ALBUM REVIEW: Back From The Dead – Halestorm
The combination of the past two years and multiple lockdowns have turned the majority of the population into mindless zombies; doom scrolling into depressive oblivion, making their fifteenth batch of bland banana bread for the ‘Gram, and binge watching Brooklyn 99 for the millionth time to the point it’s lost its comedic value (which is almost impossible!). Pennsylvanian quartet HALESTORM were not exempt from slipping in and out of questioning their self worth and what their hard rock anthems meant to the music community since having had their livelihoods ripped away from them. Their fifth full-length release however, Back From The Dead, does exactly what it says on the tin.
The opening title track and lead single is a huge middle finger to every ounce of self-doubt and second-guessing anxiety and imposter syndrome has caused, the band’s most down-tuned guitars to date adding a whole new layer of vicious attack to their newfound anger. “Save your prayers / Don’t bless my bones / Erase my name from my headstone,” vibrates with determination and perseverance. Wicked Ways and My Redemption preach the skillset of owning your sins, wearing them on your sleeve and accepting that they are not always to be feared and loathed.
It’s no secret that vocalist Lzzy Hale and the band as a whole are huge supporters of the LGTBQ+ community, rallying for positive change, universal acceptance and mental health. Forever engaging with fans via social media, stories of people being intolerant, bullied and harassed for who they are come up more often than not, HALESTORM being such a huge release and safe haven for those dearly affected. From one of these fan anecdotes via Twitter, the blueprints and inspiration for Strange Girl were born, the seething middle-eight vocal line “I’ll never be you” oozing with twisted venom and an outburst of self-empowerment.
Brightside takes a humorous shot at life’s downfalls as well as showcasing the evolution and expanse of Arejay Hale’s drumming intricacies; picture Animal from The Muppets if he were on cocaine and let loose from his shackles. The Steeple on the other hand, as the album’s second single, is the record’s staple live anthem that aims to evoke a sense of community, togetherness, and unity.
Bombshell, I Come First, and Psycho Crazy are an unholy trinity of feminism, sex-positivity, and sexual confidence. Bombshell snaps at your heels like a viper, I Come First drips with body-tingling sexuality, and Psycho Crazy lures in its prey like a stalking black widow spider, all off-set by Josh Smith’s taunting bass lines and enhanced by Lzzy’s signature gravelly screams and Joe Hottinger’s neck-diving riffs.
The real gem, as with most HALESTORM records, lies within the acoustic and piano-led ballads. Closing track Raise Your Horns has many meanings attached to it; during the COVID-19 pandemic Lzzy was an ambassador for positive mental health and used the phrase to name her lockdown series, and it’s also a phrase used throughout the metal community to bring an air of solidarity to those involved. With only a piano behind Lzzy’s angelic and insanely powerful vocals, the finishing notes ring out and you’re left to sit in deafening silence and take in the heavy aura.
Back From The Dead is HALESTORM at the height of their powers, each track blowing the previous one out of the park and reiterating how impactful and important track listing is. The term ‘all killer no filler’ was made for a record like this, and after 13 years HALESTORM have found their perfect balance of ripping vocals, distorted riffs, and gut-punching bass and drums, channelling personal frustration and collective vexation into an 11-track record of their heaviest material yet.
Rating: 10/10
Back From The Dead is set for release on May 6th via Atlantic Records.
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