Zonaria
Encyclopedia
Zonaria is a melodic death metal
band from Umeå
, Sweden
, formerly known as Seal Precious. The band is currently signed to Century Media Records
.
, with clean vocals. Several line-up changes prevented the band from recording, but after 2003, with the addition of second guitarist, Emil Nyström, and the band's name changed to Zonaria, they spent two years playing gigs in and around Umeå before recording and releasing, in 2005, what would be Evolution Overdose.
" (and later shot a video for it). After that, Zonaria toured outside of Sweden, opening for Finnish
black metal
band Impaled Nazarene
on a European tour. In October, Zonaria announced they had signed a record deal with Swedmetal Records to release "Rendered in Vain"; later, the song was included in the video game The Darkness
.
to begin recording their debut album; Infamy and the Breed
which was released September 2007. In late July, bassist Jerry Ekman announced his departure and was replaced by Markus Åkebo. The band shot a video for the lead single, "The Armageddon Anthem," then toured much of Europe in the beginning of 2008 opening up for Marduk
.
. They toured Europe in support of the new album with Satyricon
and then joined Vader
and Septic Flesh
throughout November and December 2008 as part of Vader's 25th anniversary tour. Their new album, The Cancer Empire
, was released on 17 October 2008, was produced by Fredrik Nordström
at Studio Fredman
. They are currently writing for their new album. On January 16 it was announced that Zonaria would support Dark Funeral on their Decleration of Hate tour through mainland UK and Europe in March/April 2010.
In early 2011, bassist Markus Åkebo left the band, and was replaced by Max Malmer on a sessional basis. Later, an announcement was made that guitarist Caleb Bingham had been hired to allow Simon Berglund to concentrate on singing. In May 2011 the band announced that session bassist Max Malmer will join as permanent band member.
Melodic death metal
Melodic death metal is a heavy metal music style that combines elements from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal with elements of death metal. The style was developed during the early and mid-1990s, primarily in England and Scandinavia...
band from Umeå
Umeå
- Transport :The road infrastructure in Umeå is well-developed, with two European highways passing through the city. About 4 km from the city centre is the Umeå City Airport...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, formerly known as Seal Precious. The band is currently signed to Century Media Records
Century Media Records
Century Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :...
.
Background
Formed in 2001 by Simon Berglund, Christoffer Vikström, and Mikael Hammarberg, the band originally went under the name Seal Precious. Initially the band's style was power metalPower metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
, with clean vocals. Several line-up changes prevented the band from recording, but after 2003, with the addition of second guitarist, Emil Nyström, and the band's name changed to Zonaria, they spent two years playing gigs in and around Umeå before recording and releasing, in 2005, what would be Evolution Overdose.
New material and touring
In the spring of 2006, Zonaria recorded the CD single "Rendered in VainRendered in Vain
Rendered in Vain is the second demo recording by Swedish melodic death metal band, Zonaria. This album was recorded at Black Lounge studios, Avesta, Sweden with Jonas Kjellgren of Scar Symmetry and would feature a guest appearance by Christian Älvestam. The song, "Rendered in Vain" would also be...
" (and later shot a video for it). After that, Zonaria toured outside of Sweden, opening for Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
band Impaled Nazarene
Impaled Nazarene
Impaled Nazarene is a Finnish black metal band that incorporates elements of grindcore in their sound and punk rock in their aesthetics. The band is currently signed to Osmose Productions of France....
on a European tour. In October, Zonaria announced they had signed a record deal with Swedmetal Records to release "Rendered in Vain"; later, the song was included in the video game The Darkness
The Darkness (video game)
The Darkness is a first-person shooter video game, developed by Starbreeze Studios and published by 2K Games for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. It was released on June 25, 2007 in North America and on June 20, 2007 in Europe. The video game is based on the comic book of the same title...
.
Record label and debut album
In November 2006, Pivotal Rockordings signed Zonaria, and soon after, the band entered Black Lounge Studios with Per Nilsson and Jonas Kjellgren of Scar SymmetryScar Symmetry
Scar Symmetry is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Avesta in Dalarna County, formed in 2004. The band has released five albums, with six released singles...
to begin recording their debut album; Infamy and the Breed
Infamy and the Breed
Infamy and the Breed is the debut album by Swedish melodic death metal band, Zonaria. This album was recorded at Black Lounge studios, Avesta, Sweden with Per Nilson and Jonas Kjellgren of Scar Symmetry.-Track listing:# "Infamy" - 1:39...
which was released September 2007. In late July, bassist Jerry Ekman announced his departure and was replaced by Markus Åkebo. The band shot a video for the lead single, "The Armageddon Anthem," then toured much of Europe in the beginning of 2008 opening up for Marduk
Marduk (band)
Marduk is a black metal band from Norrköping, Sweden. The band formed in 1990 and released their first record in 1991. Their name is derived from the Babylonian god Marduk, patron deity of Babylon.-Musical style:...
