And there’s even more. Ah, Florida State, what’s in your air for really interesting and truly exceptional power metal? Just remember Savatage, Crimson Glory, and Iced Earth, whose songs and albums are a real master class of the genre. I don’t want to say that NZM’s material as of 2024 or 2025 is truly exceptional — how can you say this in the 21st century? Anyway, this power metal quartet from Florida delivers not only with instrumental quality but with true enthusiasm and dynamics, so rare in our days when digital recording processes (sadly, without quality mastering) rule. But NZM’s songs are of the other breed.
The Best of NZM Track List
1. No Innocence (Single, 2024)
2. Freedom Has No Price (Freedom Has No Price*, 2010)
3. The Force Within (Eternal Fire, 2014)
4. Soul (Alive, 2016)
5. Remember My Name (Alive, 2016)
6. You Gotta Go Away (Freedom Has No Price*, 2010)
7. Never Kneel Down (Rise Above, 2023)
8. Raise Your Head (Alive, 2016)
9. To Be With You (Freedom Has No Price*, 2010)
10. Get Away (Alive, 2016)
11. Rise Above (Rise Above, 2023)
12. End of Days (Rise Above, 2023)
1. No Innocence (Single, 2024)
2. Freedom Has No Price (Freedom Has No Price*, 2010)
3. The Force Within (Eternal Fire, 2014)
4. Soul (Alive, 2016)
5. Remember My Name (Alive, 2016)
6. You Gotta Go Away (Freedom Has No Price*, 2010)
7. Never Kneel Down (Rise Above, 2023)
8. Raise Your Head (Alive, 2016)
9. To Be With You (Freedom Has No Price*, 2010)
10. Get Away (Alive, 2016)
11. Rise Above (Rise Above, 2023)
12. End of Days (Rise Above, 2023)
NZM’s mastermind is quite a well-known person, one Nick Z. Marino (nee Nick Zeljko Marinovich), lead vocalist and keyboard player for Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s band for 15 years. Well, he produced all four NZM albums (2014–2023) too. And yes, working with Yngwie always means that you share music tastes with your boss completely, but it seems like Nick and his band are quite proud of it. And it’s more: drum tracks on eight of the 12 compilation’s songs are performed by Yngwie's colleague, Patrick Johansson. Strangely, as it seems, not all songs here are kind of carbon copies of Yngwie’s numbers from 1986 or later. No, far from it.
Opening track No Innocence (2024) was released as a digital single, and it’s the only real new number here. And what a track it is! How many US bands can claim their songs are very American and un-American at the same time? Here, NZM is clearly one of them: No Innocence is a very clever symphonic metal song, combining classic Savatage arrangements and a far modern, almost experimental approach of the best keyboardist Erik Norlander’s solo works. And what’s un-American here? Well, it’s overall sound, which is very close to little-known outside Germany, that country’s band Mob Rules (highly recommended, by the way). And next.. next is Savatage on steroids — Freedom Has No Price (2010) is very similar not only to Floridian power metal stalwarts, but, naturally, to Yngwie’s most common songs.
Most of the other The Best Of NZM tracks are quite similar to Yngwie’s works, thanks to shredmaster general Denver Cooper, but all of them have an overall idea once formulated by the late great keyboard maestro Vitalij Kuprij (he of Artension and Trans-Siberian Orchestra): “I play like Yngwie, but on keyboards”. Well, there’s Nick’s solos in every other song here, and all of these solos are great additions to Denver’s virtuosity on six strings. At the same time, you can describe You Gotta Go Away (2010) and Raise Your Head (2016) as groove metal tracks, and you won’t be completely wrong. Nick and his cohorts are not strangers to quite a “modern” sound, and for the best of it.
NZM - End Of Days (from "The Best Of NZM")
Various “speed power metal” tracks apart, the best emotions on CD lie in Baroque melodies of To Be With You (2010) and the biggest keyboard ballad I heard for years and years (maybe even light years?) Get Away (2016). This compilation is immaculately finished with two more outstanding tracks — Rise Above (2023) with highly unorthodox keyboard parts (and sounds) and some vocal melodies reminiscent of 70s Kansas, and high-energy End Of Days (2022), a kind of one of the best Yngwie’s unwritten songs from the 90s.
