Review by Pete Finn for MPM
ANA have just had their 1st Birthday, they were formed during January 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. This female fronted symphonic metal band, consists of Ana Khristenko (vocals), Josh Mak (guitar), Tory Giamba (bass), Cleveland Beckford Gonzalez (drums), and Matt Williamson (keys).
A read through their press release states, “Their musical style is an eclectic blend of various genres and influences, culminating together in an experience that is suspenseful, mysterious, soulful, and rocking. Their songs are personal.” Further investigations, find that all the band members are included in a comic magazine series, and excluding Ana Khristenko, all wear Batman villain, Bane masks whilst performing.
‘The Art of Letting Go’ is a mini-album/EP, it consists of 5-tracks, with a running time of just over 23-minutes. It will be released via Eclipse Records on 29th March 2024.
The album opens with ‘I’m Not the One’, Matt Williamson’s electronica keys are punctuated by a Cleveland Beckford Gonzalez drum volley before Ana Khristenko’s silky vocal brings the track to life, Josh Mak releases a solo that slices through the beats. Williamson switches his keys to give a Hammond sound for the outro. A track that was full of variety, it captures the imagination and has a theatrical feel.
‘Scars’ is the shortest track on the record, Mak’s riff starts, the band slowly joining in, build a rich full sound. The dramatic riff and keyboards are emphasised by rapid drum beats. Khristenko’s measured vocal sits very well over the top, giving the track real feeling.
I have to admit I needed to look up the meaning of ‘Ouroboros’, which is the title of the next track. ‘Ouroboros’ is “a circular symbol that depicts a snake or dragon devouring its own tail and that is used especially to represent the eternal cycle of destruction and rebirth.” This image is depicted on the album sleeve. The intro has a Celtic feel with an upbeat tempo, the combination of Giamba’s burbling bass and Cleveland Beckford Gonzalez’s quick beats drive the track on, Williamson’s extravagant keys and Mak’s punchy riff adds a great dynamic, this with Khristenko’s graceful vocal, creates the image of a magnificent swan gliding upstream, yet paddling furiously against the current. Aptly the track closes as it began, with a quick strong tempo.
‘Sirens’ is about the female sirens of the sea, whose voices haunted many sailors. It starts with Khristenko delivering a suitably haunting vocal. A drum salvo and keys launch a crushing riff from Mak, the track gets the wind in its sails and the pace increases. Mak’s circular riff is simple, but very effective. Cleveland Beckford Gonzalez’s double taps add to the intensity. The track is held together by Khristenko’s spellbinding and controlled vocal.
‘Moth’ opens with Williamson playing a lullaby style piano, Khristenko’s ballad like vocal is telling a story. Giamba’s bass starts to rumble, Mak comes powering in with a potent riff, a big dose of double tapped bass drums, add a classic piano sound include Khristenko’s wonderful voice, and you end up with a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” track, serene on the outside but comes with real bite.
With ‘The Art of Letting Go’ ANA have provided us music fans with something a little bit different. They have taken the norm, digested it and then created something new. There’s the double tapped drums, the squealing guitar solos, the rich keys, thumping bass and a classic vocal, sounds we’re all familiar with, but ANA have mixed them up and fashioned an album that’s well worth a listen.
PRE-SAVE or PRE-ORDER the album at https://ffm.to/anaart
