State of Salazar was started in 2010 by five students from the Malm¶ Academy of Music who wanted to play rock music made for the big arenas. The singer and songwriter, Marcus Nygren, began thinking of the concept of having a band like State of Salazar in 2009 when he wrote a couple of songs that were not a fit for his metal band, 8-Point Rose. 'To find great musicians at the Academy was no problem,' Marcus says in one of the many interviews he has done lately, and all the members of State of Salazar share a passion for West Coast AOR and similar genres.
There is no mistaking that the band delivers 'feel good' music, and it is no wonder, since one of their biggest influences is 'training montage' music. That being said, State of Salazar is not a retro band, or a trip down memory lane. They write songs and play music that strives forward, not backwards. Their songwriting, arranging and instrumental performance show that this is a band that wants to develop and lead the melodic rock genre in exciting new directions.