Album Review: Halestorm – Everest (Atlantic Records)

Halestorm, the GRAMMY-winning hard rock band will release ‘Everest’, their sixth studio album, on August 8th via Atlantic Records.

Up and up, Halestorm rise onward in inspiring fashion and this new album might be their most ambitious and most accessible yet. Featuring twelve huge rock efforts that vary in heavy potency, but not in anthemic style. I’m not a big fan and even I can recognise the power of this record.

In fact, I’d say this album goes a long way to winning me over, especially when we get the likes of Fallen Star (I love the retro chorus), the title track (very dynamic), Shiver (vocally captivating), and Like a Woman Can (power pop rock at its best) to enjoy in the first third of the album. There’s some really exciting stuff here, dramatic melodies, formidable riffs, punchy soloing, and, of course, incredible vocals curtesy of the incomparable Lzzy Hale.

A highlight of the album though is Rain Your Blood on Me. Not only because it rocks hard (and it really does), but because it has got some interesting twists to the Halestorm formula. It’s a powerful showcase of Lzzy’s range, but the tempo shifts, and tone changes are what fascinate the most. It’s a heavyweight banger that shows versatility and will be a live favourite for many years to come.

Speaking of potential live bangers, but from the opposite scale, Darkness Always Wins will have audiences round the world singing along loudly and with tears in the eyes. Halestorm at their most emotionally effective, and again, so much of this feeling comes from Lzzy’s vocals. You don’t have to love everything Halestorm do, but no-one can argue in the face of such obvious talent.

Of course Halestorm are far from a one-woman band and it’s the combined efforts of a team locked in and in tune with each other that delivers more anthemic, fiery, moody, and memorable bangers like Gather the Lambs, Watch Out!, Broken Doll, and K I-L L-I N-G. I mentioned variety in this album before, but these tracks really hammer that point home. In fact, the latter of this group has this mental retro-alternative/nu-metal vibe that will polarise. I’m not even sure how I feel about it, but it is pretty unforgettable.

Speaking of being unforgettable though, I Gave You Everything oozes pure emotion. Displaying a hearty combination of powerful melody, defiant rock heaviness, and some of the most intense vocals so far. The chorus of this one is special, but the form that Halestorm is on here means the album isn’t found lacking even at the end and the potent rock ballad that is How Will You Remember Me.

If you thought this band was big before, just you wait and see what happens once this album is out there. Halestorm have never sounded this focused, and world domination seems to be assured now.

Halestorm – Everest Track Listing:

1. Fallen Star
2. Everest
3. Shiver
4. Like A Woman Can
5. Rain Your Blood On Me
6. Darkness Always Wins
7. Gather The Lambs
8. Watch Out!
9. Broken Doll
10. K I-L L-I N-G
11. I Gave You Everything
12. How Will You Remember Me

Links

LinkTree | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X