From High Fashion To Heavy Metal – ANA’s Rise Is Unlike Anything Else Happening In Modern Music
Every so often a band comes along that doesn’t just write songs.
They create a world.
A world where music isn’t simply listened to; it’s experienced. A world where visual art, storytelling, emotion, mythology, fashion, and heavy riffs collide into something far greater than the sum of its parts.
That’s exactly what Melbourne’s ANA have achieved in an astonishingly short space of time.
While countless bands spend years trying to stand out from the crowd, ANA arrived in 2023 with a crystal-clear vision and an identity so distinctive that people immediately took notice.
The Australian quintet have coined their own genre descriptor — “couture metal” — and while that might sound unusual at first glance, spend even a few minutes with the band and it becomes obvious why traditional labels simply don’t fit.
ANA aren’t interested in being another symphonic metal band.
They aren’t interested in following trends.
And they certainly aren’t interested in blending into the background.
Instead, they’re building something much bigger.
Something ambitious.
Something theatrical.
Something emotional.
Something that feels as comfortable on a fashion runway as it does inside a dark, sweat-soaked metal venue.
And honestly, that’s exactly why we’re fascinated by them.
🤘 Melbourne’s Latest Heavy Music Success Story
Australia has always punched well above its weight when it comes to producing world-class heavy music.
From Parkway Drive and Northlane to Thy Art Is Murder and Karnivool, the country has consistently produced bands capable of taking on the global stage.
Melbourne, in particular, has become one of the most exciting breeding grounds for innovative heavy music anywhere in the world.
It’s a city known for creativity, artistic freedom, and a thriving underground scene where experimentation is encouraged rather than feared.
ANA embody that spirit perfectly.
Since forming in early 2023, they’ve quickly evolved from an intriguing new project into one of Australia’s most talked-about emerging metal acts.
What makes their rise particularly impressive is how fully formed the vision was from day one.
Many bands spend years searching for their identity.
ANA arrived already knowing exactly who they were.
🎤 Meet The Architects Of Couture Metal
The current ANA line-up consists of:
🎤 Anna Hristenko – Vocals
🎸 Josh Mak – Guitar
🎸 Cody Lamb – Bass
🎹 Mark Shi – Keyboards
🥁 Andres Felipe Martinez Osorio – Drums
Together, they operate as a tightly unified creative force.
Every member contributes to a sound that balances crushing heaviness with cinematic grandeur.
At the centre of it all stands Anna Hristenko.
Her vocal performances serve as both the emotional and narrative heart of ANA’s music.
Capable of delivering vulnerability, rage, elegance, and power within the same song, she provides the perfect focal point for the band’s ambitious artistic vision.
Meanwhile, guitarist Josh Mak helps shape the sonic landscape that defines ANA’s sound, combining modern metal aggression with melodic sophistication and atmospheric depth.
The rhythm section of Cody Lamb and Andres Felipe Martinez Osorio provides a powerful backbone, while Mark Shi’s keyboards inject the cinematic scope that helps elevate ANA beyond conventional genre boundaries.
🎭 More Than Masks
Let’s address the masks.
Because let’s face it — whenever a band appears wearing masks, comparisons immediately start flying around.
But ANA’s visual identity serves a very different purpose.
These aren’t masks designed purely to create mystery.
They’re symbols.
Extensions of the mythology.
Physical representations of the larger ANA universe.
The band often describe themselves as a collective of “masked super-humans,” existing within a carefully crafted narrative that runs parallel to their music.
It’s an approach that transforms every performance into something more immersive.
Rather than simply watching musicians play songs, audiences become participants in a larger story.
And in an age where attention spans are shrinking and content is increasingly disposable, that kind of world-building feels refreshingly ambitious.
📚 The Comic Book Connection
One of the most unique aspects of ANA’s creative output is their collaboration with Cynation Comics.
While many bands release albums and music videos, ANA have expanded into an entirely different medium.
The official comic series allows fans to explore the mythology surrounding the band in far greater depth.
Within this narrative, Anna’s character exists as a powerful deity-like figure sent to Earth with a mission to awaken humanity from mediocrity.
It’s a fascinating concept that mirrors ANA’s real-world artistic goals.
The band’s music consistently encourages listeners to challenge themselves, embrace creativity, confront difficult emotions, and pursue something greater than simple existence.
The comic universe reinforces those ideas while providing another layer of engagement for fans.
It’s the sort of multimedia storytelling approach more commonly associated with blockbuster franchises than emerging metal bands.
Yet ANA pull it off remarkably well.
🎵 The Next Chapter Begins
Following the release of their debut EP The Art of Letting Go in 2023 through Eclipse Records, ANA found themselves with momentum.
