Type: Contains explicit content, Lyrics are included with the album
Genre: Rock
Review
With the departure of guitarist Brian Arthur to join Goldfinger, and with its back against the wall due to disappointing sales of its Healing album, Unloco hit the studios with a new guitarist and a damn-the-torpedoes attitude for Becoming I. The results are a more focused and aggressive sound, owing in large part to the depth and technical assurance exhibited by new guitarist Marc Serrano. There's more muscle as well in Joey Duenas' vocals, which span the gap from angst balladry on "Watching Me Slip" to mutant, gravelly catharsis on "Making Me Hate You" and back to an unexpected sensitivity on "Texas," with its un-Unloco acoustic guitar/cello sample arrangement. Aside from that track, their lyrics focus as much as ever on self-pity, worthlessness, and extreme annoyance, and their style continues to conform to post-metal conventions. But the band's sharper performance and dabbling in electronic atmospherics suggest this is the lineup that could give Unloco the aboveground exposure that had previously eluded its grasp. ~ Robert L. Doerschuk, All Music Guide
Mudrock (Recording), Peter Navarrete (Drums), Scott Gilman (Flute), Scott Gilman (Guitar), Wes Seidman (Assistant), James Minchin (Photography), Victor Escareno (Vocals (Background)), Justin Z. Walden (Programming), Joey Duenas (Acoustic Treatments), Scott Gilman (Programming), Mike Fasano (Drum Technician), Mark Renk (Vocal Coach), Justin Z. Walden (Keyboards), Justin Z. Walden (Drum Programming), Scott Gilman (Keyboards), Scott Gilman (Drum Programming), Victor Escareno (Bass), Fred Archambault (Engineer), Mudrock (Mixing), Joey Duenas (Vocals), Mudrock (Producer), Andrew Murdock (Producer), Mudrock (Engineer), Andrew Murdock (Mixing), Andrew Murdock (Engineer)
Becoming i is the second and final album by the disbanded American nu metal band Unloco. The album was released on March 11, 2003 via Maverick Records. Produced by metal-veteran, Andrew Murdock, the band's sound took an unexpected, somber turn toward a more melodic, metal-acoustic style. The second nu metal offering included two acoustic tracks -- "Watching Me Slip" and "Texas" -- in an ambitious attempt to boost their limited fanbase. Sonically, the new style combined screams with resolute, poetic candour, surprising old and new fans alike.
"Failure" served as the album's single and had a music video which gained minimal airplay.
Despite positive reviews from critics and the promotional support of their label -– with famed appearances at Ozzfest 2003, Music as a Weapon II, and a tour with Korn -– the album failed to meet commercial expectations and the band disbanded later the same year. The reasons behind the disbandment are still a mystery, though Unloco deny that they were dropped by their record label Maverick.
