I was turned on to Halestorm by an associate about 2 years ago. Having trust in this friend, I stopped into my local music shop and picked up the band's self titled debut album sight unseen. 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. Basically, I dug the disc. A lot. I've always been a big fan of female fronted rock bands. I think the softer tones of the female voice just lend themselves better to the overall sound. Halestorm front-woman Lzzy Hale, in my opinion, stands tallest amongst the female leads working in rock today. 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. 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. 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. Drummer Arejay Hale (Lzzy's brother) is one of the more energetic and charismatic percussionists that I've seen in quite some time. He reminds me a bit of a younger Liberty DeVito, my all time favorite drummer. I'd be remiss not to mention lead guitarist Joe Hottinger and bassist Josh Smith, who's immense talents compliment the Halestorm sound perfectly. While I found their debut album to be nearly perfect, the newest release, The Strange Case Of... blows it out of the water. 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. In comparison, The Strange Case Of... makes the first album feel "safe." With the first album, Halestorm sort of defined themselves as a rock band with metal tendencies. Each track, whether they be ballad or harder fare, was distinctly Halestorm. 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.The Strange Case Of... comes out swinging with the hardest track on the album, "Love Bites (So do I)" and follows immediately with the uptempo "Mz. Hyde" and "I Miss the Misery". All three of these tracks feel decidedly Halestorm and provide a good transition from the first album to this point. Then we get hit with the first of three stadium anthem tracks on the album, with "Freak Like Me". 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. Allowing you to catch your breath, the next three tracks slow the pacing down. "Beautiful With You" has commercial appeal all over it, and I hope it gets it's due. "In Your Room" and "Break In" are both wonderful power ballads that beautifully showcase Lzzy's singing talent. 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. Halestorm has always been true to their roots and appreciative of those that have influenced them over the years. "Rock Show" feels like a tribute to all those that have inspired them. 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. I go back and forth, but "Daughters of Darkness" is my current favorite track on the album. I so want someone to remake the 80's film The Lost Boys, recast it with female vampires and make this the theme song. This is followed by "You Call Me a Bitch Like It's a Bad Thing". I can't help but get a "I am woman, hear me roar" vibe from these two tracks. They both punch you in the face and dare you to talk back. On "American Boys", Halestorm channels something from a southern fried rock concert. It conjures images of a Lynyrd Skynyrd or George Thorogood show. It makes me want to crack open some cans of cheap beer, drop open the tailgate of a pickup truck and watch a rodeo. It's a sound we've not heard from Halestorm before, but it works. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaOnipj3yc0&feature=relmfu The final tune on the main album is "Here's To Us", which was debuted on the Fox musical dramedy, Glee a couple of months ago. When I first heard this track I thought Halestorm had gone country on me. While some of the hardcore fans were taken aback by the Glee connection, it was without a doubt a smart thing to do. The amount of fans gained who may have never heard of Halestorm if not for the song being on Glee will far outweigh the few shortsighted fans who drop off due to their ignorant opinions on what constitutes "selling out." "Here's To Us", the PG-13 Glee version anyway, is easily the most mainstream commercial track on the album. If you are planning to pick up The Strange Case Of..., don't cheap out. Get the extended cut with the three bonus tracks. These tracks are not B-side throwaways by any means. They all stand up with any of the best this album has to offer. The Strange Case Of... is a nearly flawless album. Halestorm, whether through hard, in your face rock, powerfully crafted ballads or raucous arena anthems, tells a story with each track. There is a passion for the music and for the performers and fans who inspire them. Halestorm is a band that has broken out of it's shell and is ready to descend upon the masses as one of the next great rock-n-roll bands. The Strange Case of Halestorm is available in stores now.