Hëssler-Bad Blood

Hëssler
2011

You would be forgiven if you looked at Hëssler's Bad Blood album cover and thought "great, just what the world needs another Ke$ha". I know that is what I thought when a friend dropped the album into my hands. Vocalist/model Lariyah Daniels is the woman in question on Bad Blood's cover. Thankfully she is not another Ke$sha. Rather, Chicago's Hëssler are a little hard rock, a little heavy metal and a little pop/punk. Playing with more attitude than they can always pull off the band (Lariyah Daniels - lead vocals, Igz Kincaid - all lead/rhythm guitar, all bass and backing vocals, Dano - lead/rhythm guitar and backing vocals, Alex Spadavecchia - bass and backing vocals and Marcus Lee Cox - drums, percussion and backing vocals) sound like they grew up on a steady diet of Lita Ford, Lee Aaron, Doro and Bitch. They also sound like they mean business even if they haven't figured out to express themselves clearly every time. What makes Hëssler appealing is the old school quality of their music. It's nowhere near original honestly. This whole album you've heard a million times before and done better. And yet it does have this charm to it like it's been dropped out of time. If you believe in reincarnation then you could look at Hëssler like they were another 80's metal band reborn for the kids out there. Knowing that they need another option to all the horrible pop diva's killing rock and roll then Hëssler should be looked at as a blessing.