“The Zeramin Game” is the debut album from British Symphonic Power Metal band Memories Of Old. That’s the words ‘British’ and ‘Symphonic Power Metal Band’ right there in the same sentence! Now, there’s something I was starting to give up on ever writing in a review, but Memories Of Old have finally made it happen. And I’m taking it…even though they aren’t strictly 100% British, I’m still having it – besides the non-British element is a very shrewd move by a band trying to make their mark – current Sabaton/Majestica vocalist Tommy Johansson.

Shrewd obviously because the inclusion of Johansson brings more gravitas and an existing fan base with him, also being as Memories Of Old aren’t far away in style, sound and approach to the aforementioned Majestica. Maybe this wasn’t originally the intention of main songwriter/guitarist Billy Jeffs, put when someone like Tommy Johansson offers his vocal services you’d be mad to decline. So, basically Memories Of Old’s sound is a hearty mix of all things Majestica, Twilight Force, Rhapsody of Fire etc, dripping with all the symphonic Swedish/Italian trappings that fans of the genre demand. Choruses are catchy, vocal lines flamboyant, rhythms energetic and bouncy. The guitar lines drive each song forward and liberal keyboards dance their way through every arrangement. The production is excellent, the compositions varied and intelligent, the musicianship and vocals superb throughout.

The slight difference from the norm that I might detect is very subtle, and possibly led by the composer’s nationality (or maybe just my knowledge of it), but rather than the usual neo-classical musical stand-point this genre utilizes, I was struck by a hint of old-style prog around some of the instrumental parts and keyboards – maybe a touch of Rick Wakeman in approach? It’s a concept album too, and I was looking forward to seeing how the band were going to work in some sort of game based around that instrument from ‘Good Vibrations’ that went “Wooo-weeooo-weeooo” (you know the one) …but that appears to be a Theremin and I’d misheard the album title…my mistake…but there’s pieces of narration alongside the lyrics throughout the album so the story becomes clearer as the album goes on. So, OK, probably you’ve got to be a fan of this style already to really enjoy this album, but anyone with a penchant for all the aforementioned bands as well as Freedom Call style vocal lines over melody-rich Epic Symphonic Metal is going to utterly lap this album up.

(8/10 Andy Barker) 

https://www.facebook.com/MemoriesOfOld

https://memoriesofold-limbmusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-zeramin-game