Bad Sister
Because Rust Never Sleeps

August 2009
Released: 2009, Distinct Music
Rating: 2.5/5
Reviewer: Alan Gilkeson

Nothing new here folks. Bad Sister existed in the late 80/early 90's with a different vocalist, releasing two albums with mediocre success. They reformed briefly in 2003, releasing a live album then disappearing again, returning in 2009 with BECAUSE RUST NEVER SLEEPS. Who knows exactly what the title means? Rust isn't alive, why would it sleep?



The album starts off with part of the 'Rock You Like a Hurricane' riff before breaking into the song 'Surrender', where singer Suzie Lohmar comes out way high in the mix, and she doesn't sing well enough to do that. She's a poor woman's Ann Wilson, very nasal. With this style of AOR, to pull it off, the vocalist should be impeccable. Think of Steve Perry or a young Dave Bickler in that regard, or Wilson when it comes to women.



The song writing is fair enough, plenty of keyboards, in fact two keyboard players, with plenty of interesting harmonies, and at times the interplay with the guitars is sensational, like on the song 'Heat of The Night'. The lyrics, typical of German's doing things in English, are a bit cliche' and when the vocal comes in so loud it makes the language barrier very uncomfortable. The Scorps were always cliche' yet somehow they pulled it off, but the vocal wasn't the most important part of their music, it was the riff. Bad Sister put the vocal on top, and pay the price.