Step aside Ill Niño, Soulfly and Sepultura. The new kings of Latin metal have arrived. With their debut, Steep Trails, Ankla has delivered not only one of the best albums of 2006, but one of the best releases of the last several years. The 12-track affair is alternately brutal and beautiful, and even at its most punishing moments, it never abandons the rhythmic approach of the band’s roots.

Founded by former Puya guitarist Ramon Ortiz and meaning “anchor” in Spanish, Ankla is relentless in its assault on the listener. Drummer Pepe Clark Magaña and Latin/tribal percussionist Oscar Santiago drive each song, while bassist Edgar Gonzalez, who has since left the band due to health reasons, adds more power to the foundation. Ortiz’s rhythmic, staccato riffs and occasional show-stopping solo complete the package. Vocalist Ikaro Stafford Santana mostly uses a scream, which is often distorted. He sings on a handful of tracks but avoids the predictable screaming-verse/melodic-chorus pattern employed by so many other bands. The vocals are relatively low in the mix, treating Santana’s voice as another instrument and allowing each talented player to be heard. With production, mixing and engineering by veteran Bob Marlette (Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Evanescence) and Sid Riggs, and co-production by Ortiz, the album has a huge, thick sound. It’s rare to hear a recording this heavy with such texture within that heaviness.

On such a strong album, it’s hard to pick out favorite tracks, but I’ll go with the late one-two-three punch of “Your Grace Makes Me Sick,” “Glimpse” and “Flush,” with its unforgettable chorus of “It’s all gone/It’s all gone/It’s all fucking gone.” In truth, though, every song is a highlight. To my ears, Steep Trails is an instant classic.