Artist : Memories of Old

Album : The Zeramin Game

Release Date : 18-09-2020

Added : 12-11-2020

I introduced you a few days ago the Cypriots of 'Winter's Verge' with their first power-symphonic album and the references I had cited are also valid for the British of 'Memory Of Old' who released in September their first studio recording 'The Zeramin Game'. Project initiated by guitarist 'Billy Jeffs', he took with him the young guitarist from 'Sabaton', 'Tommy Johansson' who officiates as a singer and who also has his own project 'Majestica', and like the Americans of 'Master Sword', the theme of the opus revolves around video games and, in this case, it is the story, I quote, "of two friends, Ty and Vi, who decide to unravel the mysteries of Zera, a mysterious island that no one has ever returned to. When he learns that the two young boys are missing, Fowlen, the only man who knows the truth about Zera, decides to leave for their research".

And in this kind of theme, we generally have epic and symphonic power and, here, I must say that we are served with compositions which have very classic melodies but which immediately become embedded in your head. All starts with a narrated introduction 'In Exordium' coupled with an instrumental 'Overture' planting an epic fantasy film setting reminding me of the intonations of 'The Astonishing' then, 'The Land Of Xia' offers us a memorable first melody led by grandiose keyboards and a double pedal that is not intrusive but very well balanced because, on drums, 'James Chapman' alternates fast rhythms and others calmer. And proof of this variety within the compositions, the length of the titles often exceeds 6 minutes but are never tiresome as with 'Zera's Shadow' and its almost 9 minutes or with 'Across The Sea' of more than 7 minutes or even with 'Arrival' and its remarkable vocal arrangements, this variety is also required between the different tracks with different tempos and intensities as with the mid-tempo 'Some Day Soon' and its completely addicting chorus. With 'Destiny', the break power ballad is not forgotten with a beautiful melody to add to the best metal ballads and it is with the title song that we hold the longest development of the opus which takes us on a epic 14-minute fresco in a succession of equally grandiose parts leaving a good place for the instrumental sections and which also highlights the singing of 'Tommy Johansson', very comfortable in this expressive style, the album ending with a magical instrumental finale filled with majestic symphonic arrangements.

In summary, the British of 'Memory Of Old' are releasing a very good metal album mixing power and symphonic with varied and very accessible compositions which should appeal to a metal audience who love melodies that are easily embedded in the head...

Line Up / Musicians

Tommy Johansson (Vocal), Billy Jeffs (Guitar), Anthony Thompson (Keybords), Erick Tekilla (Bass), James Chapman (Drums)