Halestorm ReAniMate 3.0: CoVers eP

Written By: Alexis Coleman

Halestorm ReAniMate 3.0: CoVers eP

On January 6, 2017, Halestorm released their third cover EP, ReAniMate 3.0 featuring songs mostly from the 1980’s and 1990’s.  It seems to be a precedent now that between every album the band will release a cover album of their favorite songs that shaped them as musicians.  This in itself seems to set the Grammy winning band apart from any other band in the industry. 

The EP starts out with a cover of Whitesnake’s “Still of the Night”, sounding a little more modern and crisp than its original version it allows for the classic tune to become a tad more new age.  However, lead singer and guitarist Lzzy Hale’s vocals do justice to how David Coverdale’s sung the original lyrics. Overall, the song has a new age feel with old school vocal performance that will have listeners truly impressed and become fans of the song.

Sometimes making a song all your own and adding your own spin to a cover can be a success and with “Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover”, Sophie B. Hawkins’ 1992 classic tune, Halestorm hit gold.  With Lzzy Hale’s animated and energetic vocals mixed with a strong guitar and percussion section adds a slightly heavier Rock version of the song.  This will defiantly be a fan favorite.

Staying very close to the true style and fashion of a song that is right up Halestorm’s ally lyrically and music wise is Joan Jett’s, “I Hate Myself for Loving You”.   Guitar wise Lzzy Hale and second guitarist, Joe Hottiger seem to truly make the song come alive, while drummer Arejay Hale and bassist Josh Smith add to the percussion of the famous tune a rhythm that a strong presence.  Lzzy Hale seems to truly shine vocally with this tune as it seems to be a song right in her range and style.

On each EP, the band chooses a song that is a modern-day single.  The bands choose, Twenty One Pilot’s “Heathens” from the 2016 Suicide Squad soundtrack.  The song known to be more on the electronica side with a Pop vide are replaced with Heavier sounding guitar and percussion fills making the song have an Alternative Rock feel . 

“Fell on Black Days” by Soundgarden is the next song on the EP.  This is not the first time the band has covered a Chris Cornell song.  They first did on their debut cover EP, Reanimate by putting their own style on Temple of the Dogs, “Hunger Strike”.   With that being said, the band seems to break away from the Grunge sound of “Fell on Black Days” and adds their own spin to it with a modern-day Rock vibe. Fans and listeners will be happy with the outcome of this song as it stays true to the overall original style of the song but will enjoy how it has its own modern-day twist lyrically and musically.

The final song on the album, is “Ride the Lightening” by Metallica.  The song overall stays true to its original musical sound except for Lzzy Hale’s vocals that differ from James Hatfield’s.  Her powerful vocal performance allows for the rest of the band to shine as well proving they are more than just seasoned professionals as they take on one of the most famous songs in Metallica’s repertoire.  It is refreshing to see a band make a cover all their own and stay so true to what the original artist created.

Overall, Halestorm again proves they can take on anything musically as a band.  Covering six classic songs they have taken these to a new level and made them their own.  By recreating and reinventing the style of some songs that are near and dear to their heart allows for fans to experience the enjoyment of hearing their favorite songs in a different light. ReAniMate 3.0 is defiantly an EP one will want to go out and Rock out to.

About Side Stage Magazine 8245 Articles
Side Stage Magazine, providing you all the latest in music news, reviews, and interviews.