The Swedish band Zool `so:l` is nothing short of the best hard rock act in the World right now. This is what the 70"s hard rock, 80"s metal and 90"s symphonic styles put together and performed in the new millennium by some of the most astonishing musicians around, would sound like

THE MOAHNI DAYS

Behind the rather unorthodox name of Zool hides the vocalist and guitarist from Swedish mid-nineties sensation Moahni Moahna `moa:ni``moa:na`; Martin and Henrik.

Having already released three successful albums ("Face The Light", MCD 1992, "Temple Of Life", full-length CD 1995 and "Why", full-length CD 1997) Moahni Moahna catapulted themselves to success in Japan as well as creating waves in the rest of the World.

Playing what they themselves termed "Fantasy Metal", Moahni Moahna united the epic elements of Queen with the hard rock of Rainbow as well as some more symphonic and progressive inputs ranging from Savatage to Dream Theater.

In Japan and the Far East the Moahni Moahna albums were released by JVC-Victor and in Europe by Rising Sun. The albums instantly propelled themselves to superb reviews from all over - and such important magazines and newspapers as Burrn Magazine (Japan - 86 out of 100), Hard Roxx (UK - 10 out of 10), Frontiers UK - 9 out of 10), Metalized Magazine (Denmark - 8½ out of 10), Heavy Oder Was (9 out of 12), Aftonbladet (Sweden - 4 out of 5), VA (Sweden - 5 out of 5) and Metal Hammer (Greece - 9 out of 10) rewarded the albums with highest praises.

THE FORMATION OF Zool

Despite the awesome press-feedback, it was only in Japan that the very original music of Moahni Moahna was embraced by the fans, and returned into good sales facts. In Europe it appeared as if the music of Moahni Moahna was just a bit too "weird" to really make the big sales. In the late nineties vocalist Martin and guitarist Henrik Flyman decided it was time to try out something else, and by forming the new act Zool, the foundation of their future was laid.

Writing songs for Zool was a different experience for the guys - for the first time in many years, Henrik didn"t have the support of his former Moahni Moahna partner/co-writer Tommy Rehn - and for both Henrik and Martin, the new sound of Zool was a welcomed return to the music style that they both had been raised upon; Hard Rock!!!

In 1999 Henrik and Martin wrote all the songs for the debut album of Zool, which they recorded in 2000/2001 together with some of the best Swedish musicians; Stefan Edström (bass, ex-Moahni Moahna "live line-up"), Daniel Flores (drums, also in Mind"s Eye) and Andreas Lindahl (keyboards). As the icing on the cake, the band used their good friend, keyboardist Richard Andersson from Worldwide successful neoclassical power metal band Majestic to guest on the song "Dragon Chaser".

What you have here is inspired guitar playing of the "old school" - no fast shredding or tons of technique show-offs, but instead some head-on, heart-felt guitar melodies that sticks on your mind after only one listen. With Martin"s clean, powerful and very dramatic vocal style, the band has one of the best front men in the hard rock scene. Martin is unique - and so is Zool.

Zool - THE PERFECT HARD ROCK ACT

The Zool debut album, simply titled "Zool", is without the shadow of a doubt, the best hard rock album in years. This is the album that picks up where Rainbow left with "Long Live Rock"n"Roll", where Dio had his careers highest point with "Holy Diver" or "Last In Line" or Black Sabbath were around the time of "The Headless Cross" and "Tyr".

Perhaps no one can ever top what Rainbow, Dio or Black Sabbath created, but with Zool you have a band not scared of showing their influences, and paying their tribute to the "greats" of their time. As Henrik Flyman states: "They are really great bands, but there are still a lot of songs they didn"t do - Zool will fill in the blanks, and add some more new classics to the Hard Rock scene!!!"

Imagine all the best hard rock bands ever teaming up and writing one unique album - this is it!!! In fall of 2001 Zool hooked up with Italian based record label Lucretia Records International, and in April 2002, the debut album saw the light of day with a worldwide release. Already now Henrik and Martin have begun writing and demo"ing new material for the second release, and the search for the perfect lineup has been completed - it is with great pleasure that we can announce the drummer Kenneth Olsen (ex-Royal Hunt) and bass player Kasper Gram (ex-Wuthering Heights, now also in Manticora) have joined Zool in their quest for becoming the ultimate hard rock act.

(Source: Intromental Management)