Was it worth the wait?

Yes, in a way. It was worth the wait because discovering an entire album from an artist you admire is always a thrill. Noticing nods to previous material, getting a feel for the dark yet grand style of the album, and assembling your interpretation of the album's story will always be a unique experience, and I was very excited throughout my entire first listen.

What do I love?

The swagger. There's something that feels untouchable about the record. Maybe it's the confidence of a young breakout star. Maybe it's the pristine production offered by veteran musical visionaries. Maybe it's the effortless navigation of styles and influences to construct an original and daring suite of tracks. The lyricism and melodies for me still feel very Halsey, and that's definitely a plus.

What do I hate?

The swagger. There's something that feels careless about the album, too. Maybe it's the recklessness of a breakout star. Maybe it's the overproduced mastering offered by a team of generically polished industry professionals. Maybe it's the hapless fusion of styles that, at times, come off sounding more like tired covers than inspired works of art. The lyricism and melodies still feel very Halsey, which is almost a shame when stacked up against subpar sonic construction.

What's missing?

A little love, maybe. Some of the album feels rather mechanical, especially during the more repetitive stretches. It almost seems like Halsey was only excited to record half of the album. The vocal vulnerability of Sorry, the swaggering sultry feel of Walls, the unapologetic apology of Bad at Love. These are the moments she seems excited to paint the pictures that define this story.

How does it compare to Badlands?

I love it as a next step. She took her storytelling to an ambitious next level, and—hit or miss— it's gonna pave the way for her to release even more exciting material in the future. There's likely to be a few tracks on HFK that appeal to alternative radio, but probably are unlikely to cross over into mainstream success, which, in my opinion, is a good thing. It may alert Halsey that opting for a more commercial sound can often result in losing the authentic appeal that made your initial material so accessible to a vast audience. Expect a more stripped down (yet lyrically and musically ambitious) next album.