Vicious (Halestorm album)

The American rock band Halestorm released their third studio album, Into the Wild Life, on April 10, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrang.com/27033/halestorm-announce-new-album-wild-life/|title=Halestorm Announce New Album, Into The Wild Life|work=Kerrang!|accessdate=14 January 2015}} This was followed up with 2017's Reanimate 3.0: The Covers EP, produced by Nick Raskulinecz.{{Cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/halestorm-reanimate-3-0-the-covers-ep-review/|title=Halestorm, 'ReAniMate 3.0: The Covers EP' Review|website=Loudwire|date=6 January 2017 |access-date=2017-01-10}} The band ended up discarding 15 songs,{{cite news |last1=Goodwyn |first1=Tom |title="We didn't know if we could still do it..." - Halestorm talk starting over on new album Vicious |url=https://www.hmv.com/music/halestorm-vicious-interview |access-date=February 19, 2021 |work=HMV.com |date=July 27, 2018}} as frontwoman Lzzy Hale became displeased with the material out of fear that she was "paying way too much attention to making everybody happy." The band reunited with Raskulinecz in Nashville, Tennessee's Rock Falcon studio for what began as a series of live jam sessions.{{cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/halestorm-debut-brash-barreling-new-song-uncomfortable-detail-next-album|title=Halestorm Debut Brash, Barreling New Song "Uncomfortable," Detail Next Album|date=May 30, 2018|work=Revolver|access-date=July 21, 2018|author=Camp, Zoe}} By February 2018, Hale announced that the new album was "almost done," and that Halestorm had "about two or three weeks left of recording just to put the cherries on top."{{cite magazine |last1=Graff |first1=Gary |title=Halestorm Tease 'Very Rock' New Album, Celebrate Philly's Super Bowl Victory |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8099040/halestorm-new-album-interview |access-date=February 19, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |date=February 9, 2018}}

Lzzy Hale commented to Blabbermouth.net:

{{blockquote|"In my opinion, this is gonna be the first record… And we always say this, we hope we get better as musicians as we go on, with each record. But this is gonna be the first record where you can really hear all four corners of Halestorm and what makes us a band. And if any of you have ever seen us live, I think this is the closest to what you see when you see us live. In a lot of these records that we put out, 'Okay, we have a catchy song, and I sing on it,' and then that's about it. So there's so many different layers to this record that I'm so proud to show everybody."{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/halestorm-members-discuss-making-of-vicious-album-this-is-the-closest-to-what-you-see-when-you-see-us-live/|title=Halestorm Members Discuss Making Of 'Vicious' Album: 'This Is The Closest To What You See When You See Us Live'|date=May 31, 2018|work=Blabbermouth.net|access-date=July 21, 2018}}}}

When discussing the album artwork with Sound Vapors, Joe Hottinger said:

{{blockquote|“We wanted to create some sort of imagery that maybe spoke to somebody. Is it a woman, like struggling through the gauntlet of the industry or is it a woman enjoying all these hands on her? Or is it commentary on current events? There’s no answer. It’s an image to create questions.”{{cite web|url=https://soundvapors.com/interview-lzzy-hale-joe-hottinger-halestorm/|title='Interview: Lzzy Hale Joe hottinger Halestorm'|date=July 24, 2018|work=Tommy Marz Sound Vapors|access-date=July 24, 2018}}}}

Halestorm announced the details of their new album, including the name, track list, and release date, on May 30, 2018. The announcement was accompanied by the album's first single, "Uncomfortable", and a music video directed by Evan Brace, who previously directed videos for Phantogram and Taking Back Sunday.{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/.amp/artists/halestorm-announce-new-album-vicious-premiere-uncomfortable|title=Halestorm Announce New Album, 'Vicious,' Premiere "Uncomfortable"|work=Guitar World|date=May 30, 2018|access-date=July 21, 2018}} On June 22, the band released "Black Vultures."{{cite news |last1=Casteel |first1=Beth |title=Halestorm unveil powerful new single "Black Vultures" |url=https://www.altpress.com/news/halestorm-vicious-new-single-black-vultures/ |access-date=February 19, 2021 |work=Alternative Press |date=June 22, 2018}} The last pre-album single, "Do Not Disturb," was released on July 20, a week before Vicious. The song was accompanied by a video directed by Robert Schober, also known as Roboshobo, who previously worked with Metallica, Alice in Chains, Mastodon, Disturbed, and Green Day.{{cite news |title=Halestorm: Making of 'Do Not Disturb' Video |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/halestorm-making-of-do-not-disturb-video/ |access-date=February 19, 2021 |work=Blabbermouth.net |date=October 22, 2018}}

