By Brittany Rankin

On March 22, the EP “ReAniMate” was released, containing six cover songs. You may be wondering what’s so great about a CD containing six cover tracks. One word: Halestorm.

Despite the band performing with such artists as Shinedown, Papa Roach, Three Days Grace, Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold and Seether, the Pennsylvania-based band is not well known. I was very surprised by this because I have not yet heard a song by Halestorm that I didn’t like.

The four members are fairly young, the youngest member having just turned 23. Two of the members, siblings Lzzy and Arejay Hale, were the original founders of the band along with their father in the late 90s. Guitarist Joe Hottinger and bassist Josh Smith joined in the early 2000s.

After listening to their self-titled debut album, I found their music to be reminiscent of the classic rock and roll that emerged from the late 60s and 70s. They define themselves as a classic-rock based band with modern influences, but through their rhythms and vocals it is clear that they are more than that. Halestorm is a band that works together and has fun with what they are doing. Seeing them live is an energy boost to anyone’s day because they are full of an anticipated energy that leaves the audience breathless and voiceless from screaming so loud.

“ReAniMate” was formed from a question the band posed to their fans: What songs/artists would people like to hear them cover? Through this list, the band put together an eclectic mix of artists that have had an influence on their own music. The cover tracks are “Slave To The Grind” by Skid Row, “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga, “Hunger Strike” by Temple of the Dog, “Out Ta Get Me” by Guns N’ Roses, “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You” by Heart, and “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” by The Beatles.

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