Halestorm’s hard rockin’ music; Emily Armstrong finding her voice in Linkin Park

Halestorm. Image from Atlantic

In 2012, I had planned to write about Halestorm, but unfortunately, it slipped my mind. I recall I had a draft but I never finished it. Then, from time to time, I would listen to Halestorm because they are that darn good, then, again, I would completely forget about writing about them for some reason. However, what reignited my interest in the band was the exceptional cover of “Separate Worlds” by Daughtry featuring Lzzy Hale, the lead vocalist of Halestorm. This collaboration sparked my curiosity, prompting me to finally write about their music and catch up on their newest albums I have yet to listen to. Halestorm has been delivering hard-hitting rock music since its major label debut in 2009. Their commitment to releasing a new album every two or three years is truly admirable, showcasing their commitment to staying active and thus, in return solidifying their position as one of the premier hard rock bands globally.

Some time ago, Lzzy Hale was rumored to become Linkin Park’s new lead vocalist, a position many believed she would excel in. Lzzy Hale’s cover of “Crawling” was impressive and made Linkin Park fans hope that Linkin Park would decide to hire a female lead vocalist instead. Ultimately, the role was taken by Emily Armstrong from Dead Sara. The mere consideration of Lzzy Hale for the sought-after vacant position highlights her exceptional reputation as a singer to the point that even other famous bands are vying for her services if she were available and could take some time off from her band. This is not surprising as Lzzy Hale’s vocal range, which seems boundless, is often compared to the legendary Joan Jett at her peak. Proof of this, following her signing with a major record label, she has firmly established herself as one of the leading female rock voices in the music industry. Many major record labels wanted to sign Halestorm during that time because they all knew this band was the real deal.

One key factor that distinguishes Halestorm is its unwavering commitment to a specific subgenre and to sticking with it despite constantly changing music trends that can affect for better or worse one’s chosen music style. Dedication has been instrumental in their long-standing success within the music industry, getting recognized by various music awards from different award-giving bodies. By steadfastly adhering to their original sound and refraining from exploring other subgenres, they have earned acclaim from devoted fans and casual listeners because they see authenticity in the band. As a result, when casual listeners discover Halestorm for the first time, they are introduced to a band with a strong reputation, an extensive, growing list of hits to their name, and a permanent fixture of hard rock.

In today’s fast-paced music industry, new artists often rise to fame quickly and suddenly drop off the radar. Many come and go. However, what sets Halestorm apart is their distinguished hard rockin’ presence, sound, and songs they have that would make other older and newer bands feel like amateurs compared to them. They were hailed as one of the best rock bands to emerge in years, and Halestorm has proven not to be a passing trend. Many music aficionados seek authenticity in a rock band that stands the test of time, as it is this rare longevity with a cause that truly cements a band’s legacy. The key lies in longevity, ensuring a band’s lasting impact and relevance in the music scene. Halestorm is such a band worthy of interest.

Halestorm is well-prepared and eager to receive greater international acclaim due to their diligent efforts and dedication. Their hard work positions them as deserving candidates for increased global recognition and getting known more in Southeast Asia, especially, the Philippines.

To get everyone started here are some essential Halestorm songs that you should check out: “I Miss The Misery”, “I Get Off”, “Bad Romance”, “Love Bites”, and “Freak Like Me.”

Emily Armstrong finding her ‘voice’ in Linkin Park

I am more convinced than ever that Emily Armstrong is putting in her best effort to help fill the void left by the original lead vocalist, Chester Bennington, and that is no easy feat. However, she is making a dedicated effort, and her commitment is convincing more non-fans of her addition to the band to appreciate her dedication despite lacking the necessary complete singing tools fitting to be the “voice” of Linkin Park.

The new version of Linkin Park had its first tour date with Emily Armstrong at The Kia Forum in Los Angeles, California. Fortunately, many fans brought their smartphones and captured the entire concert and portions. I watched the concert thanks to the fans who recorded it. The show showed notable improvement in Emily Armstrong’s vocals compared to the surprise mini-concert. By the end of the lengthy performance, it was evident that she had grown more comfortable with Linkin Park’s performance style. During her initial public performance with the band, she struggled to find her footing, but now the improvement is clear.

In my entertainment article about the new lead vocalist of Linkin Park, I emphasized several points, including the audible vocal strain in Emily Armstrong’s voice that can be heard in some of the heavier-hitting Linkin Park songs she performed. However, she adjusted, and in their first official concert, she managed to reduce stress on her vocal cords by singing at a more controlled volume, which in turn lessened the impact of her performance in the more aggressive and intense song sections but helped preserve her natural singing voice which is necessary because Linkin Park is known to perform long sets. This adjustment allowed Emily Armstrong to glide more smoothly through the songs with a reserved tone, controlled tempo, and vocal style that is befitting for a singer of her caliber given her alternative rock background.

Let’s be realistic and factual. Some classic Linkin Park songs will always sound better with a male voice. It does not feel right in the ear when Emily Armstrong sings some of these songs for a reason. You can tell they don’t suit a female voice. There will always be times when you need the bass, the treble, and that “oomph” to it. This is where it is important to have a male co-lead vocalist, and possibly a few other male members of the band who can contribute their background vocals throughout these challenging songs, as I believe the absence of these qualities can be compensated for.

At their first official concert, and not the surprise pop-up one, there were moments when I felt like I was watching Amy Lee of Evanescence singing. This is not a criticism of her, but rather an observation between the two female lead vocalists. In the past, there has never been a time when I could compare these two bands (Evanescence and Linkin Park) because they do not belong in the same subgenre of rock and their singers do not sound alike at all. That is a red flag for me. Other things entered my mind, but I did not want to come off as negative, because it is a brand-new beginning for her and can you imagine the pressure she is experiencing?

This will take time, as it will be a lengthy process to get more people to accept her as their new lead vocalist since it has been made clear that she is now responsible for lead vocal duties. Therefore, we must wish her the best. If Emily Armstrong continues to find her “voice”, the rest of the band will surely benefit from that. We need Linkin Park to continue in any form, incarnation, or version it may take because Chester Bennington left behind a big void when he took his own life and we are still feeling that gigantic loss to this day.

What Linkin Park had with Chester Bennington as their lead vocalist in the music industry and the world of music cannot be duplicated by any other singer, vocalist, frontman, or artist. The whole truth is that Chester Bennington was born to be the frontman of Linkin Park and this was meant for him since the beginning of his professional music career. Proof that even after Chester Bennington’s sudden passing, the band still received posthumous awards from numerous award-giving bodies in the music industry. This hard-to-accept reality is the toughest pill for most people to swallow now that he is gone and will never return.

It’s clearer than ever that the original line-up of Linkin Park was one of a kind, and this incarnation can help fill that void a bit, but never to the way it was. It would be impossible to turn back the hands of time and bring back someone who has passed away. At the crux of all this is always the comparison to Chester Bennington. The vocal differences are glaring, and despite Emily Armstrong continuing to improve, she still has a long way to go. It is undeniable, now more than ever, that Chester Bennington is on a completely different level compared to Emily Armstrong, in terms of her strengths in singing, performing, and connecting with people.

There will understandably be fans who will not accept this new incarnation of the band, or who may have already decided it is not worth it, and some who even feel betrayed by all of this. Either way, that is perfectly fine because when I weigh things, for all the band’s long-time fans, we were extremely fortunate to have been there when Linkin Park exploded onto the music scene and changed everything in their music scene because of how they were. They changed our perception of music, and it was all because of six immensely talented musicians who risked it all; and in return, it paid off for everyone. What a legacy the original Linkin Park has left behind.