To promote Vicious, Halestorm went on tour with support from In This Moment and New Year's Day, a decision that Lzzy Hale said was made because "It's important to realize that music is gender-less."{{cite news |last1=Whitmore |first1=Laura B. |title=Exclusive Interview: Lzzy Hale Talks Halestorm's New Release, 'Vicious' out July 27 |url=https://parade.com/688953/laurawhitmore/exclusive-interview-lzzy-hale-talks-halestorms-new-release-vicious-out-july-27/ |access-date=February 19, 2021 |work=Parade |date=July 27, 2018}} Hottinger says, "We were told by the third show [on the tour] that there were more females buying tickets than males, which in hard rock, we have never seen before."{{cite magazine |last1=Hudak |first1=Joseph |title=Halestorm Talk Owning Sex on Their New LP and Why Heavy Music Is 'Genderless' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/halestorm-talk-owning-sex-on-their-new-lp-and-why-heavy-music-is-genderless-705561/ |access-date=February 19, 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=August 2, 2018}}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 81/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/vicious/halestorm|title=Vicious - Halestorm|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=July 27, 2018}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}

| rev2 = Daily Express

| rev2score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|first=Paul|last=Davies|url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/994602/music-review-rock-albums-The-Rolling-Stones-Halestorm-Big-Big-Train|title=Review: The week's best rock albums from The Rolling Stones and Halestorm to Big Big Train|work=Daily Express|date=July 26, 2018|access-date=July 27, 2018}}

| rev3 = Metal Hammer

| rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|title=Halestorm – Vicious album reviewed|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/halestorm-vicious-album-reviewed|work=Metal Hammer|date=27 July 2018 |access-date=July 27, 2018}}

| rev4 = Metal Injection

| rev4score = 7/10{{cite web|title=Album Review: Halestorm Vicious|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/reviews/halestorm-vicious|work=Metal Injection|date=24 July 2018 |access-date=July 27, 2018}}

| rev5 = The Times

| rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|first=Will|last=Hodgkinson|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/pop-review-halestorm-vicious-xztw570z5|title=Pop review: Halestorm: Vicious|work=The Times|date=July 27, 2018|access-date=July 27, 2018}}

| rev6 = Stereoboard

| rev6score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite web|first=Simon|last=Ramsey|url=https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/219164/9|title=Halestorm - Vicious album review|work=Stereoboard|date=August 3, 2018|access-date=August 3, 2018}}

}}

Vicious has received a score of 81 on Metacritic based on four reviews indicating "universal acclaim", making it the band's highest scoring album on the site. James Christopher Monger at AllMusic wrote that "The holy hard rock trinity of sex, drugs, and rock & roll is alive and well -- but it connects on such a visceral and familiar level that listeners will likely be unable to resist the urge to turn things up to 11." Stephen Dalton of Classic Rock wrote, "Sounding at times like a fire-breathing she-dragon, Hale has a flair for lyrically deft rebel-girl songs that wear their feminist credentials lightly." Paul Davies of the Daily Express wrote, "There are more hooks, delicious vocals and musicianship here to reel in both avid fans and casual listeners.

