Halestorm: ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP

By Robin Ervolina
Nobody gives a better cover than Halestorm; and so it was, with squeals of delight, I dug into their latest cover project ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP. I mean, just take a look at this track list:

• Still Of The Night (Originally Performed By Whitesnake)
• Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover (Originally Performed By Sophie B. Hawkins)
• I Hate Myself For Loving You  (Originally Performed By Joan Jett & The Blackhearts)
• Heathens (Originally Performed By twenty one pilots)
• Fell On Black Days (Originally Performed By Soundgarden)
• Ride The Lightning (Originally Performed By Metallica)

Lzzy Hale and crew tackle each song fearlessly, which is probably the least surprising verb I can use to describe Halestorm, the four-piece rock band from Red Lion, Pennsylvania. Tiny powerhouse Lzzy Hale, with her stilettos and double-neck Gibson, electrifies the stage while her brother Arejay dominates the kit behind her, in a blur of sticks, hair, and animated showmanship.
ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP is not a karaoke cover EP. This is not someone singing someone else's songs. It's important to note, if you missed ReAniMate 1.0 and 2.0, that Halestorm does not simply cover a song; as the title infers, they reanimate. Taking a tune and injecting it with a stylized vibe is a gift this writer is so grateful to receive. With a powerful purr turned roar, Lzzy opens ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP. Her rough and sexy tumble with “Still Of The Night” doesn’t just hold a candle to the original, it outshines it. “I Wish I Was your Lover,” a song I personally detest, is not only bearable under a Lzzy spell, it’s infectious. I hate myself for loving it. Meanwhile, “I Hate Myself For Loving You” features some wicked skins by one of rocks most animated drummers, Arejay, who leads the way for his sister’s grinding guitar licks and soulful vocals. On current Sirius Octane rotation is my personal favorite of ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP, twenty one pilot’s “Heathens.” This pop hit is repurposed with absolute intention. The creepy, sinister lyrics are given just the right treatment, causing the hairs on my arms to take note. Does Lzzy sing or play guitar better? “Fell On Black Days” fails to answer that question, featuring some amazing vocals and guitar solos. “Ride The Lightening” closes out this showcase with wicked delight.
I don’t know if Halestorm picks their covers according to their strengths or if they can just cover any damn thing. Either way, the grit and strength personified in ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP is a masters class in respect. It’s no wonder the biggest acts in rock happily hand over their song children to the care and feeding of Halestorm, time and time again.
You can download a copy of ReAniMate 3.o: The CoVeRs eP here.