Interview by Sheri Bicheno for MPM
On a beautiful day in London, Halestorm opened their hearts to a select group of fans during an intimate live Q&A at the iconic Gibson Garage in London, allowing an exclusive connection with the powerhouse band, all while buzzing with excitement for their forthcoming performance alongside Iron Maiden at the London Stadium.
On the brink of this monumental show, the band sat down with journalist Sam Coare for a lengthy chat about their highly anticipated upcoming album, Everest, set to be unveiled on 8 August 2025 and the elements behind it.
A prevailing feeling runs throughout Everest, an album that promises soaring melodies and diverse soundscapes that mirror the bands experiences thus far and bursts with untamed energy, heritage and growth of Halestorm but as Lzzy explains, also the rawness of it.
“We’re not gonna be worrying about what happens in the future, no demos” Lzzy laughs. “The first song that we wrote for the album – Darkness Always Wins – when we listen back yo the recording, we can hear us writing and recording in real time so it was like discovering the song for the first time.”
This album has given the band a refreshed view into their identities, stripping back to the same feeling they had as kids from their parents’ basement starting out way back and allowing them the opportunity to recognise their journey together as people through the years.
Demonstrating that true comradeship isn’t merely about the number of years together; it’s forged in the challenges and victories they go through together.
Josh explains you have to be uncomfortable in order for something to act as a curve ball and sets anything apart from anything else written.
“We were throwing all the rules out the book. We were gonna chase what gets us excited. No format and nothing to fit into.”
Bringing the circle back to Lzzy’s early writing days, the band reflect on their growth with a mutual love and respect for eachother where they describe eachother as family and best friends that get eachother through the toughest times and rally eachother through their highest.
“We were experimenting so much with listening to a lot of new music and just trying to absorb something they would move us.
So everyday would be different, like “How you feeling today? Are we melancholy, are we up, are we pissed off? What are we doing? So you get to almost spiral inward and living how you feel on the outside so you can express that in whatever way. It was complete freedom.”
“We’ve had to fight for every inch of what we’ve got and we’re really proud of that. To learn through the process of making this record is that your ideas are valid. Even the crazy ones. We’re still grateful for eachother. We’re there for eachother through thick and thin and through this album, we got to rediscover that.”
Sam asks what they think the record says about Halestorm in 2025 and Arejay responds with it being the most Halestorm record they ever made.
“We still got a long way to go” he laughs.
Lzzy reflects that it feels like beginning of a new chapter.
“We’re more content with who we always have been and also where’s we’re going. We’re also not afraid to take risks. Anything is possible.”
Speaking about the historic importance of Gibson and Kramer in music and writing on particular instruments, Lzzy says
“It’s the blueprint for rock ‘n’ roll.
You feel great with this instrument, its something that your idols played in the past and. Its the feeling that you get when you strap it on and play it loud.
You’re tapping into the history, idols like Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend.”
With the rest of 2025 seeing the album tour, a tour with Volbeat and Black Sabbath’s Back To The Beginning appearance, Halestorm will be ramping it up this year and creating more opportunities for their fanbase – and they do it with open hearts, humble minds and raw honesty.
“We’re never gonna stop learning. Our constant is to get better, learn from what we just did.
The secret of the climb is that there is no summit!”
“We’ve always been DIY and self contained. We started playing a few songs first time live on the current tour and it just feels natural.
Our approach is about making moments. They’re about capturing the live intensity and chaos so it makes it also fun to play live know! And the fun continues!”
This was a shared moment between band and fans that felt like more than just an intimate Q&A – this was a shared glimpse into how Halestorm really want to share and be connected to their listeners in ways that invoke a mutual love and growth through their art. As individuals, they are warm and good hearted people and pour the soul of Halestorm into their music which fans connect to on a deep level.
Witnessing Halestorm engage with their fans transcended more than generosity and thrown in humour; it felt like a band unraveling their personality and a raw look into their newest offering, which speaks volumes as artists.
For fans old and new, 8th August will see everyone make the journey to Everest, to climb and discover Halestorm all over again.
