Zonata - Reality (2001)Century Media

"Reality" was recorded two years after Zonata's debut in abridged 4-piece line-up: Johannes Nyberg (vocals, keyboards), John Nyberg (guitars), Mattias Asplund (bass) and Mikael Hörnqvist (drums). Don't worry, Swedes don't dabble in music, they are really professionals and can cope with personnel problems.

One of Zonata's trademarks are speedy lead guitar parts, which are not boisterous, but hypnotic and very attractive to the listeners of different musical tastes. The rest strong features are melodic and lofty vocal parts, lilting guitar and capricious keyboard solos. Musicians are distinguished by their artistic invention, all-encompassing talent and extraordinary compositional ability. Although Swedes hybridise and juggle with a few metal genres (heavy, power, neoclassical and guitar-oriented music), the staff lacks of redundant elements. As an interesting fact, I can mention that "Gate of Fear" was taken from "The Copenhagen Tapes" (demo). It doesn't change the fact that the album is really equal and consistent.

If someone thought there would be a abrupt change in Zonata's style on the second act, one was wrong. Swedes managed to enliven power metal that sometimes seems to be too monothematic. This stuff, filled up with explosive and exuberant guitar and keyboard solos, can't be boring. Swedes are masters of composing, arranging and execution. They amalgamat tons of ideas into their tracks and simultaneously make the staff listener-friendly. It is a very difficult trick! Apart from the synthesis of melody and virtuosity, "Reality" offers us eleven carefully constructed compositions I listen to with a pure delight. I want to write it once again - I am astonished with their command of instruments and virtuosic performance in every detail of musical art. Zonata are a powerhouse of ideas that are my kind of thing! The four extremely gifted Swedes produced mighty neoclassical power metal that surely appeal to the hearers of such bands like Majestic, Time Requiem, Helloween, Freedom Call, Gamma Ray, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius and Lost Horizon.