Breaking through to a large scale in today's music scene is not an easy feat. Tens of thousands of bands attempt to make noise through the 24/7/365 social media channels, and the average consumer only has so much free time during the day to take a small microcosm of what's going on into his or her headspace. Thanks to an unrelenting touring schedule that keeps them on the road a minimum of 250 dates a year for the past 10 years, Pennsylvania's HALESTORM has achieved modest sales and sold out headlining tours across North America, Europe, and beyond.

In between their studio albums, the quartet seek to satisfy their own early bar band chops through recording a series of their favorite tracks from influential bands that probably shaped their outlook on hard rock and heavy metal. "Reanimate 2.0 - The Covers EP" is a 6 song digital-only release, taking on a few known artists as well as throwing in a couple of surprises. It helps to have one of the most exciting and blazing females to strap on a guitar and bellow lyrics in quite some time through one Lzzy Hale, her voice in line with your Sebastian Bach meets Rob Halford contingency.

Handling PAT BENATAR's "Hell Is for Children", "Shoot to Thrill" from AC/DC, and classic JUDAS PRIEST through "Dissident Aggressor" should satiate the throngs already committing themselves to the lifelong HALESTORM club. Digging back into FLEETWOOD MAC for "Gold Dust Woman", this tender cut proves Lzzy can go toe to toe with the fine Stevie Nicks in terms of those gut-wrenching melody twists and turns that only the best veterans can muster. The surprises come in the form of taking on one of 2013's biggest dance party songs of the summer, DAFT PUNK's "Get Lucky" and MARILYN MANSON song "1996". HALESTORM choose to chunk up the heaviness in the former and make it one of the best covers I've heard in quite some time, while the latter is too grungy for my liking and not as evil as the original.

A nice stop gap effort as the band record their third full length, this could give people a little more insight into what this group is all about: just heads down, hook filled American style Hard Rock.