Ankor, stylised as ANKOR, is an

alternative metal Alternative metal (also known as alt-metal) is a genre of heavy metal music that combines heavy metal with influences from alternative rock and other genres not normally associated with metal. Alternative metal bands are often characterized by ...

band from Catalonia, Spain with female front singer/screamer Jessie Williams, drummer Eleni Nota, guitarists/singers David Romeu and Fito Martinez and bassist Julio López.

History

The band formed in 2003 in

Els Pallaresos Els Pallaresos () is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Tarragonès in Catalonia Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalon ...

, a village near Barcelona. In 2014 ANKOR was chosen best newcomer band by the readers of Spanish and South American rock magazine La Heavy. In 2014, the band took on a new British-Spanish vocalist Jessie Williams, who has cited a lack of demand for metal music in Spain as their reason for moving away and focusing on the global market instead. In 2024, the band signed with Australian label

UNFD UNFD (pronounced as an initialism Help:IPA, /ˈjuːˈenˈefˈdiː/ is an independent record label based in Melbourne, Australia. The label is home to a number of Australian artists including Thornhill (band), Thornhill, Ocean Grove (Austra ...

and released their label-debut album, ''Shoganai''.

Musical style and influences

Originally a

power metal Power metal is a subgenre of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional heavy metal with speed metal, often within a symphonic context. Generally, power metal is characterized by a faster, lighter, and more uplifting sound, in co ...

band, they have since evolved their sound into

, fused together with

metalcore Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...

and EDM. In an interview with The Pretty Cult, Jessie Williams has cited Japanese culture as a significant influence on their music, as well as

Falling in Reverse Falling in Reverse is an American rock music, rock band that formed in 2008 by lead vocalist Ronnie Radke. The band's original name was From Behind These Walls, but it was renamed Falling in Reverse shortly after formation. They are currently s ...

Maximum the Hormone is a Japanese heavy metal music, heavy metal/hardcore punk band from Hachiōji, Tokyo. Their lineup consists of vocalist Daisuke-han, drummer Nao, guitarist Maximum the Ryokun, and bassist Ue-chang. Each member alternates singing lead vocals, of ...

hip-hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hi ...

and even

classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be #Relationship to other music traditions, distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical mu ...

Band members

File:Ankor, Dancing In The Dark Tour, Stuttgart 2024 (20).jpg, Jessie Williams - lead vocals (2014-present) File:Ankor, Dancing In The Dark Tour, Stuttgart 2024 (11).jpg, David Romeu - guitars (2003-present) File:Ankor, Dancing In The Dark Tour, Stuttgart 2024 (02).jpg, Fito Martínez - guitars (2003-present) File:Ankor, Dancing In The Dark Tour, Stuttgart 2024 (03).jpg, Eleni Nota - drums (2022-present) File:Ankor, Dancing In The Dark Tour, Stuttgart 2024 (04).jpg, Julio López - bass, backing and co-lead vocals (2009-2017) (2020-present) Current members * David Romeu – guitars (2003–present) * Julio Lopez – bass, backing and co-lead vocals (2009–2017, 2020–present) * Fito Martínez – guitars (2011–present) * Jessie Williams – lead vocals (2014–present) * Eleni Nota – drums (2022–present) Past members * Raphaela Tache - Drums, keyboards and backing vocals (2016-2022) * Javier "Rubio" Casanova - Keyboards (2003-2015) * Jordi Vidal - Drums and violin (2004-2016) * Rosa De La Cruz - Lead Vocals (2003-2014) * Alberto Muñoz - Vocals and bass (2008-2009) * José "Jossy" Alarcón - Vocals and bass (2004-2008) * Juan "Expo" Expósito - Guitar (2003-2011) Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

* ''Al fin descansar'' (2008) * ''My Own Angel'' (2011) * ''Last Song for Venus'' (2013) * ''Beyond the Silence of These Years'' (2017) * ''White Dragon'' (2019) * ''Shoganai - Mini Album Vol. 1'' (2024)

EPs

* ''Demo'' (2005) * ''No + Dolor'' (2007) * ''Get on the Winner Horse!'' (2014)

References

{{reflist Spanish heavy metal musical groups Spanish alternative metal musical groups Female-fronted musical groups