In this Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into the latest and second record from Halestorm.  It is called “The Strange Case Of…” and was released early last year.  We are going to get into the history and then the music from Halestorm.  Let us get into the history.

History

Halestorm started back in 1997 from Lzzy and Arejay, who are brother and sister.  The two put out an EP, which was called “Don’t Mess With The Time Man” in 1999.  Their father played bass for the band before Josh Smith in 2004.  The band was finished up the band with Joe Hottinger, who joined in 2003.  The band signed record contract with Atlantic Records in 2005. They released their second EP, which is out of print like their first one, and it was called “One And Done.”  Their full length record, which was self titled, was released in 2009.  Their first single “I Get Off” received heavy air play.  They released several more singles off this record.  They are also known to tour a ton and they have toured with several different bands.  In 2010, they released their first live record, which was called “Live In Philly 2010.”  In 2011, they released their third EP, which was cover record, and it was called “ReAnimate.”  In 2012, they released their fourth EP, which is called “Hello, It’s Mz. Hyde.”  This EP was a sneak peek on their second full length record, which is called “The Strange Case Of…”  “The Strange Case Of…” was released in 2012 and is the record that featured on this blog.  In 2013, Halestorm won a Grammy for Best Hard and Metal Performance Category.  They became the first female fronted band to win and be nominated for this award.  “Freak Like Me” is the first single to reach #1 on Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks in 2013.  Let us get into the music.

Song List:

Love Bites (So Do I)

This is the first single off this record.  There is a nice pace with some killer to hard-hitting drums.  There is a nice guitar and bass playing.  I love the singing from Lzzy.   The lyrics are not my style but they are well written.  There is a nice guitar solo towards the end.

Mz. Hyde

This is the fifth and final single off this record.  I love the guitar and drumming at the beginning.  I love her singing.  I love the lyrics.  The music is pretty solid.  There is some nice time changes throughout this song.  The ending is a little weird.

I Miss The Misery

This is the second single off this record.  I love the music and singing at the beginning.  I love the lyrics.  Lzzy singing is pretty solid.  I love this song.  The ending is pretty solid.

Freak Like Me

This is the third single off this record.  I love the guitar playing so far on this song.   The singing is pretty solid with some great lyrics.  I love the lyrics.  The music is pretty solid.  I just feel the drums are pretty calm for a Halestorm song.  The guitar solo towards the end is pretty solid.

Beautiful With You

This song is off pace with the record.  It is a good song but it is not their style.  I just feel the record company made them make a song like this.  It is good.  It is too mainstream for a band that were themselves make the mainstream.  I am not a fan of this song.

In Your Room

What the hell is up with the last two songs?  I cannot listen to it.  The lyrics are too thoughtful for this band.  The music is solid if it was 1984 and they were Heart.

Break In

Again!!!  I am starting to get pretty upset.  This one is kind of in their style than the last two songs.  I have a feeling half of this record.  I will not be listening to again.  I will be passing on this one too.

Rock Show

Yay!!!  Finally a rock song.  I love the guitar playing and the music at the beginning.  I do not like the lyrics but the music is pretty solid.  I love the bass playing.  There was a solid guitar solo towards the end of the song.

Daughters Of Darkness

The beginning of this song is pretty dark.  The music is pretty solid.  I am not a fan of the lyrics but the song is pretty solid.  I will listen to it again.

You Call Me A Bitch Like It’s A Bad Thing

I love the drumming and the music at the beginning.  There is a guitar part that reminds me of something of an Alice In Chains song.  I love the lyrics and they are pretty well written.  I love the short guitar solo towards the middle of the song.  I feel  this song needs some kind of music break.  It is the same thing over and over.  It is kind of boring towards the end of the song.

American Boys

I love the guitar playing and drumming.  It has a nice pace and great music.  I am not a fan of the lyrics and it kind of kills the song for me.  I will pass on this song.

Here’s To Us

This is the fourth single off this record.  I love the acoustic guitar.  I love the music and it has a nice pace for a slower song.  The lyrics are pretty solid and well thought.  I love this song.

Here’s To Us (Guest Version)

The only different from the first version.  I love the guitar solo and there are different singers available and singing. I love this version better.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.halestormrocks.com

Twitter:  @halestorm

Closing, I have been a fan of this band since their first record.  I loved their first record.  I was pretty excited to see them do a few EP’s and this one, which is their second record.  It took me a long time to write a review and I am sorry to my readers and the band.  I enjoy doing these music reviews but they are pretty time-consuming.  I will get better when it is all said in done.  Anyways, this record starts out pretty solid.  I am loving it until I made it to the middle part of the record.  There were three songs I could do without.  They are not my style of music.  I always look at this band as a hard rock to slight metal band.  They are not a pop act and I felt those songs they were trying to be a pop act.  If anything how they were themselves on their first record, mainstream music came to them.  They are good songs if you like that type of music.  The back half of the record was pretty solid with some rock tunes.  The lyrics overall was average.  There were some songs where they were above average.  Overall, I was pretty disappointed with this record.  There are some songs I will be listening to again and I enjoyed them.  Give this band a listen.  They are still upcoming band.  I believe their next two records will be awesome.  Go get some! Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:   djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter:  @djwieser

Instagram:  @djweiser13