I expected equally great album after magnificent "Opus 1". This time we can listen to the Hess brothers' cooperation - Tom (guitars) and Scott (percussion). Here is also Mike Walsh on guitars and Mark Carozza on bass. The second one is Tom's ex-student and a graduate from prestigious Berklee College of Music. Almost five-year awaiting didn't go to waste, because "Opus 2" is as brilliant as its predecessor. The element linking both albums is almost identical covers, and actually photos of satin fabric. Its authoress is Tom's wife - Iwona. Composing process took three years, that's why it wasn't published in 2002, but two years later on. It's also interesting that many ideas were written while Tom stayed in Krakow and derived inspirations from Polish valleys. As far as two new musicians are concerned, it's rather hard to state if they enriched Hess' music, but surely helped Tom and Mike in covering an artisitic crossbar set enough high on the previous release. "Opus 2" is a well-though-out continuation of the debut. It's enough to play a single "Nexuses" to be convinced how enormous stratums of emotions are included in Hess' music and how expressive could be duet's guitar solos. Neoclassical tradition is preserved by such compositions like "Kingdoms" and my favourite "Through The Trails". Americans also stronger stresses a melancholy ("The Cynic, The Sad, And Tha Fallen") and romanticism ("What Could Have Been... And What Is Not..."). The latter one reminds me of Jason Becker's "Perpetual Burn". Moreover, I should write that "Opus 2" is of so-called brace structure, and it means that the first and the last track include the same leitmotiv. As it turns out, "Waves Of Far Reaching" is a composition that wasn't held on the debut. I admit that the most original element of "Opus 2" is its ubiquitous movie dramatization. Apart from it, we have no problems in distinguishing both guitarists' styles, especially as there are shared solo parts exactly on time. It is surely helpful in picking out all the nuances. I guess that Tom's guitar was tuned a bit higher than Mike's to separate their parts effectively. Avoiding the projects like G3, it's necessary to write that two guitarists playing in dissimilar styles are rarity in contemporary music. Some people can consider Hess' music very complex, but every well-informed man knows that virtuosic music belongs to a niche subgenres, that's why this music is so wonderful and unusual. I think highly of Tom not only because of his beautiful tones, but also of his modesty that makes him a great man!

I rarely give 5 stars to anything, but Opus 2 is truly extraordinary. Shredders so seldom appreciate the value of what visual artists call negative space—the spaces in between the lines that make what is drawn really stand out. Opus 2 has plenty of wide open spaces where the melody glides and soars. The quiet places dramatize the surges of energy when the mix thickens and the notes fly fast and furious. I love the contrast of the clear, clean guitar tones with the thicker, heavier sound. The bass and drums form a foundation for it all and provide exactly what each song needs with skill and artistry. There is plenty of rhythmic and dynamic variation, all blended and woven together into an album that feels more like a single composition rather than a collection of songs. I listen to this one a lot, and its beauty never fails to move me. I honestly feel that comparison to other artists does an injustice to this band. Hess is unique.

i just heard the samples im defently buying this cd it sounds great. I love the symphony x and yngwie infulenced guitar. sounds great i can see hess being great

This CD is a perfect sequel to Opus 1... and the sound has improved to boot. It features amazing progressive (maybe neoclassical, but that's too constrictive) compositions with dynamics across the board. The guitar tones are sweet and sailing. The SHRED is ENORMOUS! If you enjoy virtuosos playing your progressive instrumental metal, check this CD out. One star docked for questionable drum triggers.