IN REVIEW: Halestorm - "Vicious"

After trying their hands at pop/country crossover stardom on their third album Into the Wild Life and disappointing a good number of fans in the process, it's not all that shocking to hear Halestorm return to their hard rocking roots on Vicious. What may be somewhat shocking is just how hard they go from the outset; explosive opener Black Vultures, hook-heavy Skulls and breakneck-paced lead single Uncomfortable lay down the gauntlet on anyone who would doubt their ability as a band to bring the thunder.

There are also a handful of potential hits on display; the down and dirty Buzz, the sultry and swaggering Conflicted and the arena-ready anthem Killing Ourselves to Live all bear the hallmarks of radio domination. Past the approximate halfway point, Vicious gets a little uneven, although the pair of ballads that are sprinkled in will hit the spot if you crave a breather in between all the rockers.

Overall, Vicious makes for a pretty convincing return to form; those for whom Halestorm fell out of favour after the mess that was Into the Wild Life should be plenty satisfied with this album's energy and velocity. What's more, they have managed to go hard while maintaining their sharp hooks, resulting in an album that doesn't fully concede hopes of crossing over but, more importantly, doesn't forget what brought them this far.

July 27, 2018 • Atlantic
Highlights Skulls • Uncomfortable • Conflicted