.
Century Media and beyond
On June 8, 2008, Zonaria announce that they had signed a deal with Century Media RecordsCentury Media Records
Century Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :...
. They toured Europe in support of the new album with Satyricon
Satyricon (band)
Satyricon is a Norwegian black metal band, and the first one in the genre to join a multi-national record label .-Biography:Satyricon was formed in 1990 by Czral and Wargod. Ulver and Satyr soon joined them...
and then joined Vader
Vader (band)
Vader is a Polish death metal band from Olsztyn, formed in 1983. According to Piotr Wiwczarek, the band's founding singer and guitar player, the band's name was inspired by Darth Vader from the Star Wars film series. Lyrical themes include stories by H. P. Lovecraft, WW2, horror and anti-christian...
and Septic Flesh
Septic Flesh
Septic Flesh is a death metal band from Athens, Greece, which was founded in 1990.- History :Septic Flesh was formed in March 1990 by Sotiris Vayenas , Spiros Antoniou , and Christos Antoniou , and quickly released a debut EP, Temple of the Lost Race in December 1991...
throughout November and December 2008 as part of Vader's 25th anniversary tour. Their new album, The Cancer Empire
The Cancer Empire
The Cancer Empire is the second major label release by Swedish metal band Zonaria and the first to be released on their new label, Century Media Records. It was recorded at Studio Fredman with Fredrik Nordström...
, was released on 17 October 2008, was produced by Fredrik Nordström
Fredrik Nordström
Björn Tom Fredrik Nordström, born on 5 January 1967, is a Swedish record producer and guitar player for the heavy metal band Dream Evil. Nordström is one of the leading melodic death metal producers in Sweden, and he has worked with some of the genre's top acts, including At the Gates, Arch Enemy,...
at Studio Fredman
Studio Fredman
Studio Fredman is a recording studio in Göteborg, Sweden, owned and operated by producer Fredrik Nordström.It is popular among Swedish metal bands, with artists such as At the Gates, Deathstars, Nightrage, Dimmu Borgir, Arch Enemy, Soilwork, Dark Tranquillity, Amon Amarth, In Flames, Zonaria,...
. They are currently writing for their new album. On January 16 it was announced that Zonaria would support Dark Funeral on their Decleration of Hate tour through mainland UK and Europe in March/April 2010.
In early 2011, bassist Markus Åkebo left the band, and was replaced by Max Malmer on a sessional basis. Later, an announcement was made that guitarist Caleb Bingham had been hired to allow Simon Berglund to concentrate on singing. In May 2011 the band announced that session bassist Max Malmer will join as permanent band member.
Discography
Singles
| Title | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Rendered in Vain Rendered in Vain Rendered in Vain is the second demo recording by Swedish melodic death metal band, Zonaria. This album was recorded at Black Lounge studios, Avesta, Sweden with Jonas Kjellgren of Scar Symmetry and would feature a guest appearance by Christian Älvestam. The song, "Rendered in Vain" would also be... |
June 1, 2006 | Swedmetal Records |
Albums
| Title | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Infamy and the Breed Infamy and the Breed Infamy and the Breed is the debut album by Swedish melodic death metal band, Zonaria. This album was recorded at Black Lounge studios, Avesta, Sweden with Per Nilson and Jonas Kjellgren of Scar Symmetry.-Track listing:# "Infamy" - 1:39... |
September 4, 2007 | Pivotal Rockordings |
| The Cancer Empire The Cancer Empire The Cancer Empire is the second major label release by Swedish metal band Zonaria and the first to be released on their new label, Century Media Records. It was recorded at Studio Fredman with Fredrik Nordström... |
October 17, 2008 | Century Media Records |
Members
Current members
- Simon Berglund – lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
(2001 – present) (guitar 2001 - 2011) - Emil Nyström – guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, backing vocals (2003 – present) - Caleb Bingham - guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
(2011–present) - Emanuel Isaksson – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2005 – present) - Max Malmer - bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals (2011–present; session member 2010-2011)
Former members
- Christoffer Vikström – bass (2001–2003)
- Mikael Hammarberg – vocals (2001–2004)
- Claes-Göran Nydahl – drums (2001–2003)
- Niklas Lindroth – drums (2003–2004)
- Johan Aronsson – keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(2003–2004) - Simon Carlén – drums (2004–2005)
- Karl Flodin – bass (2003–2005)
- Jerry Ekman – bass (2005–2007)
- Markus Åkebo - bass (2007–2011)