The EP introduced listeners to their unique blend of theatricality and heaviness while establishing a strong foundation for future growth.
However, it was always clear that the band had bigger ambitions.
Rather than rushing into a full-length release, ANA returned to Monolith Studios determined to create something substantial.
Something meaningful.
Something that would challenge both themselves and their audience.
The result is Motivated by Death.
An album title that immediately grabs your attention.
An album title that practically demands questions.
And an album that ultimately delivers answers in the most fascinating way possible.
⚰️ Understanding The Meaning Behind Motivated By Death
At first glance, the title might seem dark.
Even morbid.
But ANA’s intentions are actually surprisingly optimistic.
Rather than dwelling on death itself, the album explores how awareness of mortality can become a powerful source of motivation.
It’s a concept rooted in a simple truth:
Life is finite.
Every person reading this article has a limited amount of time.
Every dream, every opportunity, every relationship exists within that reality.
Instead of viewing this as depressing, ANA argue that it should inspire action.
Create something.
Leave a legacy.
Tell people you love them.
Take chances.
Live fully.
The album constantly returns to these themes, encouraging listeners to embrace the present rather than fear the future.
It’s philosophical without becoming pretentious.
Thought-provoking without losing its emotional core.
And that’s a difficult balance to achieve.
💔 The Heartbreaking Power Of “Papa”
Among the album’s most emotionally devastating moments sits “Papa.”
This deeply personal track explores Anna Hristenko’s relationship with her father, who was lost to addiction during her childhood.
Rather than approaching the subject through anger alone, the song feels like a conversation that never had the chance to happen.
A letter written across time.
A search for understanding.
A search for closure.
The vulnerability displayed throughout the track is remarkable.
In an album filled with big ideas and grand concepts, “Papa” reminds listeners that the most powerful stories are often the most personal.
It’s impossible not to feel the emotional weight behind every word.
😡 “Hate Me” And The Dark Side Of Success
On the opposite side of the emotional spectrum sits “Hate Me.”
A fierce, unapologetic track that examines the complicated relationship between admiration and resentment.
The music industry can be a strange place.
Success attracts support.
But it can also attract criticism.
Jealousy.
Negativity.
Judgement.
“Hate Me” explores those realities head-on.
It’s angry.
It’s confrontational.
And it’s likely to resonate with anyone who has ever dared to put their creativity into the world.
Because unfortunately, the bigger you become, the louder the critics often get.
🖤 Exploring Toxic Relationships Through “Sick Love”
Another standout track comes in the form of “Sick Love.”
The song tackles the addictive nature of unhealthy relationships and asks difficult questions about why people remain trapped in destructive cycles.
We’ve all seen it.
Sometimes we’ve lived it.
Relationships that hurt us.
Situations we know aren’t good for us.
Patterns we struggle to escape.
ANA approach the topic with honesty rather than judgement, creating a song that feels relatable while maintaining the album’s darker atmosphere.
🌑 Living Every Day Like It Matters
One of the album’s most important messages arrives through “Shadow Of Life.”
The track serves as a constant reminder that life is happening right now.
Not after the promotion.
Not after the holiday.
Not after retirement.
Right now.
It’s a theme that perfectly encapsulates the philosophy behind Motivated by Death.
Stop waiting.
Start living.
Take the trip.
Write the song.
Start the band.
Buy the concert ticket.
Go to the festival.
Make the memories.
Because none of us know how much time we have left.
🔥 The Future Looks Bright For ANA
What ANA have achieved in just a few short years is genuinely remarkable.
They’ve established a unique identity.
Built an expanding multimedia universe.
Released a compelling debut EP.
Delivered a thought-provoking full-length album.
And positioned themselves as one of the most exciting emerging acts in modern metal.
In a genre that sometimes struggles to reinvent itself, ANA feel like a breath of fresh air.
They’re proving that metal can still evolve.
Still surprise us.
Still challenge expectations.
And still deliver riffs heavy enough to shake the foundations of a venue while making us think about life’s biggest questions.
🤘 The Riff Report Verdict
ANA aren’t simply making music.
They’re creating an experience.
A world.
A philosophy.
A movement.
Motivated by Death is ambitious, emotional, intelligent, theatrical, and packed with enough heaviness to satisfy metal fans while offering far more beneath the surface.
This isn’t a band following a path.
They’re carving out their own.
And if this is what ANA are capable of only a few years into their journey, the future looks absolutely massive.
Keep your eyes on these masked Melbourne innovators, butt.
Something tells us they’re only getting started. 🔥🎭🤘
RIFF REPORT RATING: 9/10 🔥
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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