TUNGSTEN – Tundra (2020)

Scandinavian metal is a phenomenon in its own rights, with a vast number of super good bands across all possible sub-genres of best quality heavy metal. Amongst them, Swedish quarter TUNGSTEN stands out with their specific style. Truth be told, it is hard to put this band in a box, which is what makes pure, raw talents so intriguing to follow.
Founded by renowned drummer Anders Johansson with his musician sons joining him – including family-related Jens Johannson who drops some of his keyboard magic – Tungsten put their own stamp on the genre with “Tundra“; at places traditional melodic metal, at others progressive / symphonic, at others adding electronics to the mix.

In ”Tundra”, the band spreads its wings fully and delivers a broader musical experience. They take us through that already familiar speedy rhythmical beat ‘Lock and Load’), through pure power metal (‘I See Fury’), folk reminiscences, lyrical melodies and even nearly military marching style.
A song like ‘I See Fury’, for instance, will take you on a journey through all sorts of genres: headbanging metal with speedy drums, folklore motifs, flutes and tunes, drum solos keeping you on the edge.

It is evident that the band unites talents from various ends of the power and melodic metal spectrum, most notorious of which is drummer Anders Johansson (known from his work with Hammerfall, Manowar, and Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force). In one of the songs, ‘Here Comes the Fall’, there is a guest appearance on keyboards: Jens Johansson (Yngwie, Stratovarius and, more recently, Rainbow).

The vocal work is worth a special mention. Throughout the canvas of the album, it is interesting to follow the scope of Mike Andersson’s vocal talent.
Being the only band member who is not a blood relative to the rest, he has honed his chords in the excllent Cloudscape (support act for Royal Hunt’s European tour 2014), Fullforce, and collaboration with Magnus Karlsson.
As most of Scandinavian frontmen, he captivates with impressive vocal skills.

No point in drawing any comparisons here; this band does their own thing and does it well.

 

01. Lock And Load
02. Volfram’s Song
03. Time
04. Divided Generations
05. King Of Shadows
06. Tundra
07. Paranormal
08. Life And The Ocean
09. I See Fury
10. This Is War
11. Here Comes The Fall (feat. Jens Johannson)

Anders Johansson – Drums
Niklas Johansson – Guitars
Kalle Johansson – Bass, Keyboards
Mike Andersson – Vocals
guest:
Jens Johannson – Keyboards

 

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