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Halestorm

Reanimate 2.0: The Covers EP

Review by Scott Prinzing

With only six songs coming in at just under half an hour, this is still one rewarding EP.  Covering songs from the mid-70s to the late-90s, this place holder between full studio albums is one of my favorite recent covers sets.  With a couple of nods to female rock goddesses, Pat Benatar and Stevie Nicks, a few hits, a few deep tracks, Halestorm doesn’t disappoint.  It makes me want to seek out version 1.0 now.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2014  Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.
Track by Track Review
Dissident Aggressor
I really like the way they developed this Judas Priest deep track from Sin after Sin.  It’s been covered by Slayer, but Tom Araya’s monotone vocals don’t serve the dynamics a Priest song demands.  The coolest thing about Halestorm’s version is how they turn Halford’s “Stab! Fall! Punch! Crawl!” into a chant of “Stabbing and falling and punching and crawling!”
Get Lucky
This is one of the two songs with which I was unfamiliar before hearing this album.  Originally recorded by Daft Punk, a name I recognized, but couldn’t say I’d ever heard.  This has a more commercial modern rock sound.  It’s a very catchy song, but sounds a bit out of place alongside the more classic material.
Shoot to Thrill
They play this AC/DC classic pretty straight; Lzzy Hale doesn’t even change the gender perspective.  While her voice is raspy enough, it sounds meatier than Brian Johnson’s screech, which is a nice variation.  At the same time, it lacks a bit of the bite that the original had in 1980.
Hell is for Children
The original riff is really beefed up on this version of the Pat Benatar classic.  It’s played a lot choppier overall, as well.  Benatar’s higher harmonies are noticeably absent, but it’s a pretty cool take on a song I haven’t heard covered elsewhere.  Plus, they personalize it a bit: “Be a good little boy and you’ll get a new toy / Tell Lzzy you fell off the swing.”
Gold Dust Woman
My wife and I used to cover this song before we did all originals in Earthshine.  Halestorm plays it fairly true to the original, even with subtle percussion flourishes a la Mick Fleetwood.  It shows the slightly mellower side of this band without going for a straight ballad.
1996
While I’ve never been a big Marilyn Manson fan, this is one of his songs with which I’m familiar.  It’s very cool and I dig it.
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