Album review: MEMORIA AVENUE – Memoria Avenue

MEMORIA AVENUE - Memoria Avenue

Frontiers [Release date 05.11.21]

Debut album from Memoria Avenue, a collaboration between talented writer/ guitarist/ Producer, Tor Talle, and up and coming vocalist, and fellow Norwegian, Jan Le Brandt.

A polished production and neatly tailored arrangements define the early part of the album. In particular, the inviting hooks and AOR subtleties of ‘Stuck’ and ‘Stranded’ sparkle and shine. There’s not an ounce of fat showing. These tracks are sleek, athletic, and light on their feet, with just enough constructed around each melody to make it work.

As producer, Talle does a persuasive job of matching style with substance, cutting the AOR with pop flavourings to enhance the overall sound.

Then, just as we’re thinking Talle could have made more of LeBrandt’s distinctive AOR vocalising, the album truly comes alive, displaying all the urgency and momentum of great Melodic Rock in all its glorious promise. (The PR comparisons to Work Of Art and Palace now begin to make sense).

‘Waiting Forever’ and ‘Nathalia’ have pulse quickening hooks that moodily defer to melancholy. Both are rich in melodic detail, and each is gilded with a catchy, self contained chorus. This is high calibre stuff.

Then you’re thinking that the balladic ‘Sometimes’ and ‘Someday’, brimful of ringing guitars, seductive tones, and climactic choruses are unarguably the standout tracks, only for that notion to be usurped by closing cuts, ‘High As A Kite’ and ‘Picket Fence’.

The first, an achingly yearning love song with a precise narrative clarity, might remind you of James (Australian Crawl) Reyne’s solo material.

The second, an uplifting paean to the collectivist notion that “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”, is a magnificently apposite album closer. A powerfully delivered rallying call to the human race, hitting all its marks without being ingenuous or overly sentimental.

The future looks good for this duo. ****

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast 26 April 2026.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). First broadcast on 21 April 2026

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 May 2026

BREITLER Sentinel (El Puerto Records)
FIRE IN HER EYES Too Late To Change (indie)
KING FALCON Wait (indie)
BEAUTIFUL SKELETONS Come What May (indie)
KARIN PARK Shadow (Size Records)
HARSH Don’t Mess With Me (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 11 May 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.

Recent (last 30 days)

Album review: TARJA – Frisson Noir

Album review: BRICK BRISCOE – Found Footage

Album review: CLAIRE HAMILL BAND – A House Among The Trees

Album review : FAITH NYC – Love Is A Wish Away

Album review : THE 5th DIMENSION – Let The Sunshine In – The Soul City and Bell Albums (6CD Boxset)

Album review: VIRGINMARYS – Beyond The House of Fires

Single review: THE ROLLING STONES – In the Stars/Rough and Twisted

Album review: BEGGARS BLISS – S/t

Album review : ROBIN BECK – Living Proof

Album review: W.A.S.P. – s/t

Album review : FRONTLINE – Rebirth

Album review : VON GROOVE – Born To Rock

Single review: PARKER BARROW – Blinded

Album review : JOHN CORABI – New Day

Lady Maisery and Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith - Wakefire: A Summer Album

Album review: LADY MAISERY AND JIMMY ALDRIDGE & SID GOLDSMITH – Wakefire

Album review : DEGREED – Curtain Calls

Album review: HARDLINE – Shout

Album review: LUKE JAMES WILLIAMS – Limes Hotel

Album review : GENERATION RADIO – Take 2

Album review: JENNY COLQUITT – Pockets Full Of Rain

Album review: SOMETHING FOR THE LONGING – Scottish Independent Pop 1985-1999 (3 CDs)

Album review : CREYE – IV Aftermath

Album review : JACK BRUCE – Halfway To The Stars – The Recordings 2001-2003 (5 CD Boxset)

Album review: ELEGANT WEAPONS – Evolution

Album review: LONG DISTANCE CALLING – The Phantom Void

News: POWER QUEST, BEARDED THEORY, GIANT (November 2021)

IAN ANDERSON (JETHRO TULL) - The Lowry, Salford, 14 September 2015

News - Album News

Annihilator release their latest album, ‘Metal II’, on 18 February via earMUSIC.

Asia are to release a 10CD boxset The Official Live Bootlegs Volume 1 through BMG Records on 26 November. There will also be a digital album featuring a selection of 24 tracks taken from the full boxset, out on the same day.

Cleanbreak have signed with Frontiers who will release the band’s debut album next year. The line-up features vocalist James Durbin (ex-Quiet Riot), bassist Perry Richardson (Stryper, ex-FireHouse), drummer Robert Sweet (Stryper) and guitarist Mike Flyntz (Riot V).

