”Leave our fate all but sealed, now we charge with an almighty roar. We are we are Memories of Old.”
After a five-year hiatus British epic symphonic power metal group Memories of Old is back with a brand new album ”Never Stop Believing” releasing on the 24th of October 2025.
Let’s dive into this masterpiece immediately. Starting with a piece of music that could perfectly fit the beginning of a fantasy movie or videogame. ”The Turn of a Page (Intro)” serves as an instrumental beginning of this album and introduces us to two new members joined by old members Billy Jeffs and Anthony Thompson. Rhys Morgan and Wayne Dorman are the new bass and guitar player who joined the band in the proces of creating this album. The title might refer to the change of the bandmembers and the closing of that chapter and the start of something new. Since the release of their debut album ”The Zeramin Game” the band took a five-year break and changed some members over that period of time. But I think Jeffs and Thompson had a certain vision about possible the bands future and they never stopped believing in that vision.
The second track is a good introduction to the brand new Memories of Old. ”Never Stop Believing”, the same title as the album. Gives us an opportunity to meet Noah Simmons and his beautiful voice. Simmons has some big shoes to fill hence he takes over former Sabaton member Tommy Johannson and Jamie Jordan from Skies Turn Black as the new lead singer of the band. ”Never Stop Believing” serves as a good anthem for the current phase the band has been going through. What stands out is the high notes Simmons can create with his voice.
The band hasn’t done nothing during their five year break. In 2022 ”Guardians of the Kingdom” has been released with Jordan his vocals. For the album they made a new version of this song with Simmons doing the vocal parts. The same happend to ”Fly Away Together”, being released before while Jordan was still a member of the group. What stands out for me is that both of the songs have a catchy melody and feels different than the rest of the album. I wouldn’t consider both songs immediately as symphonic power metal but love the variaton between the styles. It shows that every member whether old or new played a part into the creation of music and the direction they take.
In case you forgot the band’s name they made a reminder for you. ”Memories of Old” serves as the fourth track of the album and start with an intro with some good old guitar skills by Dorman, Morgan and Jeffs. This song serves as the band’s anthem and will definitely be played during every live performance from now on to make the crowd go wild.
What is an epic symphonic power metal album with power metal ballad? Simmons shows us that he not only can reach high notes like it is not a big deal. He also shows us his soft voice and side. ”Life Begins Again” is a beautiful, emotional song about the journey to the light and the starting over of life. Using lyrics as: ‘‘searching for the answer. through the darkness we must go”. Plus add some guitar riffs, drum beat and some orchestra melodies and we have the ultimate power metal ballad. ”Life Begins Again” is my favorite track of this album and I really recommend you to listen to it. (Might grab some tissues just in case) Save the best for last, or at least save the longest track till the end of your record.
With 8 minutes and 16 seconds ”Journey to the Stars” serves as the closing track of the album. We start this song with some guitar riffs and some electric sounds that give us an intergalactic vibe. The drums give the song a good uptempo beat to the song. They ask us to join them on their journey to the stars accompanied with some angels as well. The whole song feels like a mini movie and a sort of love baby of all the styles combined that are on this album. Near the end of the track we have an instrumental piece of music and it ends as a sort of music box which close after it’s done playing his music. It gives a sort of full cycle meaning to the record. The first song of the album is instrumental as well and so we end the album the way we started it.
Even though it took the band a while to create a new album and there have been many changes over the years. ”Never Stop Believing” has been worth the waiting and does at it promised. I will look forward to the rest of the journey this band will have.
Rating: 8/10
Release Date: 24th October 2025
Label: Limb Music
Writer: Milou
Tracklist:
1. The Turn of a Page (intro)
2. Never Stop Believing
3. Guardians of the Kingdom
4. Memories of Old
5. Fly Away Together
6. After the Storm
7. Fire in the Night
8. Life Begins Again
9. Enf ot hte Tunnel
10. Rebirth: An Epilogue
11. Journey to the Stars
