Halestorm have unleashed their sophomore album ‘The Strange Case Of…’ The disc shows off the band’s diverse sound and ability to not only go from one end of the rock spectrum to another but to create a new spectrum entirely.

The album starts off with the single ‘Love Bites (So Do I),’ which is the perfect representation of Halestorm and a great showcase of frontwoman Lzzy Hale’s voice and badass wit.

The next track, 'Mz. Hyde,' is funky, complete with a little bit of synthesizer action. Even though it’s a bit poppy, it keeps a certain amount of edge and the lyrics provide that same sort of duality as well.

‘I Miss the Misery’ is one of the most powerfully raw songs on the album, as Hale croons and yells the very infectious chorus that is bound to get stuck in your head: “I miss the bad things / The way you hate me / I miss the screaming / The way that you blame me / Miss the phone calls / When it’s your fault / I miss the late nights / Don’t miss you at all / I like the kick in the face / And the things you do to me / I love the way that it hurts / I don’t miss you / I miss the misery.”

‘Freak Like Me’ is a straight up anthem for misfits and Lzzy Hale doesn’t fail to show that her vocal cords are made of pure gold as she hits some unfathomable notes. With sleezy guitar riffs, crashing cymbals and deep bass lines what’s not to like about this hard rocking, fist pumping track?

There is calm in the Halestorm, however, with a block of three ballad-y songs -- ‘Beautiful With You,’ ‘In Your Room’ and ‘Break In.’ The songs show another side of Hale's voice, as she delivers some soaring melodies.

The disc kicks it into high gear with the catchy, up-tempo song ‘Rock Show,’ which is a tune that every concert lover can relate to. With catchy lyrics, a groovy melody this is one song you can jump and bounce around to. The track features some of the most memorable lyrics on the album: “This goes out to anyone /
Whose heart beats like a kick drum / When a bitchin' riff comes / Knows the words to every line / Everytime / And you know you gotta go get some / Get pumped / Find yourself and lose it
.” It's hard not to "lose it" when listening to this song.

'Daughters of Darkness' and ‘You Call Me a Bitch Like It’s a Bad Thing’ are anthems for the vixens. Leave it up to Hale to take a word like ‘bitch’ and turn it into an empowering term.

Men born and raised in the United States should be humbled because when Lzzy Hale says she likes you, 'cause that’s not something to take lightly. In the song ‘American Boys,’ Hale tips her hat to dudes from coast to coast, whether they’re “Friday night boys and the PBR / Chasing Jack, getting wrecked / In small town bars” or “Pretty boys at the university / Watching them walk / In their Levi jeans."

‘The Strange Case Of…’ rounds out with the song ‘Here’s to Us,’ a great ballad that goes perfectly with a beer in one hand and a lighter in the other.

The deluxe edition of the album includes the bonus tracks ‘Don't Know How To Stop,' ’Private Parts' (featuring James Michael of Sixx: A.M.) and ‘Hate It When You See Me Cry.’ Overall, 'The Strange Case Of...' proves that Halestorm are a force to be reckoned with in the rock world.

4.5 Stars
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