Hevein from Helsinki, Finland may just be the most innovative mainstream metal/rock band you’ll hear this year. Breaking boundaries with nonchalant ease seem to be second nature to these guys and gals. There is no contrived crossover, and the word you’re looking for is “unique”.

Hevein began in 1992 by Leif Hedström and Alpo Oksaharju, guitars and drums respectively. In 1998 the bassist Tomi Koivunen and violinist Aino Piipari joined, but finding a permanent vocalist remained a problem until the arrival of Juha Immonen in 2003. An important addition to the Hevein sound was Max Lilja (cello), who had already cut his teeth with Apocalyptica. Both the violin and cello occupy a central role in the music of Hevein: for once, a metal band without cheesy synth strings!

Hevein are a riff-happy lot, and indeed they often steer near thrash metal territory, only to make a 180 degree turnaround the next minute and segue flawlessly into beautiful atmospheric parts. Light and shade in balanced measure. For an exceptional example of this marriage of hevein and hell, check out “Last Drop of Innocence”; from the Lisa Gerrard-esque intro the song shifts into a strange Pink Floyd vibe, then into a chorus any melodic metal band would give an arm and leg for. If this doesn’t make sense, it is just that for such an inherently musical entity as Hevein is, words simply do no justice.

Sound over matter, indeed!