Lzzy Hale Brings Spark To Halestorm's "I Am The Fire"

The metal anthem personifies defiance. No matter how many ways you package it the intent rings loud and clear. Lzzy Hale, high priestess of modern metal can add her name to the list of practitioners who've hit the nail on the head. Plucked from "Into The Wild Life" comes "I Am The Fire" This track symbolizes Lzzy's birth as a woman who can unleash relentless notes for her art's sake. If numbers like "I Miss The Misery" haven't already convinced you that she's got fire propelling from her belly then "I Am The Fire" should do the trick. You almost forget this is Halestorm, not the Lzzy Hale Review. I'm not attempting to dis the other members. You can make out their presence for sure, but it's Lzzy Hale, rough edged A-chord tonsil flashing and all that gets this song off the ground and soaring into the stratosphere. Her venom slices your spine with giddy naughtiness. Every time she screams "I AM THE FIRE!!" you ask yourself, "Do I want to be the one to tell her she's wrong?" Recently I caught a YouTube download of her performing the Cinderella classic "Nobody's Fool" alongside that band's vocalist Tom Keifer, no stranger to belting out verses that make you want to sympathize with the guy because he sounds like his throat's going through a shredder. She did the song justice and Tom looked genuinely honored to have her there. If that was torch passing in progress the future's in capable hands. Lzzy's drum banging brother Arejay knows how to step back so his sister can shine. Josh Smith works wonders on keyboards. They elevate the bite Lzzy is delivering rabid dog style. Joe Hottinger explodes into guitar mania at the right junctures. So how addictive is Lzzy during "I Am The Fire"? Imagine the roughest sex you've ever had and cottoned to liking then multiply the rush that got you. Each reenactment of the chorus punches through like little tiny nibbles on the back. I'm floored by how her self-worth stays at that likable, high quality level. Wouldn't you like her guarding your back in a dark alley. The A chord serves as a beefy pathos builder. That formula worked when Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne teamed up for "Close My Eyes Forever" and lent mystery to Def Leppard's "Tonight", a cut lifted from "Adrenalize". In "I Am The Fire" the A chord showcases what a determined woman Lzzy is. At the start we sort of get the calm before the storm. The unit hasn't elevated its game to full power as yet. That's quickly cured though. Lzzy seeks to get past the fear that has her stuck in mire. Potential's in her sights. She's not about to let go. Some might accuse the song of being too narcissistic. You want to tell Lzzy to cool it? Didn't think so. I see it as daily affirmation with the decibel level pushed full blast. Maybe rebirth has its part to play. "I Am The Fire" has enough oxygen to burn bright on rock radio for the foreseeable future and possibly beyond. Lzzy Hale wearing motivational speaker garb suits the rock climate just fine.