★★★☆
Lzzy Hale is Pennsylvania’s answer to Janis Joplin.
The Halestorm singer’s voice has a power like you’ve never heard; raspy, crooning and mighty. She belts out music in such a compelling way that her sound can make you quiver. Make no mistake, this is a once-in-a-lifetime talent.
Her presence on the band’s latest release is all the evidence you need. ReAniMate – Halestorm’s third EP of covers – is bold and ballsy, looking to influences like Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Twenty One Pilots, Soundgarden and Metallica, yet taking the opportunity to put their own spin on another great batch of classic songs. The only downside is that these interpretations don’t present as much of the Halestorm sound as you might be hoping for.
Hale projects the souls of the bands that have come before her with an enterprising energy, but that talent of hers seems only to be riffing on existing formulae, not bringing anything fresh to the table. At worst, it’s Halestorm karaoke.
So, next time they’re going to pay tribute to the greats, Halestorm would be best placed to find a new angle.
Halestorm’sReAniMate 3: The Covers EPis available now through Atlantic/Warner.
