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After the success of 2012‘s The Strange Case Of..., which spawned several hits and garnered them a Grammy, the safe bet by Halestorm would have been to record a similar album of radio-friendly hard rock.  Instead, they went in a different direction, replacing hitmaking producer Howard Benson with Jay Joyce, whose musical and production background is more in the alternative rock and country vein.

The result is Into The Wild Life, which shows the band stretching themselves and exploring new sonic territories while not straying too far from their core sound.

The recording process for the album was different as well. Most of the album was recorded with the four members all in the same room playing together, with the goal of capturing the energy and vibe of their live shows.

That different direction is evident in the opening track “Scream,” which features electronic elements along with bombastic rock, and in “New Modern Love,” with a little country mixed in with the metal. Fans of Halestorm’s earlier albums will find plenty to sink their teeth into as well, such as the first single “Apocalyptic” and the catchy “I Am The Fire.”

Lzzy Hale is one of the best vocalists in hard rock, and she gives another strong performance on Into The Wild Life. From tender ballads to pop-oriented singles to arena rock anthems, she has a powerful and versatile voice.

The second half of the album is stronger than the first, with the aforementioned “Apocalyptic” the power ballad “The Reckoning” and the bluesy anthemic closer “I Like It Heavy.”

Halestorm’s fan base has always been wide-ranging.

You’ll see both tweens and dudes with mullets stuck in the ‘80s at their shows. Into The Wild Life has something for everyone, from the mainstream pop of “Dear Daughter” to the R-rated “Sick Individual.”

Because of that diversity and exploration, this album will be more polarizing than Halestorm’s previous records, but that’s not a bad thing. Most artists hate complacency and are always looking to expand their musical horizons, and that’s exactly what Halestorm have done with Into The Wild Life.

(released April 14, 2015 on Atlantic Records)