I have fond memories of homebrewing with my dad. We honed the best methods for small-batch beers, experimented with dozens of styles, learned tough lessons from a couple of bottle bombs, and got to drink some great beer (and, yeah, some bad). Those are memories I’ll cherish for the rest of my life, and it’s something that drew me to the father and sons Swedish power metal outfit, Tungsten. Anders Johansson started out as a drummer for Yngwie Malmsteen in the ’80s.¹ He would later spend 15 years with Hammerfall before starting a band with his two sons, Karl and Nick, and the longtime Cloudscape vocalist, Michael Andersson. In 2016, they formed Strokkur, but after one album decided to go in a heavier direction and changed their name to Tungsten. This father and son project has been going strong ever since, with Ashes as their fifth full-length and their second with Reigning Phoenix Music. Do strong familial bonds make for good music?

One thing is clear when listening to Ashes—Tungsten are having tons of fun. Rather than aim for the semi-serious cheese of power metal acts like Fellowship, or the ostentatious approach of Rhapsody of Fire, Tungsten play a tightly-written, high-energy, and semi-jokey style of power metal. Anders’s kitwork places Ashes in borderline dance music status, approaching the poppiness of Battle Beast’s latest. Industrial touches on the likes of “Bite My Tongue” only serve to heighten this techno-dance connection. “Fuego del Sol” goes full-on Latin American dance music, with a “Gangnam Style”-like opening that’ll make you think you stepped into the wrong album. I don’t mean to make it sound like Tungsten eschew guitars completely. Chugging riffs often provide a sense of heft, but play second fiddle to the synths and choruses in terms of hooks. Nick Johansson delivers some gnarly solos on “Bite My Tongue” and “Ted the Exorcist” to help ensure this doesn’t turn into full-blown power pop.

Tungsten have no illusions about their silliness. They make use of silly folk elements and lyrics in a similar vein as Trollfest. The yodeling on the catchy “Joker” makes for some fun hooks, while cuckoo bird noises add to the lightness of the breezy “Supernova.” “Ted the Exorcist” sounds like it could have been written for a bawdy comedy act with lyrics like “Ted the Exorcist/he showers the world in piss.” The folk instruments also allow Ashes to have a tremendous amount of variety. Whistles on “Sunshine of Fall” lead into some anthemic power pop, and a sort of flute or pipe provides a Celtic character to the cheerful “For Thee.” The biggest surprise comes from “The North Will Rise,” which electrifies with a cool opening riff, some great energy, and guest vocals from Sonata Arctica’s Tony Kakko. What begins as a silly educational song with Kakko listing off northern European countries turns into a rousing call for those countries to unite in defense against a common foe.

Perhaps the biggest drawback from an album like Ashes is that the style can only sustain so many repeat spins before it begins to grow tiresome. Tungsten keep things short and sweet, crafting a concise record at only 39 minutes with tracks largely falling in the 3-minute range. It’s true that the last few songs start to fall off, but they’re still pretty enjoyable. Trollfest’s Flamingo Overlord is a great example of how this kind of record can work over the long haul, and Tungsten isn’t that far off. There’s plenty of variety, tons of catchy hooks, and some great energy. Andersson delivers a strong vocal performance, singing with enough gruffness to ground the bounciness of the music, but also belting out some memorable anthems. Yes, Ashes works best in snack-sized portions, but it also proves to be some fun lighter fare that’s perfect for breaking up your doom sessions.

Clearly, father and sons have put together a metal record that was a lot of fun to make. Ashes is a work of pure escapism that’ll compel you to get up on your feet and dance instead of headbanging to sick riffs and punishing kit work. It’s not quite so wild and subversive as the day’s other comedic release from Netherwilds, instead taking a much more formulaic and polished approach. Where some bands of this ilk can overdeliver on the silliness, Tungsten strikes a well-balanced approach between silly comedy and music that’s just pure fun to listen to.

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 4 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps mp3
Label: Reigning Phoenix Music
Websites: Facebook | Official Site
Releases Worldwide: October 9th, 2026

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