Emil Nyström

AM : To begin, please tell us about your beginnings, how was the band formed, what is your musical background ?

Emil : Zonaria was formed in 2002 by Simon. Six months later I joined the band and that was when we started to get more serious, wrote our own songs and started playing live. We started out as pretty much any garage band. When I joined the band I just recently started to play the guitar. So I was really fresh at the guitar at first.

AM : How did you get the deal with the US label Pivotal, why did you choose them ?

Emil : Pivotal first contacted us 2 years ago and they have been like brothers to us since the first day we spoke to them. We had some other offers, but none of them could offer what Pivotal did. They offer us 100% backing in everything we do and always think of what's best for the band, not necessarily what sells most. So far they've been nothing but good.

AM : Now how do you feel as your first album is going to be released ? What do you expect for this release, and more than that, what is your goal with Zonaria, as you're young a have a bright future from what I hear :)

Emil : It feels really good with "Infamy And The Breed". Since we've had it finished for almost a year it's a great relief that its out now. For this release we want to make our name heard, spread the music and do a couple of tours throughout Europe. For the future we want to be as big as any band can be, touring the world, meeting up with fans and releasing records that sell enough for us to live on it.

AM :When we think about a new swedish melodic death metal band, we think about clones of Soilwork or In Flames, but this is absolutely not your case, you seem more influenced by Hypocrisy, is it right ? In that way you much more original than many newcomers as few take Hypocrisy as influence…

Emil : Thank you, I'm glad you see it that way. And yes, I think more bands should look more to what they want to play, and how they can make a band, than what other bands play. I hope people don't compare us too much to Hypocrisy, since we always wanted to create our own music that separates us from other bands. Even though we are influenced by bands like Dimmu Borgir, Arch Enemy, Hypocrisy and Behemoth. We want Zonaria to sound like Zonaria.

AM : What are other elements that make the typical Zonaria sound ?

Emil : Pretty much everything. We want to have a atmospheric and heavy sound with raw guitars and heavy riffing. Not necessarily a band, but everything we come across.

AM : The production sounds as it came from the Abyss studio, was it intentional (as it comes actually from Kabyss studios :) ) ?

Emil : Not really, we love the way Jonas mixed the album, and he really gets a great tone of every instrument. In my opinion he's the new Fredrik Nordström or Peter Tägtgren when it comes to producing albums. We did the recordings of the album in Kabyss studios, which is Per Nilsson's studio, there we just recorded the album, the sound of the album comes from the mixing in Black Lounge. But yes, if you mean the quality of the recording to be as good as in Abyss, that was intentional and "Infamy And The Breed" is an album we can stand behind 100%.

AM : How was this first experience in professionnal studio ? Difficult, exciting, relax,… ?

Emil : It was really relaxing. Per Nilsson is one of the funniest and most relaxed guys I've ever met. He was really good and professional when it came to recording and the music, but at the same time he was more like a friend then a producer. It wasn't really difficult, but some times it was frustrating because some riffs or parts took time to get perfect and that stuff. But Per was always there to make it funny with jokes and stuff.

AM : What does 'Zonaria' mean, and what are the themes you're talking about?

Emil : For us the name Zonaria is a symbol of destruction. How we all kill each other and the planet we live in, never think further then what happens to us and what we want, not what's good for everybody and the world. Kind of like a downwards spiral, how we're hastening the Armageddon. In Greece mythology Zonaria it's a part of the road to the Gods mountain, the most dangerous part of the journey to Mt. Olympus.

AM : What are the latest records that impressed you very much ?

Emil : I really love the new Amoral and DevilDriver albums. They are soo intense and the riffing is awesome. Other then that I can recommend the new behemoth album wich is nothing but a ball crusher or the new Atreyu which have amazing songs and great vocals, kind of like the new modern pop-hard-rock-metal.

AM : Are you already planning tour/gigs to promote "Infamy and the breed" ?

Emil : Yes that is what we are planning the most at the moment. Tours and shows all over Europe. This is also what were looking forward to the most, meeting up with fans and bang our heads.

AM : Thanks for your time and all the best for your career, it begins very well !

Emil : Thank you for the interview and all the best for the future!