I believe that all dozen tracks here are tailor-made for rock radios all around the world (or should I say Universe?), not to say for private rock collections. What’s not to like? Ah, this CD is in fact a CD-R, although factory-made… and it’s not released outside the US yet, which is very strange. Even now there’s a good market for such kind of great music in mainland Europe and naturally Japan. Think about it, guys! And finally, personally, I suppose that The Best Of NZM is the best way of presenting this band to the world. All four other regular NZM’s albums may come next — maybe as a boxed set?
A Recap of NZM and Nick Z. Marino’s Features:
An in-depth interview dives into the musical journeys of powerhouse vocalist/keyboardist Nick Z. Marino — known for his work with Yngwie Malmsteen and his solo NZM project — and guitarist John Ivan.
The feature explores their creative synergy, shared destiny, and the roots of their enduring collaboration.
Published in July 2024, this review highlights NZM’s compilation album that spans their career.
It celebrates the band’s signature high-energy, emotionally charged power-metal, including the hit single “No Innocence,” and showcases Nick Z. Marino’s vocal strength and compositional depth.
NZM is a high energy power metal band with strong melodic vocal lines and edgy riffs. It is based in South Florida and was formed in 2010.
Artists such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Symphony X, Deep Purple, AC/DC, Dio, Iron Maiden, Queen and Scorpions have had a strong influence on NZM’s music.
Nick Z Marino released his first solo album "Freedom Has No Price" for Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force Records in April 2010.
NZM drummer Kevin Klingenschmid is also the current drummer in Yngwie Malmsteen's band.
NZM Line-up:
Nick Z Marino - lead vocals and keyboards
Robert Klingenchmid- bass
Kevin Klingenchmid- drums
Denver Cooper - lead guitar
NZM Discography:
*Nick Marino - “Freedom Has No Price” (Album) - 2010
NZM - "Eternal Fire" (Album) - 2014
NZM - "Alive" (Album) - 2016
NZM - "Under a Spell" (Single) - 2018
NZM - "Time's Running Out" (Album) - 2020
NZM - “Rise Above” (Album) - 2023
NZM - "No Innocence" (Single) - 2024
NZM - "The Best of NZM" (album) - 2024
Follow NZM
Nick Z Marino - lead vocals and keyboards
Nick began his musical training at the age of 7, receiving classical vocal and piano lessons. His talent grew throughout his adolescence as he performed across Europe and Asia, drawing influence from legendary artists like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Dio, Iron Maiden, Scorpions, and AC/DC. In 2005, Nick joined Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, touring the USA and Japan on the "Unleash The Fury" tour. His demo material caught Malmsteen's ear, leading to the release of his solo album “Freedom Has No Price” under Yngwie’s Rising Force Records in 2009, marking the first non-Malmsteen release on the label.
In 2010, Nick formed the NZM Band, serving as the lead singer and keyboard player. He continued to collaborate with Malmsteen, featuring on the live album "Spellbound - Live from Tampa" and the DVD "Spellbound - Live from Orlando" in 2013. Nick released the NZM Band's debut album “Eternal Fire” in 2014, followed by tours in Europe. He joined the super-band "Generation Axe" for their USA tours in 2016 and 2018, performing alongside Steve Vai, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt, and Tosin Abasi. NZM Band released the album "Alive" in 2016, and Nick continued to tour with "Generation Axe" in Asia in 2019.
In spring of 2018 Nick Z Marino joined forces with VOICES OF METAL, featuring singers such as Tim Ripper Owens, Mike Viscera, Edu Falaschi and John Ivan on guitar. In October 2018 Nick Z Marino went on a solo Ukrainian tour featuring John Ivan on lead guitar, Gorka Alegre on bass and Brian Wilson on drums. Nick’s collaboration with Ukrainian shredder master John Ivan resulted in three hit singles “Low Riders,” “Gypsy Woman,” and “Never Give Up” featured on John Ivan’s solo album GuitarSlinger, released via Bestia Records on February 14th, 2024.
FireRock Music Group is the driving force behind the pulse-pounding, electrifying world of rock music.
With a passion for the genre and a commitment to nurturing and promoting the talents that define it, FireRock solidified its place as a powerhouse in the industry.
Established by a group of die-hard rock aficionados, the label is dedicated to unearthing the raw, untamed energy that defines rock ‘n’ roll and sharing it with the world.
