In one of the cleanest-sounding metal track that’s been released in a long time, Halestorm releases the anthem of the year with their newest single, ‘The Steeple’.

The first thing I feel is important to bring up, before the composition, is the production of this song. Metal has a bad stigma of being muddy, and somewhat poorly-mixed. My ears were blessed seconds after putting on ‘The Steeple’ – the guitars are extremely meaty, yet spacious. They crunch as any good metal guitar should, but they fit within their place in the composition and don’t reach beyond where they belong. The drums are truly the centerpiece of the instrumentation – they are at the forefront and spread widely across the soundscape with booming kicks and snapping snares. The bass provides a wonderful foundation for the rest of the instruments, and the vocals bite harder than the aggression in Lzzy Hale’s fierce vocals.

The energy is immediately set to a very high level as soon as the song begins, but the stakes are all the higher in the incredibly catchy chorus. Lzzy Hale, who already has a reputation of being one of the most memorable and talented vocals in the metal and rock spheres, pushes herself beyond the boundaries of us lowly mortals, with chest notes breaking the ceiling. The harmonies are extremely clean and serve the melody wonderfully from start to finish. Her performance cements ‘The Steeple’ as a true and proper rock anthem.

‘The Steeple’ is one of the greatest tracks Halestorm has put out. With thick grooves, and hypnotizing melodies, ‘The Steeple’ is a true, brutal work of art. The energy is unparalleled, and the talent and musicianship displayed all across the board, coupled with masterful production, is sure to be remembered by fans and casual listeners alike as one of the greatest rock tracks of 2022.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.