By the arrival of the new millennium, after 2 major label releases and numerous nationwide and South American tours (including Ozzfest99) with former band PUYA, Ramón Ortíz was feeling the need to give life to a new, heavier more brutal incarnation of his musical soul.

Driven by a burning desire to take his trademark latin metalcore sound to a new level the puertorrican guitar player put past achievements aside and set out on a journey to find the right pieces to complete the puzzle. Ankla was oficially formed in 2001 meaning anchor in Spanish.

Ankla represents a new musical vision deeply anchored in Ortíz lifelong passion for extreme forms of metal music. While borrowing traditional elements from thrash, death and hardcore metal the band still explores and incorporates some of the latin claves and syncopations that Ramón has been known for without ever stepping out of a metallic sound of power groove that is intended to push boundaries is the evolution of modern metal.

Ankla consists of Ikaro Stafford on vocals, Ramón Ortíz on guitar, José Clark on drums, Edgar González on bass and Oscar Santiago on percussion. 2004 saw Ankla sharing stages with bands like Brujeria, Body Count, Six Feet Under and Hatebreed among others, proving to audiences in the west coast and in Puerto Rico the power of Ankla crushing live show.

The band has been in the studio since last may working with producer Bob Marlette (Black Sabbath, Iommi, Halford, Evanescence) on its debut cd. The production is on its final stages and the devastatingly heavy album will be released by mid 2005.

Be prepared! Drop the anchor!