Once upon a time, Hessler was everywhere. You couldn’t see an old school heavy metal or hard rock show in the city of Chicago without them opening up. They gained such notoriety that they were the subject of a documentary film (2014’s The Last Kamikazis of Heavy Metal) and constantly touted as “the next big thing”. Then, thanks to changing times and a changing lineup, everything came to a halt.
Hessler never really went away. I’ve seen them a handful of times over the years and they’ve always been enjoyable. That said, the attitude towards them wasn’t the same. Practically every time I’ve seen them, I’ve heard some loudmouth say something along the lines of, “Wow Hessler! I remember them! They opened for Slash at Ribfest back in the day. Good times.”
Now for the way that last sentence came off, you’d think this was some over the hill hair band who peaked 30+ years ago. The reality is, Hessler has only been around a little over a decade. Their revitalized lineup, led by Erik Michael and Igz Kincaid, is hungry and out for blood, as evidenced by their new album, When the Sky is Black.
If you’re expecting the melodic, retro vibes of Hessler’s early work, don’t. They remain as undertones on 80s flavored tracks like “Fallen Star” and the title track. However, the gears have since largely shifted to a dark, sleazy modern metal/rock sound, akin to Wednesday 13 and even the latest L.A. Guns albums. These elements all come together on the catchy “AKIRA” and borderline thrasher “This Evil”.
When the Sky is Black also features three covers. I can understand one cover on an album. Two? Maybe. Three? I don’t know about that chief. The three songs in question are Turbonegro’s “No I’m Alpha Male”, Misfits’ “London Dungeon”, and Golden Earring’s “Twilight Zone”. “No I’m Alpha Male” gives us a look into Hessler’s punk side, which is further explored on the closing “Bad Blood”. They might be a metal band, but Hessler isn’t afraid to show off their, in the words of G.B.H, “Leather, Bristles, Studs and Acne” for a couple songs. However, I could do without the other two covers. They just miss the mark and I feel the album would’ve been stronger with two more originals instead.
Despite its missteps, While the Sky is Black is a mostly enjoyable listening experience. It’s also proof positive that modern metal/rock can be done right when a group of gutsy musicians put their own spin on it. Here’s to Hessler haunting the alleyways of Chicago for years to come.
6 out of 10
Label: Slice ‘N Dice Records
Genre: Heavy Metal/Hard Rock
For fans of: L.A. Guns, Wednesday 13, Diamond Rexx