'Reimagined' Review: Halestorm roll out an Amy Lee collab, Whitney Houston cover and some reworked fan-favorites
The Grammy award-winning rock band Halestorm, best known for the stupendous talents of their frontwoman, Lzzy Hale, will be dropping their latest EP, titled 'Reimagined' available on all music streaming services from August 14. As the title of their latest release implies, this is a collection on reworked fan-favorites from the band's multi-platinum-selling catalog, although they've also thrown in a few surprises for their fans.
One of them is a cover of Whitney Houston's 'I Will Always Love You', which was originally performed by Dolly Parton, but Houston's epic 1992 rendition remains the definitive version. Also appearing on this EP is a retooled version of 'Break In' from 2012, which now features as a brilliant new collaboration with Amy Lee, the angelic-voiced frontwoman of Evanescence. Other reimagined Halestorm songs on this new EP include previously-released tracks from their storied career like 'I Get Off', 'Mz Hyde', 'I Miss The Misery', and 'I Am The Fire'.
Lzzy Hale, the lead vocalist and guitarist of Halestorm stated, "Over the last decade, we've been putting out cover EPs in between every original album cycle just for fun... But this time around we decided to shake it up! For our Reimagined EP, we committed to only one cover but filled the rest with reimagined versions of Halestorm songs. It was such a blast to remake some of our favorite originals."
Hale added a special word for Amy Lee, saying, "One of the standout moments on this EP is a duet of our song 'Break In' featuring the amazingly incomparable Amy Lee. Produced by Nick Rasculinecz, we recorded this duet pre-Covid-19, together in the same room, live, as a full performance from beginning to end. Amy brought new meaning to this song, turning what was once just a love song into a statement of unity and support for each other. I hope you find something in 'Reimagined' that brings you joy and hope in these crazy times we live in!"
The EP opener, 'I Get Off', was first released on Halestorm's self-titled debut album, 'Halestorm' back in 2009. This time around, Lzzy Hale and company have transformed the fiery rocker into a more mellow and mature version of the original. 'I Get Off' had previously featured an all-out rock vibe, with palm-muted chugging, searing vocals and electrifying guitars. While keeping the essence of the song intact, it's now been morphed into a subtler, delay-drenched version with richer harmonies and production that really showcase the vocals this time around.
Next up is 'I Miss The Misery', which was a soaring, chugging, sing-along rock stomper when it first released in 2012 on 'The Strange Case Of…' This time around, Halestorm have delivered the song as a much more laidback, groovier rendition, with acoustic guitars and plenty of reverb-drenched harmonies present in the latest stripped-down mix. This version will definitely be a new fan-favorite once it makes its way to alternative and rock radio stations.
Similarly, the band's scorching rendition of 'I Am The Fire', which first released in 2015 off the album 'Into The Wild Life' has been switched up delightfully. This new minimalist version still preserves the reverberant intro from the original, but the 'Reimagined' update is now much more spacious and shimmering. Lzzy Hale also shines as she alternates between her signature gritty voice and some gorgeous falsettos. Towards the end of the song, we get to hear some brilliant new warped guitar lines featuring copious amounts of modulation, which deserve special mention.
Diehard Halestorm fans will already be familiar with 'Break In', featuring Evanescence's Amy Lee, which was released on July 30 as a preview single for this new EP. The piano ballad had originally appeared on Halestorm's 2012 album, 'The Strange Case Of…' which was later certified gold. Back in May this year, Hale had hosted Amy Lee on her We Are Hear interview series called 'Raise Your Horns With Lzzy Hale'. That was when the songstress duo had first teamed up for a stunning online performance of 'Break In'. As a good friend of the band, Amy Lee had also joined Halestorm during the Carnival of Madness Tour, performing an exquisite live rendition of 'Break In' with Lzzy Hale on a nightly basis. In the latest lush, delicate and heartfelt recording of this poignant love song, two of rock's most recognizable female voices intertwine on some gorgeous harmonies and take it to new-found soaring heights. This is definitely the album standout on the Reimagined EP, and the tasteful drum and cymbal work also deserves a special mention.
Next up is Halestorm's stunning new rendition of 'I Will Always Love You' with an updated 2020 sheen. This number was made world-famous by the late singer Whitney Houston in 1992, when she made Dolly Parton's song her own on 'The Bodyguard' film soundtrack. However, Lzzy Hale is no slouch when it comes to the glorious vocals department either, and she delivers an emotionally charged performance, full of breathy tenderness and soaring power notes rich in vibrato. This version starts off with an a capella intro, before a solitary piano and lush string section gradually kick in. There's also a scale change towards the end where Lzzy shows us off the vast reaches of her immense range, and you're left convinced that this has to be the definitive rock version of this power ballad.
The EP's closer, 'Mz Hyde', previously featured on the album, 'The Strange Case Of...' from 2012. While the original was a rampant blitzkrieg of a rocker filled with meaty distortion and incendiary vocals that left your ears reeling, this new acoustic, chant-along arrangement has morphed into a more cultured and gentler version, while retaining the same eerie spark from the original. It's almost as if 'Mz Hyde' has embraced more of its Dr Jekyll alter-ego qualities, and it's a welcome modern reinvention as Halestorm emerge into the new decade bright-eyed and eager to change up their sound and tonality.
Another commendation for Halestorm comes after the band recently launched the #ROADIESTRONG support campaign, which will provide essential financial assistance to live music road crews all over the world. Fans are encouraged to purchase #ROADIESTRONG merchandise and make generous donations, with all proceeds going to Live Nation's Crew Nation — a new global relief initiative for live music crews.