The epic multicultural alternative metal quintet ANKOR are preparing to release their new seven-track mini-album, I See Red, on November 20th via UNFD. Featuring an instrumental introduction followed by six songs inspired by Naruto lore, the release explores the stories of prominent villains from the manga and anime series, alongside themes of loss, betrayal, obsession and power. However, you don’t need to be a manga or anime fan to appreciate the incredible vocals and instrumentals that ANKOR bring to the table, and I See Red is no exception.
Following the instrumental piece ‘The world shall know pain’, the album quickly launches into ‘MADARA - endless dream’. The track brings the meaning of obsession to life, capturing the character’s desire for total control and power through its lyrics. Its instrumentals also showcase the band’s versatility, blending electronic elements with savage screams from vocalist Jessie Williams. It’s a fantastic introduction to the album and a brilliant way to set the tone for what’s to come.
Up next is the band’s recently released single, ‘ITACHI - blood moon’, which explores Itachi’s story of betrayal, sacrifice and sympathy. Williams’ vocals are particularly gentle and fragile throughout this track, yet carry an incredible emotional weight, with the contrast between the delicate delivery and the powerful lyrical themes enough to give listeners goosebumps. Featuring a variety of tempos from beginning to end, ‘ITACHI - blood moon’, is incredibly diverse, providing an altogether bewitching listening experience.
Then, we have the ultimate electronic and metal crossover with ‘KAGUYA - paper halo’. Inspired by a villain known for her lack of empathy and immense power, the track explores darker themes through an instrumental powerhouse of electronic and metal elements. From the very first second, it grabs your attention, with an impressive range of sounds coming together to create a song packed with depth and detail. It's an amazing all-rounder for the album and a reminder of just how powerful ANKOR are as a driving force in the alternative metal scene.
The next song on I See Red is another instrumental masterpiece, ‘NAGATO - purple eyes’. This track delves into the life of another misunderstood villain with a tragic backstory, exploring his feelings of resentment and inner turmoil through deliberately heartfelt lyrics. It’s yet another example of the creative liberties ANKOR take with their music, bringing a much-loved manga series to life through sound and emotion.
Following on from ‘NAGATO - purple eyes’, we have the penultimate track, ‘OBITO - dead letter’. Serving as an ode to the tragic life of another character, it’s a particularly relatable song, exploring topics such as loss and regret while retaining a notable J-rock edge throughout its instrumentals. The track also features a mixture of vocals from Williams and the band’s two guitarists, David Romeu and Fito Martínez, who provide backing vocals along the way. This adds another layer of depth to an already emotionally vulnerable track.
Finishing the album off with a bang is ‘DANZO - lying ghost’ featuring vocals from J-rock powerhouse MAH of SiM, another band well acquainted with the crossover between anime and music. This is a track that takes listeners on a journey from beginning to end, featuring intense and varied instrumentation alongside the vocals of Williams and MAH, whose voices complement each other exceptionally well. Overall, it’s a powerful conclusion that brings another story of betrayal and lies to life.
Overall, I See Red looks set to be another success for ANKOR, bringing together a consistent yet creative vision that runs throughout the mini-album and the support of an ever-growing, loyal fanbase. Having already made waves with their recent support tour alongside Amaranthe across the Nordic countries, the band show no signs of slowing down. With a co-headline tour alongside Self Deception and Lauren Babic on the horizon, taking them across Germany, France, the UK and beyond before wrapping up in Stockholm on 19 December, ANKOR have plenty of opportunities to bring I See Red to life on stage and continue winning over audiences. With such a strong creative direction and an exciting run of live shows ahead, the future looks incredibly bright for the band.