3.5/5
Halestorm is bread-and-butter rock ‘mdash; innovation optional. After signing to Atlantic in 2005, the Pennsylvania quartet’s self-titled debut looks to establish a mainstream rep ‘mdash; and for a group that has been together for more than a decade (since they were just tweens), it’s about time. Marked by hard guitar riffs, relentless drum beats and sharp, frenetic guitar solos, Halestorm’s tracks radiate a ferocious energy easily packaged as Hard Rock 101.
Yes, it helps that the lead singer’s hot. Rocking inky eyeliner and perfect sex hair, vocalist Lizzy Hale looks like a model and sings like Evanescence’s Amy Lee or Hinder’s Austin Winkler. Yet her steel-cut, powerhouse delivery still manages to retain a touch of femininity, particularly on masturbation anthem ‘I Get Off.’ The tease ‘mdash; ‘I get off on you/ Getting off on me’ ‘mdash; suits her seductive spunk and tacks up a standout track. While revving up the ballads (‘Familiar Taste of Poison,’ ‘I’m not an Angel’), Hale sinks into the more compassionate notes of a popstar, which ‘mdash; on such a riotous album ‘mdash; stick out like serious mistakes. Then again, they might crack open a few more industry doors. (Anyone smell a solo career?)
Sticking to its roots, though, is the band’s strong suit. Halestorm’s flood of power riffs and heavy bass lines, coupled with Hale’s scratchy vocals, woo our inner head-banger. While these players might not be as epic, original or full-on torrid as Metallica, their freshman effort deserves a serious mosh pit.