ALBUM REVIEW: Vicious – Halestorm
It feels like forever since the release of 2015’s Into The Wild Life, an album which divided HALESTORM‘s ever growing fan base. This year saw their long awaited return to the studio to construct their fourth full length effort after touring relentlessly across the world entitled Vicious which is due for release on July 27th via Atlantic Records. This could well be the most important release of their career. Will it live up to expectations?
Vicious has zero intention of easing you in as the massive riffs of Black Vultures kick start the album. The soothing melody of Lzzy Hale‘s vocals seep into the track soon followed by an infectious, energetic chorus. The lyrics provide a motivational prose of refusing to be defeated starting Vicious off on a very optimistic viewpoint. Anyone who has been lucky enough to witness HALESTORM on their most recent touring endeavours may already be familiar with this track as they sneak attacked the unsuspecting crowds using it as the set opener. A bold statement and it works in the exact same fashion for the album. Following track Skulls incorporates a bass heavy beat with crunchy guitar work and scintillating vocals guaranteed to send shivers down your spine. The swift vocal delivery is intoxicating and suits the pace of the song perfectly. Just to show how much HALESTORM has evolved and are willing to experiment with this offering they even throw their own spin on a hard rock breakdown into the mix, if this track gets introduced into their live set it could cause a bit of mayhem!
Uncomfortable was one of the best choices to release as the initial single, it’s upbeat, vibrant, addictive and oh so satisfying. Lzzy‘s raw vocal power shines through as the lyrical content follows a similar suit touching on empowering individuality. The groovy guitar work is reminiscent of VOLBEAT in parts as the four piece really set a high benchmark in the early going. Buzz isn’t quite as gritty in comparison to what has been introduced thus far but it’s just as catchy. The bluesy guitars make it irresistible to be sucked in by the moreish levels of energy on show.
Do Not Disturb introduces some quirky bass lines and seductive vibes to the party to get the hearts racing before Conflicted throws a little country flair amongst proceedings raising the temperature in the room a little further with some additional sultry allure. Killing Ourselves To Live ups the ante with some edgy riffing and yet another huge chorus which is crying out to be shaking the rafters of venues worldwide, especially the masterful solo from guitarist Joe Hottinger.
There have been some heavy hitters thus far but it’s time to pull on those heart strings with the acoustic vulnerability of Heart Of Novocaine. The stripped back atmosphere of this track further amplifies just how stunning Lzzy‘s vocals really are, the goosebumps are instantaneous and the emotion that floods through the track is palpable. It takes a lot of courage to bare your soul in such a fashion but when it is executed so emphatically it creates another level of intensity and this despite it’s minimalistic approach this could well be one of HALESTORM‘s finest creations to date.
Painkiller revs into gear with hard hitting riffs which will surely get the headbanger’s warming up their necks. The combination of soaring vocals and potent drum work during the chorus lines provide an energetic adrenaline rush. White Dress continues the groove with electronic elements further embracing individualistic sentiments whilst still soaked in positivity. At first title track Vicious feels like it’s taking on the form of a NINE INCH NAILS release with it’s industrial experimentation. The bass lines form the rigid backbone of the arrangement as the lyrics of “What doesn’t kill me, makes me vicious” ring through the melodic chorus. The energy reaches fever pitch with a short burst of enticing riffing towards the latter stages. After such an emotional journey it feels quite fitting for a track like The Silence to bring the album to it’s conclusion. The ballad like qualities feel calming and contemplative. The small excerpt where Lzzy sing’s completely acapella is jaw dropping and leaves Vicious on the perfect note.
With the utmost politeness, Vicious blows any previous effort to date from HALESTORM completely out of the water. They have really hit that sweet spot of how to provide immersive, captivating content harnessing the intensity of their live performances. Something that has been particularly lacking in some of their previous releases. The tracks are short and snappy and it will be an unenviable task to select any future singles from this effort. This is the definition of all killer, no filler and HALESTORM are certainly going to be spoiled for choice when their next round of touring comes around.
Rating: 10/10
Vicious is set for release on July 27th via Atlantic Records.
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