Italy is really an amazing country for Metal. As I said before and I'm saying now, from the Italian lands you'll find bands from each Metal genre you want. It's interesting to hear bands from Italy with modern sonorities, differing from Symphonic Power Metal and extreme Black Metal bands. This is what HANIWA, a trio from Firenze, is about, as we can hear on their album called "Helleven". Mixing the abrasive influences from Groove Metal with some Thrash Metal elements, build something that is similar to what PANTERA did on their classical times of between "Cowboys from Hell" and "Vulgar Display of Power", but with some melodic scent from traditional and even from Hard Rock. Yes, it's heavy and furious, but catchy due the use of fine choruses and some charming melodies that are easy to assimilate.

The sound quality is good enough for them to show a great work, but isn't excellent as their musical work deserves. It is heavy and clean on the due proportions for "Helleven" to be understood and assimilated. But there are some tunes that could be better (as in the guitars and on the snare drum), even not prejudicing the final result. The artwork for the album's cover is really good.

Musically, HANIWA has a lot of to offer to all Metal fans. But I truly recommend you all to take a careful listening on the fine aggressive melodic lines of "No More" and its catchy chorus, the abrasive work from bass guitar and drums on the charming "@Daggers Drawn", the fine and harsh musical arrangements of "Think This" (that shows a melodic and good chorus), the moshpit provoker called "Volcano", the excellent and easy to assimilate melodies of "Haniwa" with its charming guitars and good vocals, the fine harmonies of "Return to Obscurity", and the Hard Rock-like feeling that permeates "Helleven". Well, I believe that these three Italian madmen will be great one day. For now, listen and be seduced by "Helleven".