Vicious debuted at number eight on the US Billboard 200 chart, recording 29,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.{{cite news |title=Halestorm's "Vicious" earns top-10 debut on "Billboard" 200 |url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2018/8/6/halestorms-vicious-earns-top-10-debut-on-billboard-200.html |access-date=February 19, 2021 |work=ABC News Radio Online |date=August 6, 2018}} As of November 2021, the album has earned 140,000 equivalent album units in the US.{{cite magazine |title=Halestorm Is 'Back' at No. 1 on Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9654442/halestorm-back-from-the-dead-mainstream-rock-airplay-chart/ |access-date=November 7, 2021 |magazine=Billboard |date=November 2, 2021}}

Loudwire included Vicious at number five on their year-end list of the "30 Best Hard Rock Albums of 2018."{{cite news |title=The 30 Best Hard Rock Albums of 2018 |url=https://loudwire.com/30-best-hard-rock-albums-2018/ |access-date=February 19, 2021 |work=Loudwire |date=November 26, 2018}} Classic Rock also put Vicious at number five on their list of the "50 Best Albums Of 2018."{{cite news |title=Classic Rock's 50 Best Albums Of 2018 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/classic-rocks-50-best-albums-of-2018 |access-date=February 19, 2021 |work=Classic Rock |publisher=Louder Sound |date=December 29, 2018}}

"Uncomfortable" was nominated for Best Rock Performance at the 2019 Grammy Awards,{{cite magazine |last1=Rodman |first1=Sarah |title=Lzzy Hale of Halestorm on the Grammys, Pat Benatar |url=https://ew.com/grammys/2019/02/08/lzzy-hale-halestorm-grammy-interview/ |access-date=February 19, 2021 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 8, 2019}} losing to Chris Cornell's "When Bad Does Good."{{cite web |title=2018 Grammy Winners |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/61st-annual-grammy-awards-2018 |website=GRAMMY.com |publisher=Recording Academy |access-date=February 19, 2021}}

All tracks are produced by Nick Raskulinecz.

{{Track listing

| total_length = 43:26

| title1 = Black Vultures

| length1 = 4:10

| writer1 = {{hlist|Lzzy Hale|Joe Hottinger|Brian Vodinh{{cite AV media notes |title=Vicious |others=Halestorm |year=2018 |type=CD liner |publisher=Atlantic Records |id=571870-2 |location=United States}}}}

| title2 = Skulls

| writer2 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Josh Smith|Hottinger|Arejay Hale}}

| length2 = 3:19

| title3 = Uncomfortable

| writer3 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Smith|Hottinger|A. Hale}}

| length3 = 3:40

| title4 = Buzz

| writer4 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Smith|Hottinger|A. Hale}}

| length4 = 3:22

| title5 = Do Not Disturb

| writer5 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Smith|Hottinger|A. Hale}}

| length5 = 3:23

| title6 = Conflicted

| writer6 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Hottinger|Ingrid Andress|Andre Davidson|Michael Pollack|Stephen Puth{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqSDxjzlXU4 |title=Conflicted {{!}} Accreditation provided by Warner Music Group |website=YouTube |date=July 26, 2018 |access-date=August 3, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/halestorms-lzzy-hale-bad-thoughts-good-sex-re-finding-mojo-new-album |title=Halestorm's Lzzy Hale on Bad Thoughts, Good Sex, Re-Finding "Mojo" With New Album |work=Revolver |date=July 27, 2018 |access-date=August 3, 2018 |author=Camp, Zoe}}}}

| length6 = 3:29

| title7 = Killing Ourselves to Live

| writer7 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Smith|Hottinger|A. Hale}}

| length7 = 4:00

| title8 = Heart of Novocaine

| writer8 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Smith|Hottinger|A. Hale}}

| length8 = 3:33

| title9 = Painkiller

| writer9 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Hottinger|Scott Stevens}}

| length9 = 3:13

| title10 = White Dress

| writer10 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Hottinger|Andrew Goldstein|Dan Book}}

| length10 = 3:29

| title11 = Vicious

| writer11 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Hottinger|Kevin Churko|Kane Churko{{cite web |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/halestorms-vicious-joe-hottingers-track-by-track-guide |title=Halestorm's Vicious: Joe Hottinger's track-by-track guide |work=Classic Rock |date=July 26, 2018 |access-date=August 2, 2018 |author=Lewry, Fraser}}}}

