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Hailing from the town of Boras in Sweden, the power metal band Zonata was formed in 1998 by vocalist/keyboardist Johannes Nyberg, guitarists John Nyberg and Henke Carlsson, bassist Mattias Asplund, and drummer Mikael Hornquistwith. Immediately snapped up by the Century Media label on the promise of their cleverly named The Copenhagen Tapes demo (an obvious reference/tribute to Iron Maiden's Soundhouse Tapes), Zonata debuted with 2000's critically acclaimed Tunes of Steel -- as clear a descriptive as one could imagine for their classic metal-inspired melodic power metal formula. Subsequent efforts like 2001's Reality (recorded as a quartet following Carlsson's departure) and 2002's Buried Alive (introducing his replacement, new second guitarist Niclas Karlsson) generally followed the same successful blueprint, with additional emphasis being placed on catchy choruses and occasional symphonic-leaning keyboards, but despite also receiving widely positive reception from fans and press, Zonata unexplainably broke up in 2003. ~ Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide |
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