Singles Roundup: Halestorm, Dream Theater, Iron Maiden, & Santana ft Rob Thomas

This week, we have some new songs from huge names. What do they say about what is yet to come? Or what we have already experienced? Let's find out.

Halestorm - Back From The Grave

It's no secret one of the things I've most been looking forward to this year is Halestorm's return. They haven't said when the album is coming yet, but the first new song of this chapter is upon us, and I'm plenty satisfied. The frustration of the last two years bristles through the heavy riffs and Lzzy's passionate delivery. A song about mental health, and not letting your demons get the best of you, the song does indeed sound like a 'screw you' to anyone and anything that stands in your way. "Vicious" won Album Of The Year, but the singles from that album weren't Halestorm's best songs. This track is better than the last batch of singles, so might that mean this album could be even better?

Dream Theater – The Alien

Yet again, Dream Theater have found themselves utterly predictable. This first single for their new album is made up of all the cliches of their songwriting, but stretched out longer than it needs to be, and without a memorable chorus. We know Drema Theater is going to deliver amazing musicianship, but songs like this prove that isn't enough to carry the day. Not only have we heard everything about this song before from them, but we've heard it better as well. Dream Theater is a prime example of the Prog vs prog debate, and this song doesn't tell us anything about whether the new album is going to be worth the time.

Iron Maiden - Stratego

The second single gets us back to a more classic Iron Maiden sound. Steve Harris' gallop is on full display, but the main feature of the song is the keyboard that comes up in the chorus. Bruce is singing a pretty good melody, and he sounds better on this song, but that keyboard is jarring. The sound is so alien to the organic sound of a modern Iron Maiden record, it almost feels like it's stabbing me in the ears. I don't know if it was necessary at all, but a better tone could certainly have been found. The song is good, but it would be far more enjoyable to my ears without those seconds of uncomfortable noise.

Santana ft Rob Thomas – Move

"Smooth" is one of the biggest songs of all time, and two decades later we are getting a sequel, of sorts. What is notable about this song is absolutely nothing, or perhaps that it proves "Smooth" was a magical moment in time, and that's what songs really are. The same people can't recapture the spark that made for their biggest song, even if they do try to copy the feeling and sound that got them there. This is a pale imitation, with weaker guitar playing, flatter singing, and a duller melody. Everything that was great about "Smooth" is missing here, and it makes me sad to hear them failing to achieve what they wanted, but still putting it out anyway. It would have been better to realize the past can't be recreated, and leave the magic trick to stand for itself. Now we know it was an accident.