekers No. 1 release 'It's All Happening' in 2009, and the 2013 album 'Late For Nothing'.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Iwrestledabearonce
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