Lzzy Hale And Her Bloody Good Mates Storm The O2 Arena

Six albums and more than two decades into their career, Halestorm are still renowned for their near constant touring, but they’ve never played a headline show at London’s O2 Arena – until tonight. It’s been a big year – particularly in the UK – as the band, with their extravagantly talented singer Lzzy Hale, played a barnstorming set at the enormous Ozzy Osbourne swansong concert ‘Back To The Beginning’ in Birmingham in July – introducing them to a vast new audience of heavy rock fans. They also supported Iron Maiden’s mega homecoming show just down the road at London Stadium, and released their bold sixth studio album Everest in August – the fans here are keen to hear the new material in London for the first time tonight.

Halestorm @ The O2

Halestorm @ The O2 (Kalpesh Patel)

Halestorm are joined on this tour by the unique proposition of Bloodywood; try conjuring up the sound and image of a band like Limp Bizkit – if they were from New Delhi, India – and you’ll be most of the way there. The hit the stage with a punishing version of Aaj, the crowd are certainly up for this early set, as both circle pits and crowd surfing has happened before the final chord of the first song. The band are clearly loving playing to such a large, appreciative crowd and power through their set – blending traditional Indian music, instruments and singing, with heavy drums, guitars and rap. Bekauf is a highlight, a song about facing your fear, it sounds like the best theme song from a South Asian anime you have never seen, collaborators BabyMetal are heard on the track too. Their ode to their home town – Nu Delhi, speaks of the Wild, Wild East, and the dhol player hammers his drum, his drumsticks resembling crowbars through the copious dry ice. It was an excellent set, vocalist Jayant Bhadula nailing the full spectrum from soulful singing in Hindi to metal growling and screaming – most impressive stuff from a band clearly on an upward trajectory, I will enjoy following their continued rise, along with the rest of the rapt audience.

It’s now time for Halestorm – a large white drape shrouds the band as they enter the stage, making the band appear in silhouette, as they break into the classic, unmistakable riff from Black Sabbath a very classy touch from this now veteran band, to honour a major part of their inspiration.

Opener Falling Star is the first offering from Everest; Lzzy and the band standing in front of massive white Marshall stacks and running straight into the 1-2 punch of hit single I Miss The Misery and GRAMMY® winner Love Bites (So Do I). By playing the hits early, they showcase Lzzy’s brilliant voice and guitar playing. I Get Off leads a mass sing-along before Shiver. For this new song, Lzzy plays keyboard for verses and then guitar for chorus showing exceptional poise and musicianship.

The piano-driven How Will You Remember Me? is dedicated to Ozzy and all the people no longer with us, whilst Freak Like Me and Mz Hyde delve back in time but are still urgent enough to be lapped up by the crowd. We get our customary Arejay Hale drum solo, the rest of the band departing the stage as the frontwoman’s brother more than demonstrates his pounding chops, customary oversized drumsticks upping his game. Uncomfortable brings it’s Ballroom Blitz staccato vocal to the fore, but the sentiment is perfect, as an uncompromising Lzzy screams I love To Make You Uncomfortable. She’s traded in her usual signature Gibson Explorer for an SG and you can feel the extra power from the chunkier guitar.

We need to talk about Lzzy’s voice. Her reputation as one the world’s premier rock singers is well earned; she delivers a melodic ballad and an ear splitting scream equally magnificently. Alongside the fact that she misses not a single beat or note during a breathless 90 minute set, it’s quite phenomenal to witness.

The encore begins with Ozzy Osbourne cover Perry Mason, first played by the band at ‘Back To The Beginning’ with guitarist Joe Hottinger getting his guitar to squeal just like Zakk Wylde, and Lzzy doing her best impression of Aston’s Prince of Darkness. Before a climactic Here’s To Us the band bring the entire tour crew out onto the stage to toast the last song of a tour that has been going since May; a triumphant ending to Halestorm’s latest touring odyssey.