Halestorm – Everest (Atlantic) (13th Floor Album Review)
A surprising new producer helps Halestorm make a surprisingly great album.
Hard rockers Halestorm have been fighting the good fight ever since siblings Arejay and Lzzy formed the band in 1997 when they were just 10 and 13 years old.
With vocalist/rhythm guitarist Lzzy as the focal point, the band have made a name for themselves as a dynamic live act…touring constantly.
That dynamic has been elusive on their recordings…until now.
And the difference seems to be the unlikely decision of hiring Dave Cobb to produce, Everest, the band’s sixth studio album. That’s right, Dave Cobb, the Nashville-based producer who has worked wonders for the likes of Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlisle and Sturgill Simpson.
Now, don’t worry, Halestorm haven’t gone country…in fact they seem to be rocking harder than ever before. But, somehow, Cobb, has managed to capture the live energy, the raw power of guitarist Joe Hottinger’s riffs and the passion behind Lzzy’s voice.
The result is a force of nature.
The 12-song set opens with Fallen Star and the band tears out of the gate like a unbroken horse. Yes, the pace I fast and furious but the sound is solid, strong and rich.
I’m listening to a vinyl version of the album (pink wax, thank you) and I’ve gotta say this is one of the best-sounding modern hard rock albums I’ve heard in some time.
Unlike some others…this was mastered for vinyl, rather than a cheap digital transfer… and the results speak for themselves…or, I should say…shout!
Fortunately the material and the performance live up to the production. All songs are band originals with Cobb getting a co-write credit on 11 or the 12, and true to Nashville tradition, others, such as veteran Nashville cats Aaron Raitiere and Natalie Hemby are brought in to add to the mix.
And it works!
The result is an album that you’ll want to crack up and also listen to closely. There are great lyrics, dynamics and Lzzy is singing her butt off.
Finally, Halestorm’s recorded output matches their live reputation.
Marty Duda
Everest is out now on Atlantic Records
