Chicago’s Hell of a Life has rapidly carved out a niche within the city’s thriving heavy-alternative landscape by blending the crushing weight of shoegaze and noise rock with a surprisingly melodic sensibility. Their new single, “Endless,“serves as a definitive statement of this sonic identity, delivering a massive, reverb-soaked experience courtesy of Amal Sheth (guitar) and Andrew Easterling (guitar and vocals), that feels both claustrophobic and expansive. Anchored by the relentless rhythm section, John Youkhana (bass) and Will Komoll (drums), drive through hazy layers of fuzz, the track captures the gritty, industrial energy of Chicago while maintaining an emotional depth that sets them apart from more traditional outfits.
This delicate balance between massive heaps of distortion and clean, ethereal melodies has been the blueprint for the band since their inception. As Easterling notes, the band’s writing is informed by a diet of heavy subgenres, ranging from hardcore to death & black metal and tempered by the melodic sensibilities of shoegaze pioneers like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. The goal is to craft songs that remain singable even when buried beneath a mountain of guitar tracks. With “Endless,” the band has intentionally “doubled down” on a darker, heavier direction, incorporating screamed vocals for the first time to create an intense dynamic range and avoid being boxed into a simple “shoegaze revival” category.
To capture this “whole new beast” of a sound, the band returned to Jamdek Recording to collaborate with engineer Keifer Douglas. The production task was a formidable one: honing in and polishing a “crazy” amount of guitar layers that are constantly pushed to full throttle. By utilizing Jamdek’s arsenal of vintage gear, specifically Roland Space Echotape machines and a variety of high-gain amps, the band was able to achieve the specific, shimmering textures that define the track. This technical precision allows the vocals to maintain a haunting, distant quality that cuts through the noise without losing its essential vulnerability.
Thematically, the single mirrors the relentless momentum of its instrumentation. Rooted heavily in existentialism, “Endless” grapples with the overwhelming nature of life; the cycles of joy, suffering, love, and hate that make existence feel infinite, for better or worse. By oscillating between walls of feedback and intricate guitar work, Hell of a Life has created a track that mirrors the cycle of its title, marking a massive step forward for the band and a standout addition to the contemporary heavy-alternative scene.
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Upcoming live dates:
January 17, 2026: Subterranean, Downstairs – Chicago, IL w/ Glittermouth and Griefeater
January 23, 2026: The Loft at Ramova Theatre – Chicago, IL w/ Trash Kickers and And I, You
February 5, 2026: Burlington Bar – Chicago, IL w/ Stanczyk, Bum Rush and Aurora’s Hope
