A new Melbourne, Australia, female-fronted, symphonic metal band, ANA, will be releasing their debut, EP, The Art of Letting Go, on March 29, 2024, on Eclipse Records. The band is made up of Ana Khristenko on lead vocals; Josh Mak on lead guitar; Tory Giamba on bass; Matt Williamson on keyboards; and Cleveland Beckford on drums.
The band formed in January 2023 in Melbourne, Australia; but they sound like they have been playing for years. In October 2023, the band, ANA, inked a worldwide deal with Eclipse Records to release their debut 5-track EP, The Art of Letting Go.
When you read their bios, the picture becomes a lot clearer on why ANA sounds so great. “Anna Khristenko was born in a small village near the Caucasus, and she comes from a classical background in opera. In college, she mastered in elaborate singing techniques, and spent many years performing throughout South East Asia”.
“Josh Mak was the front man and primary songwriter for the hard rock band Cynation; winning multiple awards, most notably the 2020 Best Music Video at the International Film Makers Festival of New York.
Cleveland Beckford Gonzalez was the founding member, drummer, and songwriter for the Panamanian Metalcore band, Watch Me Face It, and when he joined ANA, he immediately demonstrated his fundamental understanding of the importance of a groove, plus the machine-gun efficiency of militaristic snare runs and rapid-fire hummingbird sixteenths that would yield stylistic perfection and rhythmic, aesthetic coloring”.
“Tory Giamba is a highly experienced session bass player on the Aussie scene. He is a former member of Carmeria and has previously toured as the live bassist for Pseudo Echo”.
“Matt Williamson is the youngest member of the band and an exceptionally gifted keyboardist who is well versed and proficient in many genres”.
“ANA have also broken new artistic ground by releasing their own official comic book that features all members of the band. It is a product of Cynation Comics, titled, ANA, featuring a facial closeup of the enticing Goddess Ana, and her four masked super-humans, who are members of the band; standing in miniature upon her outstretched palms.
The storyline is universally appealing, as the Ana, character is a spellbinding deity from an unknown place, sent to earth to free us of mind-numbing routines. The captivating settings stretch far and wide, starting in Tokyo, then shooting off to Egypt, Brazil, and an unexplored frozen corner of the world even climate change couldn’t make warmer. Frankly, the magazine is enchanting. It could even be suggested that the ANA experience is complete when one gets a hold of every mag in the series and reads it while listening to the heart-stopping music!”
The Art of Letting Go, is a magical journey with a new band that captured my attention immediately with the opening track, “I’m Not the One”. It opens with great keyboard and synth keys from Matt Williamson, with soft drum tapping, added by Cleveland. Then, the crunchy sounds of bass and powerful lead guitar from Tory and Josh.
The introduction of Anna Khristenko’s voice reminds me of a fantastic mix, between Caterina Nix, of Chile’s Chaos Magic, and Nastia Shevtsova, of Belarus’ Mission Jupiter. Yes, that is an absolutely perfect mix of talent and vocals. She sings, “You’ve been living in pain. You cannot see. All you do is in vain. You can’t, be free. You live in a dream. But I can’t be a part. I don’t want to be. The one that breaks your heart. I can’t be the one. That you call your girl. I can’t be the one. That brightens your world I’m sorry to say. Don’t make me choose. Why does my win. Mean you lose?”
She draws back the curtain and enters the soundscape with force. She is trying to tell someone close to her, that she can’t be his girlfriend, and it is a painful message to deliver, but she delivers it with care. The electric guitar soloing is out of this world. The Hammond-like keyboards are wonderful. Off to a great start!
“Scars”, opens with solo electric guitar riffs, then light keys and soft pounding drums. Then the sea of emotional music begins to rise. Anna sings, “You, you’ve taken a part of me. You’ve broken the faith in we. There is nothing left to say. Deceived, by you, I’ve been deceived. No remorse as you turned to leave. Did I mean anything to you. Scars, one can heal but how can one, forget the pain you caused. The tears that I shed for you”. A break-up song. She continues, “You’ve broken this heart of mine. I wish I could turn back time. To erase all these thoughts of you. Cry, no more tears. I will cry. There’s no space for you in my life. No more shall I compromise”. The music is fast and supports the feeling of Anna running away from something too close…that hurts.
