Album Review: Ankla - Sleep Trails (2006) B

Sounds like: Puya, Soulfly

You might remember Ramon Ortiz's previous band, Puya, as the heavily latin-influenced purveyors of nu-metal. Well, Ortiz is back with Ankla. Their debut, Sleep Trails, isn't that much of a departure from the Puya material.

Latin beats mixed with nu-metal syncopations is the heart of Ankla's sound. However, there are more than a few metalcore-style breakdowns and a few interesting solos to keep things moving. There are some wild tempo changes and occasional blast beats. Vocals range from gutteral shreiking to clean passages. It's a wild ride.

Overall, it's not a bad record. More varied than Puya, and less reliant upon Latin influences (hey, English lyrics!), a good album if you're looking for a sort of post-modern nu-metal sound that'll keep you on your toes.