Review Summary: What doesn't kill me makes me vicious
Halestorm’s brand of unapologetic, balls-to-the-wall, female-fronted hard rock is somewhat of an anomaly in the modern rock scene. Once Paramore dropped the youthful angst that defined albums like
All We Know Is Falling and
RIOT!, they left a void that needed to be filled. In said void came Halestorm with a blistering fury, exemplified especially on
The Strange Case Of… with tracks such as “Love Bites (So Do I)”, “Mz. Hyde”, and “You Call Me a Bitch Like It’s a Bad Thing”. This fury existed to a smaller extent on their debut, ala opener “It’s Not You” or closer “Nothing to Do With Love”, but that release was generally more subdued, containing a higher quantity of tracks like “I’m Not an Angel” and “Familiar Taste of Poison”.
Into the Wild Life lacked most of the spark that made past works so compelling; “Mayhem” and “I Like It Heavy” were the closest attempts on the record, but sterile production and an even greater mass of meandering ballads made it a relative disappointment.
Vicious, on the other hand, is a major step up from the album that precedes it. Halestorm’s return to form has never been quite as apparent as it is here; the issues surrounding
Into the Wild Life accentuate just how major of a rebound this is. “Black Vultures” is easily more compelling as an introduction than “Scream”, lead single “Uncomfortable” is probably the edgiest that singer Lzzy Hale has been since
The Strange Case Of… with its booming hook that reflects her desire to be dominant, and the title track asserts her “what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger” headspace in a way not explored since their breakthrough sophomore album. When the album eventually slows down, the writing still doesn’t lose sight of the overall narrative; “Do Not Disturb” is one of the band’s most overtly sexual songs, and its follow-up “Conflicted” sees Hale becoming addicted to the partner she described in “Do Not Disturb”. Ballad “Heart of Novocaine” is a sarcastic ode to an abusive ex, while “Buzz” and “Painkiller” display obsession in a similar manner to the aforementioned “Conflicted”. “The Silence” is a bizarre bookend to an edgy, bombastic album like this, yet it bears enough resemblance to “Here’s to Us” to not break the momentum.
The music within the album’s 43-minute runtime is driving, energetic, and even implements some well-needed diversity within the pool of mainstream hard rock; “White Dress” channels 2000’s nu metal, the title track has an industrial edge to it, “Buzz” hearkens back to “I Like It Heavy” from
Into the Wild Life, and “Uncomfortable” has a more frenetic pace than what most of rock radio’s cuts have been lately. The writing on display is easily some of their most energetic and bombastic to date. The lyrics give off a “bad bitch” vibe, and while it may feel over-the-top for some,
Vicious presents a level of edginess that is sorely lacking in the genre as of late. While bands like Five Finger Death Punch may proclaim to be the arbiters of machismo, they don’t quite carry the same level of authenticity as a band like Halestorm does. Maybe we’re all just used to the sort of edgy bro-metal dominated by inauthentic male voices like Moody and co. being blasted all over the airwaves, but hearing the female equivalent doing the same thing at a much higher quality level feels surprisingly fresh.
It’s true that the content will most certainly make people “uncomfortable”, so to say. However, one thing that is unlikely to be disputed is Lzzy Hale’s ability to express herself in a way that’s more conducive to female empowerment than the usual results of those attempting to send a similar message; she seeks to build up rather than tear down. Throughout the course of the album, she is open about her desire to shock; after all, she is “just one of the boys”, according to the message of lead single “Uncomfortable”. Hale’s edgier tendencies are on full display, and it surprisingly works. The music is driving, energetic hard rock with occasional bits of diversity, such as the acoustic-pop closer “The Silence” or the industrial flirtations of “Vicious”. As Halestorm continue to carry the torch that Paramore left for them, they will certainly be sure to create fans and enemies alike in the process, and
Vicious is another well-crafted entry in what will hopefully turn out to be a lengthy, illustrious career with a legacy worth remembering.
