Halestorm - Vicious

I remember Halestorm’s debut album making huge waves in 2009 (and the band being incessantly speculated as a 21st century incarnation of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts), and with a fiery classic hard rock/heavy metal single like “I Get Off” leading it, how could it not? After listening to the retro-indulgent debut album, however, and only hearing a few songs I thought were alright, I didn’t really pay much attention to Halestorm. None of the singles from their two albums following ever really rekindled my interest, and I very nearly passed this album and its singles up. But some spidey sense or something told me this one was going to be different, and really it’s not that different, it’s just better.

While the band’s first album and the pieces I had heard from the previous two all kind of stuck to the fierce attitude of early metal and classic rock, the compositions and the kind of dated mid-2000′s production that the songs were processed through held so much of the band’s natural energy back. Viciousfinally finds them both moving past that horrible production style and writing more confidently, uniquely, and interestingly.

The production on this album comes with a few moments of flair that actually do help spice up some of the songs they’re on, rather than drown them out in Imagine Dragons-esque muck like what has happened to so many other bands who’ve let producers run wild. Instead, the tight, lively instrumental performances are able to shine all over the album, which also speaks to the composition and the balance the album has. It’s not just the Lzzy Hale show, as the band provides more than just solid backing. They hold their own during the instrumental sections, and they pump out sold verse after chorus after verse after chorus all over the album.

There is definitely more going for this album than against it, with a decent dynamic array of song types. The album comes with a few slip-ups, mostly when the band decides to slow things down like on the closing track and the oddly country-harmony-laden “Heart of Novocaine”. But most of the album is full of excitement and well-framed rock ‘n’ roll attitude.

The only less than thrilling fast, hard-rocking song on the album I think is the song “Black Vultures” that kicks the album off. I like the intro to the song, but the rest of it doesn’t quite fit with it and I thought I was going to be getting more of the same of what kept me apathetic to Halestrorm when I heard it.

The second track, “Skulls” is much more interestingly written and makes sweet, tasty use of a clanky bass line, as well as Lzzy Hale’s raspy highs. “Uncomfortable” injects a healthy dose of speedy hard rock attitude and punchy instrumentation too; the dynamic between the choruses and the verses is well worked in as well. I love the swagger of the verses and the enthralling chorus of “Buzz” too.

“Do Not Disturb” brings the first bit of sexy energy with a seductive invitation from Hale to (I’m guessing) some blonde guy she’s met on tour for a one night stand at her hotel with him and his girlfriend. It’s  “Conflicted” follows up fittingly with a surprisingly punchy, supplemented acoustic track about trying to resist going back for more.

“Killing Ourselves to Live” isn’t quite as explicit in its fun or fury, but it does sing of encouragement of the carefree lifestyle being presented in the previous songs to a similarly tight alternative metal tune.

The chorus of “Painkiller” comes with some of the most infectious if Lzzy Hale’s long highs on the album, and plenty of heavy swagger throughout the instrumentals to build it up well.

The song “White Dress” is a bit lacking in the energy of its composition and basic instrumental performances, but its lyrics at least bring the attitude that characterizes the band at their best. The title track is a little bit overly repetitive of its chorus’ mantra (“What doesn’t kill me,makes me vicious”), but it makes up for it with a pretty tight instrumental backing.

Overall, Vicious is a pleasantly surprising and consistent step up from Halestorm’s unreliable beginnings. I’d say the album is a bit frontloaded, but it doesn’t falter too much in its back half, especially considering the fantastic “Painkiller” is on that side. I will definitely be rocking out to this more and I will probably actually be looking forward to whatever comes next for Halestorm. This album hit its highest points when the band did what they do more specially and different from the rest of the modern alternative metal crop with the tight,high-energy performances and Lzzy’s electrifying screams, and I just hope they focus on what made the strongest part of this album so exciting for what’s to come. In the meantime, congratulations on a reinvigorating album, Halestorm, my interest is re-piqued.