“Ouroboros”, opens with cool synths and keyboards. Then a mountainous electric guitar climb, before the drums and bass join in. Anna sings, “A thousand days have come and gone. A thousand nights of endless storm. So far away, far from my home. In this world, I walk alone. Wine as red as a bloodbath. We are akin to Grapes of Wrath. A crown of thorns. A burning rose. D’you know the path that you chose? Too many times I have cried. But this is one soul you can’t take!” She continues, “A soul reborn from my demise. Let out a sigh. No, no more lies. So watch me as I rise!” She concludes, with fiery keyboards, power electric guitar chords and speed drumming, supporting her. “I am the one, the one you fear. A Goddess to some. Exalted in prose. In my presence, you froze!” The symbol of the snake eating itself rises. More great electric guitars, and some choir singing from the guys, helps bring this epic to a close.
“Sirens (Remastered)”, is about the female sirens of the seas. Which haunted so many sailors over time. Anna plays the siren in this story. Anna sings, “Late in the night. You can hear me calling. A bar by the sea. You’re lost in me totally. You’re mesmerized, look into my eyes. And you can’t, you can’t deny. Your heart will become mine. Late in the night. You can hear me calling. Open your eyes. I can see you falling. Into the sea. You will rest eternally!” The story of the sea sirens brought to life with deep emotional music. The dirge like playing at the song’s opening, quickly builds, later into a wonderful landscape of symphonic metal.
“Moth”, is the best song on the album. The opening keyboards are absolutely profound and heartwarming. Like a classic ballad opening a storybook of joy. Anna sings, “Not knowing pain, not knowing tears. Not knowing love. Lost deep within, she swims. Thorns and roses consume her life. Now her heart is a piece of ice. A moth into the flame. She’ll never be the same. Always will return, despite the pain. Straight into the fire. Ashes rising higher. Stuck inside this game, it’s all the same. Moth to the flame. Alone once again!” The eternal chase for the right love. The drumming, electric guitar playing and the bass patterns make this one of the best songs of the year, so far. Oh, and did I mention the piano? Some of the best of 2024. Yes, Anna and her voice are the reason for the band’s name; but watch out for that keyboardist, Matt Williamson. He is not only a fast learner; he is a rising star!
Wow! The Art of Letting Go, and ANA are two of my favorite finds, early in this new year. I hope to interview this band soon to find out about their past, this EP, and hopefully the full length album that is to come! This was a wonderful surprise. So many times as a music reviewer, you hear about a new band, and hope for the best. This band reminds me so much of one of my favorite prog/metal symphonic bands, Mission Jupiter. While they prepare their next album, this EP will do nicely in giving me something to listen to alongside, NOAGE’s release earlier this year.
Please get this EP, and listen to it while I find out when there will be more. Surely there will be more, and hopefully soon. This music is too good not to make. It must be savored and appreciated, for years to come. The Art of Letting Go, is about making changes and finding something new with the replacements. It is like the Ouroboros, on the album cover. Devouring itself, to be remade into something better! Go out and pick this up and get 2024 off to a fun start!
Track List:
- I’m Not the One
- Scars
- Ouroboros
- Sirens (Remastered)
- Moth
Band Website and Social Media Links:
https://www.facebook.com/ana.band.0fficial
Pre-save / Pre-order: https://ffm.to/anaart
More Info: https://www.eclipserecords.com/band/ana/
YouTube and Music Video Links:
https://www.youtube.com/@ana.bandofficial
https://www.anaband.com.au/gallery
The Art of Letting Go was mixed by Chris Themelco of Melbourne based Monolith Studios and mastered by industry legend, Thomas “Plec” Johansson of the multi-Grammy, Platinum and Gold award winning studio, The Panic Room. The album was produced by Josh Mak and Anna Khristenko; recorded and mixed by Chris Themelco, (Eye of the Enemy, Colour & Shade, Naberus) at Monolith Studios, and mastered by Thomas ‘Plec’ Johansson (Groove Armada, Soilwork, Mayhem) at The Panic Room Studio.