Title

Label/Cat No.

Year

Length

Opus 1

Queen of Krakow Music

1999

66.59

Opus 2

Queen of Krakow Music

2004

53.37

OPUS 1

Track list: Exploration (5.44); Homage (4.40); Phoenix Rising (6.12); Empire (3.39); Modes of Expression (5.42); Lydian Speaks (6.28); Imperial (4.08); Through Space and Time (4.20); Golden Colloseum (2.55); On the Brink (8.48); Queen of Me (6.25); Pallete of Shades (7.58).

Hailing from Chicago USA, Tom Hess and brother Scott originally founded a band called 'Gothic Empire' in 1995, with Joe LeBanco (guitar) and Chuck Hamilton (bass) completing the lineup. The following year both Joe and Chuck left to pursue other projects, but the gaps were filled by the addition of Mike Walsh and Dan Massa.

Further changes were not far away however as Scott was also soon to leave in order to attend university. New drummer, Chris Dowgun, was finally found as a replacement but then, in September 1997, a move to Florida forced bass player Dan Massa to leave the band.

1998 saw the change in name from 'Gothic Empire' to 'Hess' and the band, still without a bass player, who now comprised of Tom Hess (guitars, bass, keyboards), Mike Walsh (guitars) and Chris Dowgun (drums) recorded this, their first album in 1999.

'Opus 1' consists of twelve tracks of guitar based instrumental music, which draws influences from progressive, melodic and classical sources.  The playing style is very rich in detail and all the musicians carry off solid performances without having to resort to an over the top approach. On top of this the album has been well produced by Tom Hess, who also composed all the music, offering the listener a very clear, crisp sound throughout.

The opening track 'Exploration' goes a long way towards capturing the spirit of the work as a whole.  The track utilises fast and slow tempos to create different moods, and the dynamic rhythms and emotionally charged guitar work really hits the spot. This depth of feeling behind the guitar play is characteristic of the album as a whole, but one of the best examples is perhaps the superb 'Lydian Speaks'.

The contrasting moods and styles which the band are capable of delivering are brought to light in 'Phoenix Rising' which, after a hard hitting opening, melts away into a lighter piano section where a hazy relaxed guitar sound comes across perfectly.  For those who enjoy the harder and more raucous approach, 'Through Time and Space' is bound to please.

Less pleasing for my own personal taste were 'Golden Collossum' and 'Empire' which are a little more self indulgent and provide a platform for some virtuoso playing with lots of fast arpeggios.  Nevertheless, they are still strong tracks and I was certainly impressed by the powerful performance.

Yet another facet of the band's style can be found in 'Queen of Me'. This piece uses an unforced approach with some beautifully laid back acoustic guitar work creating a very charged mood.  The keyboard backdrops are particularly appealing, if understated, and the supporting bass and percussion work comes over well without being too obtrusive.

As stated earlier, this is a guitar based album - but even so, if any criticism have to be made, it would be in terms of the lack of diversity in the instrumentation. By extending some of the keyboard sections a little more I wonder if it might not have been possible to provide a rounder and more balanced sound, but this is a minor point and Hess are certainly a band who I will look forward to hearing more of in the future.

Fans of artists like Yngwie Malmsteen and Vinnie Moore will certainly appreciate the skillful compositions and playing that make this album such an enjoyable product, but ultimately all lovers of guitar based instrumental rock music should consider getting hold of this one.

Simon  9th January 2002

OPUS 2

Track list: Nexuses (4.48);  Kingdoms (3.34);  Into the Pinnacle (4.40); The Cynic, The Sad and the Fallen (7.35);  What Could Have Been....And What Is Not (6.31);  Through the Trials (5.27);  Behold (4.37);  Stained (3.52); Beyond the Brink (4.32); Waves of Far Reaching (7.28)

My review of the first Hess album, 'Opus 1' gives an early history of the changing makeup of the band. For this second release, perhaps unsurprisingly titled 'Opus2', a couple of further changes have been made: drummer Scott Hess returns to the fold, and the band now finds itself with a full time bass player in the person of Mark Carozza.

Throughout this album the smooth flowing style of the band's earlier offering continues to shine and, although the emphasis is on the often stunning lead guitar work, this album nevertheless remains a definite group effort, with Scott and Mark being given ample opportunities to display their craft.

The opening track 'Nexuses' kicks off with a hard-hitting, no-nonsense approach. I have to confess that I was initially concerned that this was going to be an over indulgent display of axemanship - that fear, thankfully, never materialised as what we actually have here is a confident, fast moving and well thought out approach to guitar playing. The music is beautifully layered and bass and guitars are an essential part of the mix.

'Kingdoms' uses a nice arpeggio style, and seems to have classical leanings favoured by some of the tracks on the band's first album - and as such it offers a nice progression from their earlier work.

There is a harder rock sound to 'Into the Pinnacle' with some touches that come very close to progressive metal.  That said this is a constantly changing piece that is equally capable of showing a soft delicate side to the band's work.  Bass and drum work here are of the highest order and there is a tendency to put some seemingly quite difficult changes of pace into the piece that certainly keep the band on their toes.

'The Cynic, The Sad and the Fallen', despite a fairly heavy introduction, soon shows itself to be an altogether more subtle affair and represents, to my mind, what the band do best. Multi layered sounds weave ever changing patterns around a central rhythm and before long we get a soothing acoustic guitar complimenting the electric lead to create a generally uplifting mood.

A title like 'What Could Have Been and What Was Not' has all the hallmarks of a track that is going to be perhaps a little self indulgent, and this proves to be the case. However, thankfully restraint is ever the watch word here and what could so easily have become an over the top display of ego instead comes over as being a heartfelt display of emotion and it works supremely well.  Soft, warm, relaxed, but at the same time highly charged. A firm favourite!

'Through the Trials' switches back to the fast arpeggio style of playing and what is really nice to hear this time around is the way the two lead guitars feed off one another's energies producing a very effective composition full of contrasts - and this feeling and mood carries over into the fast yet easy flowing 'Behold'; a great air guitar track if ever I heard one!

'Stained' is another harder rock edged track, but though I can find no fault with it I have to confess that after the preceding pieces it left little real impression on me apart from the soft acoustic ending, which perhaps could have been made more of. 

The mood and pace come right back down again with the soft lilting sounds of 'Beyond the Brink', another slower paced number which washes easily over the listener.

Wrapping things up is 'Waves of Far Reaching'. This is quite a changeable piece alternating faster and slower sections and, while not perhaps the strongest track on the album, it certainly serves to remind the listener of the wide range of talents that make up this rather remarkable outfit.

Essentially this album is a must have for all lovers of guitar oriented music. 'Opus 2' is a worthy successor to the band's debut release, and it seems they are already working on 'Opus 3'. Based on current form I am eagerly looking forward to see how the band will move forward from the strong start they have already made. Check them out, or miss out!

Simon  April 11^th 2004