Cheering on “ Nene Royal ,” the 16-year-old rock talent from Phuket who reached the America’s Got Talent 2026 final stage with a performance of“Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes.Another highlight from Nene’s introductory video was a behind-the-scenes glimpse of rehearsing alongside The Warning, the Mexican rock trio siblings, adding a special touch to the event.
This appearance has increased interest in The Warning among Thai music fans. Before becoming an internationally recognized rock band, they first gained attention from a viral Metallica cover on YouTube over a decade ago.
The Warning appeared in Nene Royal’s introductory video. The group consists of the Villarreal sisters—Daniela “Dany” Villarreal, Paulina “Pau” Villarreal, and Alejandra “Ale” Villarreal—who have played music together since childhood. They gradually built their reputation online and developed into a professional rock band. Their collaboration in rehearsal with Nene added vibrant energy to the presentation.
A pivotal moment came in 2014 when the three sisters posted a cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” on YouTube. At that time, Dany was 14, Pau was 12, and Ale was only 9 years old.
Despite their young ages, their musical skills quickly caught attention, especially Pau on drums, who stood out for her powerful playing beyond her years. The clip also drew praise from Metallica’s guitarist Kirk Hammett.
The cover’s views skyrocketed, reaching millions and now tallying over 27 million views, effectively launching The Warning from Mexico onto the global music stage.
The buzz around “Enter Sandman” opened new doors. In 2015, the sisters appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and later attended the summer program at Berklee College of Music in the U.S.
Since then, The Warning has continued to hone their craft and produce original music. From being known for covers, they have grown into artists with their own distinct sound, performing on stages worldwide and collaborating with international rock stars.
Their journey came full circle in 2021 when The Warning teamed up with Alessia Cara to reinterpret “Enter Sandman” for The Metallica Blacklist project, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Metallica’s self-titled album, also known as The Black Album.
From three kids covering the song on YouTube to being officially selected to record it for a major Metallica project marks a significant milestone in their career.
More than 10 years after their “Enter Sandman” video was posted, The Warning remains the same trio of sisters, evolving from YouTube sensations to a Mexican rock band with original work and fans across many countries.
Their name has recently resurfaced among Thai fans following their collaboration with Nene Royal during the America’s Got Talent 2026 finals, while their 2014 “Enter Sandman” cover remains a defining moment in their rise to global recognition.
Photo credit:TheWarningRockBand
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