MASKED FIRE: THE UNSTOPPABLE RISE OF HELLANA PANDORA

Article written by Jax Whitmore

In the chaotic symphony of modern metal, one name cuts through the noise like a lightning strike — Hellana Pandora. A storm behind the mask, a virtuoso built on decades of fire and sound, Hella Pandora embodies the fusion of elegance, power, and rebellion. From the first piano keys at age five to headlining some of the world’s biggest metal stages, the story is one of evolution, defiance, and pure creative obsession.

From Classical Notes to Metal Thunder
The journey started quietly with a five-year-old sitting at a piano, immersed in classical and jazz training. Eight years later, destiny arrived in the form of a single chord at a party, when a friend picked up a guitar. The moment was electric. The sound became a revelation. Rock and metal took over completely. Now based in Cannes, France, Hella Pandora stands as a professional musician with more than 1,500 live performances across the globe from Wacken Open Air to the Download Festival, from Europe to the USA and Japan. Before the mask, there were six albums that carved out a path of evolution and mastery. But then came a new idea: a bold reinvention.

The Birth of Hellana
In 2020, during the creation of a Japanese anime cover band called Secret Zero, Hella Pandora envisioned something bigger. Thus was born Hellana, a masked persona designed to unleash creativity without limits. The concept was raw and playful, a world where identity vanished, and only the music remained. With Hellana, performance became art, mystery became power, and metal found a new voice behind the mask.

The Bloodline of Influence
Every riff tells a story, and Hella Pandora’s sound is built on the DNA of legends. The journey began with Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Joe Satriani, grew through Nightwish, Rhapsody, and Blind Guardian, and then exploded into the progressive worlds of Dream Theater and Symphony X.
Later discoveries Linkin Park, Avenged Sevenfold, Bring Me The Horizon, Parkway Drive, Carpenter Brut, Jason Richardson, and Mateus Asato reshaped the tone once again. Each influence became a stepping stone toward the unique sound that defines Hellana Pandora today: melodic, intense, cinematic, and deeply emotional. When asked about style, Hellana Pandora simply points to one word melody. Shredding may appear often, but melody defines the soul. Every note, slide, and bend is treated like a voice crafted with precision and emotion.

The Hard Road Behind the Stage
No great artist escapes the chaos of band life. For Hellana Pandora, the biggest challenge wasn’t the music it was the people. Laziness, lack of motivation, and unprofessionalism haunted earlier projects. The frustration turned into fuel. Extreme patience became armor. The fire only burned brighter. Then came a monumental year: 2023. The dream collaboration with Jordan Rudess from Dream Theater brought the track “Seizure” to life, marking a surreal moment for a lifelong fan of
progressive metal. A collaboration video with Mohini Dey followed soon after. Before the era of Hellana, Avenged Sevenfold shared content from Hella Pandora’s work, and even Lady Gaga reposted a cover proof that art travels faster than identity.

Building a Song, One Spark at a Time
Inspiration, for Hellana Pandora, is untamable. “Inspiration comes when it decides,” says the artist. The creative process begins with a single riff or synth texture that triggers a complete sonic universe. Once the foundation drums, bass, and structure is in place, the real sculpting begins. Every solo, every phrase, is refined until perfection. The discipline is relentless. Before creating the Hellana persona, practicing guitar was secondary. But the new identity demanded excellence. The ambition was clear Hellana Pandora must be better. Practice became ritual, often late at night while Netflix played in the background. Days were for composing, nights were for mastery. The grind was exhausting, yet necessary. After releasing several tracks, silence and rest became part of the process the calm before the next creative storm.

The Dream Beyond Reach
Ambition remains endless. Collaborating with guitar icons such as Mateus Asato, Tim Henson, or Carpenter Brut would be a dream, even if slightly out of reach. But dreams have always been fuel for Hella Pandora, the same kind that transformed a jazz-trained pianist into a global metal powerhouse.

Words for the Loud and the Young
When reflecting on the past, Hellana Pandora sees a natural evolution. Early energy and impatience gave way to maturity and clarity. The message to rising artists is clear: “If you choose this path, do it because your heart wants it. The road isn’t easy, but it’s filled with moments that nothing else can offer. The music world has changed, social media has turned it into a circus where everyone wants fame. But if faith stays strong, the magic still exists. Wild things can still happen.”

The Legend Behind the Mask
What started as a spark behind a piano has ignited into a blaze of innovation. The mask of Hellana Pandora is not a cover, its a declaration of freedom. Beneath the riffs, the flames, and the stage lights lies a vision fueled by melody, emotion, and rebellion. Hellana Pandora embodies the true spirit of metal raw authenticity, fearless evolution, and the unwavering courage to stand apart.

Follow the journey:
Instagram: @HellanaPandora
YouTube: @HellanaPandora
Spotify: @HellanaPandora