Memories Of Old: The Zeramin Game-2020.

Memories Of Old:Symphonic Power Metal from United Kingdom.

Discography:

The Land of Xia	Single	2019
Zeras Shadow	Single	2019
Some Day Soon	Single	2020
The Zeramin Game	Full-length	2020

Members:

Billy Jeffs	Guitars (2017-present)
See also: ex-Grimgotts, ex-Nightmare World
Anthony Thompson	Keyboards, Keytar (2017-present)
See also: ex-Alastria, ex-Nightmare World
Erick Tekilla	Bass (2018-present)
See also: ex-Neuronspoiler, ex-Headless Cross
James Chapman	Drums (2019-present)
See also: Collapse, Scandelion, ex-Alareiks, ex-Gravil
Erwin Febrianto	Guitars (2020-present)
See also: ex-Seraphic
Tommy Johansson	Vocals (2020-present)
See also: Majestica, Sabaton, ex-Hulex, ex-Megin, ex-Symphony of Tragedy, ex-Charlie Shred, ex-Golden Resurrection, ex-ReinXeed, ex-TS, ex-Twilight Force (live), ex-Heroes of Vallentor, ex-Majestic Vanguard, ex-Royal Jester, ex-Arized

1.
In Exordium
00:40
  Show lyrics
2.
Overture
02:39
  *instrumental*
3.
The Land of Xia
06:00
  Show lyrics
4.
Zera’s Shadow
08:39
  Show lyrics
5.
Some Day Soon
04:53
  Show lyrics
6.
Destiny
06:16
  Show lyrics
7.
Across the Seas
07:22
  Show lyrics
8.
Arrival
07:05
  Show lyrics
9.
A Hooded Traveller
00:39
  Show lyrics
10.
Fowlen’s Revenge
08:15
  Show lyrics
11.
The Zeramin Game
14:03
  Show lyrics
12.
Finale
02:22
  *instrumental*
13.
The Architect’s Eyes
04:06
  Show lyrics

**01:12:59**

Past Members:

Jacob Ziemba	Guitars (2018-2019)
See also: ex-Hämmer, ex-Merithum, ex-I Am I, ex-Jade Lizard, ex-KSU, ex-Stringer
Mauricio Chamucero	Drums (2019)
See also: Battleaxe, ex-Neonfly, ex-Rogue Male, ex-Savage Messiah, ex-ShadowKeep, ex-Blaze Bayley (live), ex-DragonForce (live), ex-Mekanix, ex-Released Minds, ex-The Awareness, ex-The Bounded

Dragonchaser, December 3rd, 2020
Written based on this version: 2020, CD, Limb Music (Slipcase)

It’s said that Billy Jeffs has had this material written for a while, and if someone told me it was composed in 1999, I wouldn’t be surprised, as this debut from Memories Of Old is a wonderful homage to glory era power metal. I think having Tommy Johansson on board strengthens the link, as he’s arguably the best voice for this kind of thing in this day and age. I’ve followed Reinxeed for years, and loved the first Majestica album, so I was pretty excited for this, and while it’s almost flat-out awesome, it could’ve been beefed up in places.

Not that it needs to be, given what Memories Of Old are going for. ‘The Zeramin Game’ is about as candy-ass as it’s likely for power metal to get, but at least there is no post-Dragonforce lunacy to be heard. This is one-hundred-percent in line with the happy go lucky melodic power metal sound Freedom Call have built a career out of, with a strong resemblance to the first couple of Power Quest albums, especially in how they use keys to lead most of the songs. The synth patches are bang on, as well. While this is all pedal to the metal double kick drumming and crotch-grabbing high vocals from Tommy, it’s not a very riff-heavy album, giving the keys way too much leeway to tinkle and shine. It’s no surprise this sounds a lot like old Reinxeed albums, either, given how much influence Jeffs took from Tommy to begin with, but I don’t think he sounds as good here as he did on ‘Above The Sky’. Maybe it’s because it isn’t material he’s written, I’m not sure, but he doesn’t shock me with his vocal prowess half as much, although he’s certainly in fine form, and still sounds better here than on albums such as ‘Higher’. My main issue with the album is that, while it does pretty much everything I want it to, the songs are rather long and overwrought, with most going for an epic sweep that they occasionally nail, as with the title track, but drag with songs like ‘Destiny’. Opener proper ‘The Land Of Xia’ is a brilliant tune, sort of like what Kaledon would sound like if they were actually good, just that pure golden power metal cheese we all know and love. ‘Across The Seas’ is the expected pirate tune, and I’ve heard enough of these to last me a lifetime, so I’m ducking points for that, even though it’s a decent song.

