HESS - Opus 2 CD Review By Metallian.com
by Jussi Gough
Intricately binding of four creative beings expressing magical thought forms into compositional creations that can be heard in Hess-Opus 2.
Drawing upon influential aspects of Symphony X, Malmsteen and Dream Theater with Steve Vai to Joe Satrani melodic twists Hess musically charters to places few bands within Progressive/Neo-Classical metal dare to explore.
Opus 2 is a technical yet highly complex release utilizing classical ambiance to modern day speedy fretboard imagination. Six string masterminds Tom Hess and Mike Walsh web their thought provoking mastery on tracks Nexuses, Behold and Beyond The Brink.
Overall creative merit Opus 2 lands between the worlds of refined classical abilities to metal music ingenuity. Emotionally touching to its heart stopping harmonics Hess discovers worlds not even sought by some. Compelling and dramatic this release speaks volumes.
More Opus 2 Reviews:
What I really enjoy about Hess' songs, is the fact that the music comes first, performance is a side benefit to the bands intricate writing style, which is primarily based around classical music, something that has surely been done before, but Hess has found not only a unique approach to present this style of music, but have the extreme musical competence to execute the many carefully calculated changes, measures and harmonic intervals in a way that is seamless and precise. Not since last years CD by Australia's Chris Brooks have I heard a neo-classical based instrumental CD that is every bit as balanced compositionally as it is proficiently played. The influences of this band may seem obvious at first listen, Malmsteen, Becker, etc. Those are the easy ones to pick out, but as writers, I can hear how they were heavily influenced by the great classical composers, such as - Chopin, Bach, Brahms, Debussy, etc. This point of interest is the biggest reason why I am finding this CD so appealing.
- Proggnosis.com
"Imagine the instrumental sounds of Dream Theater, Symphony X, Jason Becker, George Bellas, Yngwie Malmsteen, The Lord of the Rings movie soundtrack and 19th century classical music. Now imagine a great band with not one, but two guitar virtuosos - each with his own innovative style and tone. This is the concept behind the instrumental outfit led by guitarist Tom Hess and ably backed up by his drummer brother Scott Hess, joint guitar soloist Mike Walsh and bassist Mark Carozza."
- VirtuosityOne.com
"What I really enjoy about Hess' songs, is the fact that the music comes first, performance is a side benefit to the bands intricate writing style, which is primarily based around classical music, something that has surely been done before, but Hess has found not only a unique approach to present this style of music, but have the extreme musical competence to execute the many carefully calculated changes, measures and harmonic intervals in a way that is seamless and precise. Not since last years CD by Australia's Chris Brooks have I heard a neo-classical based instrumental CD that is every bit as balanced compositionally as it is proficiently played."
- Proggnosis.com
See more Opus 2 reviews.