THE BEAST

Coming April 22, “Darkness Always Wins” launches a new chapter for the Grammy-winning rock titans, kicking off the journey to their highly anticipated sixth studio album.

HALESTORM is back and ready to unleash a brand-new single titled "Darkness Always Wins" on Tuesday, April 22 , via Atlantic Records . The track is produced by Grammy-winning legend Dave Cobb , known for his work with icons like Slash , Sammy Hagar , and GRETA VAN FLEET —and it marks the first official taste of the band’s upcoming sixth studio album , slated for release later this year.

In a social media post, HALESTORM guitarist Joe Hottinger revealed the emotional significance of the song, sharing that it was the first track written for the new album during an early writing session in Savannah, Georgia . “It was like a test session… we went down there to see how it was working with Dave Cobb. Wrote and recorded this in two days at his then-new studio. It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship that turned into a beautiful album.”

Alongside the announcement, Hottinger posted a candid photo of frontwoman Lzzy Hale seated at Cobb’s old piano—the very one used on the recording—capturing the raw spirit of those intimate, initial sessions.

A Bold New Process

In a revealing recent interview with Cutter’s Rockcast , Lzzy Hale shared insight into the unique creative process behind the record. Instead of the typical pre-production routine, Cobb steered the band away from traditional demos. “He’s like, ‘We’re not doing demos. I hate demos... we’re gonna start and we’re gonna write, and as we’re writing, we’re recording at the same time,’” Lzzy explained.

That spontaneous, in-the-moment energy not only produced “Darkness Always Wins” on the first day of recording, but set the tone for the entire album’s direction. “There are songs that don’t even have a click track to them or a guide because we forgot,” Lzzy laughed. “We were just chasing everything that got us excited.”

The Most HALESTORM Album Ever

Described by Lzzy as both an emotional rollercoaster and a return to the band’s roots, this album promises to showcase HALESTORM in its most raw, personal, and unfiltered form. “It’s the most HALESTORM record we’ve ever done,” she declared. “It’s the first time in the 20 years we’ve been on Atlantic Records that we have not felt lorded over regarding making records.”

The sessions took place in a house deep in the woods of Savannah , next to a river—far from the controlled environment of studios in Nashville. “We would start recording around 11:30 a.m. and go until 4:00 a.m.,” Lzzy shared. “We were unsupervised in the best way.”

From the heaviest tracks they’ve ever written to haunting mid-tempos , the upcoming record is fueled by freedom, fire, and introspection. “For me, when I listen to this album, it’s my personal opus — all the things that I’ve gone through in my life, both dark and not,” said Lzzy. “It’s our story as a band, and you can really hear it in the music and in the lyrics.”

Legacy in the Making

HALESTORM has long been one of rock’s most resilient forces. Their 2022 album, Back From The Dead , tallied over 100 million streams and produced two No. 1 singles at rock radio. Their earlier hit “Uncomfortable” from Vicious earned a Grammy nomination, while Loudwire hailed them as "Rock Artist Of The Decade" in 2019.

Formed by siblings Lzzy and Arejay Hale , joined by Joe Hottinger and Josh Smith , HALESTORM has shared stages with the likes of JUDAS PRIEST , Alice Cooper , and Heaven & Hell , and garnered multiple platinum and gold certifications along the way.

Their latest collaboration with I PREVAIL on last summer’s co-headlining tour also birthed the explosive track “Can U See Me In The Dark?” , further fueling their creative momentum.

Coming Soon: “Darkness Always Wins”

With "Darkness Always Wins" set to drop on April 22 , fans can now pre-save the track and prepare for what promises to be HALESTORM’s most visceral, liberated album to date.

🔥 Pre-Save the new single now: https://halestorm.lnk.to/DAW

“This is only the beginning, Freaks.” 😈 – Halestorm

Stay tuned for more details on the album release and tour announcements as the next era of HALESTORM roars to life.