| length11 = 3:01

| title12 = The Silence

| length12 = 4:47

| writer12 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Hottinger}}

| all_writing =

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Walmart edition bonus tracks{{cite web |title=Halestorm - Vicious (Walmart Exclusive) (CD) |url=https://www.walmart.com/ip/Halestorm-Vicious-Walmart-Exclusive-CD/179994142 |website=Walmart |access-date=July 25, 2018}}

| title13 = Nobody

| writer13 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Smith|Hottinger|A. Hale}}

| length13 = 4:12

| title14 = Letters

| writer14 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Smith|Hottinger|A. Hale}}

| total_length = 52:57

| length14 = 5:19

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Vinyl edition bonus tracks{{cite web |title=Halestorm - Vicious Vinyl 2xLP Bundle |url=https://store.halestormrocks.com/vicious-vinyl-2xlp-bundle.html |website=Halestorm |access-date=July 28, 2018}}

| title13 = Now That You're Gone

| writer13 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Smith|Hottinger|A. Hale}}

| length13 = 2:51

| title14 = Nobody

| writer14 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Smith|Hottinger|A. Hale}}

| length14 = 4:12

| title15 = Golden

| writer15 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Smith|Hottinger|A. Hale}}

| length15 = 4:13

| title16 = Letters

| writer16 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Smith|Hottinger|A. Hale}}

| total_length = 60:01

| length16 = 5:19

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks{{cite web |title=Vicious (Japan Version) - Halestorm |url=https://www.yesasia.com/us/vicious-japan-version/1066968468-0-0-0-en/info.html |website=Yes Asia |language=ja |access-date=July 26, 2018}}

| total_length = 50:55

| title13 = Tokyo

| writer13 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Smith|Hottinger|A. Hale}}

| length13 = 3:46

| title14 = Love Bites (So Do I)

| note14 = Live in Philly{{ref|a|[a]}} 2015

| length14 = 3:33

| writer14 = {{hlist|L. Hale|Dave Bassett}}

}}

Notes

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} Though listed as being recorded in Philadelphia, the track was actually recorded in Camden, New Jersey.{{cite web |last1=Roncace |first1=Kelly |title=A 'Halestorm' is stronger than a hurricane: Rockers relocate show due to Joaquin |url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/10/a_halestorm_is_stronger_than_a_hurricane_rockers_r.html |website=NJ.com |date=October 2015 |publisher=Advance Local Media |access-date=August 31, 2018}}

• Lzzy Hale – vocals, guitar, piano, synths, talk box on "Buzz"
• Arejay Hale – drums, backing vocals
• Joe Hottinger – lead guitar, backing vocals, synths
• Josh Smith – bass guitar, piano, backing vocals, synths

• Suzi Akyuz – product manager
• David Brown – guitar technician
• Rock Falcon – drum technician
• Jimmy Fontaine – photography
• Ted Jensen – mastering
• Nik Karpen – mixing assistance
• Alex Kirzhner – creative direction and design
• Jordan Logue – assistance
• Chris Lord-Alge – mixing
• Brian Ranney – packaging manager
• Nick Raskulinecz – producer
• Scott Stevens – additional production
• Nathan Yarborough – engineering

Almost two years after the release of the album, the band debuted the Vicious (Stripped) EP for Record Store day 2020.{{cite web |last1=Doyle |first1=Laura |title=EP REVIEW: Halestorm – Vicious (Stripped) |url=https://www.deadpress.co.uk/ep-review-halestorm-vicious-stripped/ |website=Dead Press |access-date=19 February 2021}} The album features acoustic versions of four songs from the album as well as an acoustic version of "Chemicals", which was released as a non album promo single the previous year.

{{track listing

| title1 = Black Vultures

| note1 = Stripped

| length1 = 3:55

| title2 = Do Not Disturb

| note2 = Stripped

| length2 = 3:21

| title3 = Chemicals

| note3 = Stripped

| length3 = 4:30

| title4 = Heart of Novacaine

| note4 = Stripped

| length4 = 3:25

| title5 = The Silence

| note5 = Stripped

| length5 = 4:47

| total_length = 19:58

}}

{{reflist}}

{{Halestorm}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2018 albums

Category:Halestorm albums

Category:Glam metal albums