Aesthetically, this shares a lot with Luca Turilli’s ‘King Of The Nordic Twilight’, so it’s a natural fit for Limb, and one of the best albums they’ve put out recently (along with the so catchy it hurts Flames Of Heaven). If you’re looking for some smiley power metal cut from the same cloth as the aforementioned Power Quest and Freedom Call, you’re going to love this, but more riff work and perhaps shorter songs will make their next album a tough one to beat.

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One thought on “Memories Of Old: The Zeramin Game-2020.”

batsibatsival says:

12 de January, 2022 at 12:14 pm

Dragonchaser, December 3rd, 2020
Written based on this version: 2020, CD, Limb Music (Slipcase)

It’s said that Billy Jeffs has had this material written for a while, and if someone told me it was composed in 1999, I wouldn’t be surprised, as this debut from Memories Of Old is a wonderful homage to glory era power metal. I think having Tommy Johansson on board strengthens the link, as he’s arguably the best voice for this kind of thing in this day and age. I’ve followed Reinxeed for years, and loved the first Majestica album, so I was pretty excited for this, and while it’s almost flat-out awesome, it could’ve been beefed up in places.

Not that it needs to be, given what Memories Of Old are going for. ‘The Zeramin Game’ is about as candy-ass as it’s likely for power metal to get, but at least there is no post-Dragonforce lunacy to be heard. This is one-hundred-percent in line with the happy go lucky melodic power metal sound Freedom Call have built a career out of, with a strong resemblance to the first couple of Power Quest albums, especially in how they use keys to lead most of the songs. The synth patches are bang on, as well. While this is all pedal to the metal double kick drumming and crotch-grabbing high vocals from Tommy, it’s not a very riff-heavy album, giving the keys way too much leeway to tinkle and shine. It’s no surprise this sounds a lot like old Reinxeed albums, either, given how much influence Jeffs took from Tommy to begin with, but I don’t think he sounds as good here as he did on ‘Above The Sky’. Maybe it’s because it isn’t material he’s written, I’m not sure, but he doesn’t shock me with his vocal prowess half as much, although he’s certainly in fine form, and still sounds better here than on albums such as ‘Higher’. My main issue with the album is that, while it does pretty much everything I want it to, the songs are rather long and overwrought, with most going for an epic sweep that they occasionally nail, as with the title track, but drag with songs like ‘Destiny’. Opener proper ‘The Land Of Xia’ is a brilliant tune, sort of like what Kaledon would sound like if they were actually good, just that pure golden power metal cheese we all know and love. ‘Across The Seas’ is the expected pirate tune, and I’ve heard enough of these to last me a lifetime, so I’m ducking points for that, even though it’s a decent song.

Aesthetically, this shares a lot with Luca Turilli’s ‘King Of The Nordic Twilight’, so it’s a natural fit for Limb, and one of the best albums they’ve put out recently (along with the so catchy it hurts Flames Of Heaven). If you’re looking for some smiley power metal cut from the same cloth as the aforementioned Power Quest and Freedom Call, you’re going to love this, but more riff work and perhaps shorter songs will make their next album a tough one to beat.

LikeLike

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Memories Of Old: The Zeramin Game-2020.

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