They both punch you in the face and dare you to talk back. I can't help but get a 'I am woman, hear me roar' vibe from these two tracks. This is followed by 'You Call Me a Bitch Like It's a Bad Thing'. I so want someone to remake the 80's film The Lost Boys, recast it with female vampires and make this the theme song. I go back and forth, but 'Daughters of Darkness' is my current favorite track on the album. It is a nod to the great bands that have graced the rock stages of stadiums and arenas worldwide, and it's a clear indication that this band is ready to assume that mantle as well. 'Rock Show' feels like a tribute to all those that have inspired them. Halestorm has always been true to their roots and appreciative of those that have influenced them over the years. After hearing these three tracks, even non fans would be hard pressed to argue against Lzzy's voice being among the top echelon of rockers today. 'In Your Room' and 'Break In' are both wonderful power ballads that beautifully showcase Lzzy's singing talent. 'Beautiful With You' has commercial appeal all over it, and I hope it gets it's due. Allowing you to catch your breath, the next three tracks slow the pacing down.

It's clear by this point in the album that this is going to be a much more matured Halestorm that is clearly ready to make the jump from small venue to arena rock headline tour. Then we get hit with the first of three stadium anthem tracks on the album, with 'Freak Like Me'. All three of these tracks feel decidedly Halestorm and provide a good transition from the first album to this point. comes out swinging with the hardest track on the album, 'Love Bites (So do I)' and follows immediately with the uptempo 'Mz. With this new album, Halestorm has essentially broken the mold of the traditional rock/metal genre and created a virtual 'hunch punch' hybrid genre that feels as if it takes inspiration from rock, metal, country, pop and blues. Each track, whether they be ballad or harder fare, was distinctly Halestorm. makes the first album feel 'safe.' With the first album, Halestorm sort of defined themselves as a rock band with metal tendencies. Halestorm spreads their wings wide with this effort and it's clear that the label has said, 'soar.' This is a far edgier Halestorm than we are used to. While I found their debut album to be nearly perfect, the newest release, The Strange Case Of. I'd be remiss not to mention lead guitarist Joe Hottinger and bassist Josh Smith, who's immense talents compliment the Halestorm sound perfectly. He reminds me a bit of a younger Liberty DeVito, my all time favorite drummer. Drummer Arejay Hale (Lzzy's brother) is one of the more energetic and charismatic percussionists that I've seen in quite some time. Lzzy's voice is just as powerful on a live stage as it is on a studio enhanced album, making her abilities all that more impressive. Since I've been fortunate enough to see Halestorm live, I can make the claim that what you hear on their album is exactly what you get in a live performance. She boasts a vocal range nearly unrivaled by her rock-n-roll peers as she easily transitions between soft ballads and melt your face off wails. Halestorm front-woman Lzzy Hale, in my opinion, stands tallest amongst the female leads working in rock today. I think the softer tones of the female voice just lend themselves better to the overall sound. I've always been a big fan of female fronted rock bands.

No disc has seen this amount of play in my car stereo in nearly 30 years, when Michael Jackson's Thriller blared from the speakers of my 1970 Chevy Nova. Having trust in this friend, I stopped into my local music shop and picked up the band's self titled debut album sight unseen. Rating: 5 I was turned on to Halestorm by an associate about 2 years ago.

Halestorm daughters of darkness album