Collateral have reissued their first single, ‘Midnight Queen’, which now features Danny Vaughn (Tyketto) duetting with the band’s frontman Angelo Tristan.

Daytime TV release their debut album, ‘Nothing’s On But Everyone’s Watching’, on 25 February via the Allotment label.

Dodgy have a 4LP box set ‘The A&M Years’ released on February 26.

The Eagles Of Death Metal release a seasonal EP, ‘Eagles of Death Metal Presents A Boots Electric Christmas’, on November 19.

Faster Pussycat ‘Babylon – The Elektra Years 1987-1992′ (4CD box set) is released on January 28 via Cherry Red Records.

The Feeling release their new album ‘Loss.Hope.Love’ on May 6.

Franz Ferdinand release a greatest hits ’Domino, Hits To The Head’ on March 11.

Giant release their latest album ‘Shifting Time’ on January 21 via Frontiers.

Grand have signed with Frontiers who will release the band’s debut album early next year.

Steve Grimmett’s Grim Reaper release ‘Reaping The Whirlwind – Live British Steel Festival 2018′ on March 11.

The Halo Project, who featuring five former members of In Flames, have signed a deal with Nuclear Blast.

HammerFall are back in the studio and plan to release their next album in the spring.

Beth Hart releases ‘A Tribute To Led Zeppelin’ on February 25 on Provogue/Mascot Label.

Jethro Tull release their new album, ‘The Zealot Gene’, on January 28 on InsideOut.

Korn will release a new album, ‘Requiem’, on February 4 via Loma Vista Recordings.

Will Lawton has just released a three song EP ‘A Strange Thing’.

Jonas Lindberg & The Other Side, have signed with InsideOut for the release of the upcoming new album, ‘Miles From Nowhere’, due out on February 18.

Little Caesar will re-issue their albums through Dirty Deeds Records/Deko Entertainment, starting with 2009′s ‘Redemption’ on November 19.

Loudness release a double album ‘Sunburst-My Warrior’ on December 19, with a limited edition also including a live DVD.

Marillion’s new album ‘An Hour Before It’s Dark’ is released via earMusic on Mar 4.

Megson release a covers album, ‘Unknown Waters’, in early 2022.

Ninebarrow have just released a live album ‘Live at the Lighthouse Poole’.

Porcupine Tree return with their eleventh album ‘Closure/Continuation’, which is released on June 24 via Music For Nations.

Power Quest have released a new single, ‘Bound For Glory’, via Inner Wound Records with more new music on the way.

Praying Mantis release their 11th full-length studio album ‘Katharsis’ on January 28 through Frontiers .

Sabaton have announced limited-edition, live-in-concert, double-DVD/Blu-ray, ‘The Great Show”‘and ‘The 20th Anniversary Show’, both set for release on November 19 on Nuclear Blast.

Saxon release their new album ‘Carpe Diem’ on February 4 through Silver Lining Music.

Space Elevator release their new album ‘Persona Non Grata’ on February 25 via On Stage Records.

Sword have signed with Massacre Records who will release the band’s new album in the spring.

Uriah Heep have finished recording their new album with a release date next year to be confirmed.

Vivaldi Metal Project has announced their new album ‘EpiClassica’ will be released on February 22 via Sifare Music Publishing.

Willie & the Bandits release their new album ‘When The World Stood Still’ on January 28.

Quiet Riot’s bassist Chuck Wright has signed with Cleopatra Records for his debut solo album, ‘Chuck Wright’s Sheltering Sky’, set to be released early next year.

News - Tours and Gigs

Rescheduled UK & Ireland tour dates:

Buckcherry (Dec 2o21 cancelled), Cadillac 3 (Dec 2021 postponed), Dropkick Murphys (Jan/Feb 2022 to Jan/Feb 2023), Gun (some 2021 dates moved to 2022), Ozzy Osbourne (2022 to 2023), James Taylor (Jan 2022 postponed),

Newly announced UK tours (2022 unless stated):

Bellowhead, Camel (2023), Fairport Convention, Ghost, Machine Head + Amon Amarth, Napalm Death, Placebo, Porcupine Tree, the Proclaimers, Scarlet Rebels (Jan/Feb), Spock’s Beard, Status Quo + Shakin’ Stevens (Nov 2022), Tears For Fears, Rick Wakeman,

Upcoming (Gigs – UK)

Rescheduled US & European tour dates:

KISS (Las Vegas residency cancelled), My Chemical Romance (Aus/NZ 2022 to 2023), Robert Plant & Alison Kraus (US), James Taylor (Jan 2022 postponed),

Newly announced US & European tours (2022 unless stated):

Buckcherry (US), Eagles (US), Fozzy (US), Ghost, Journey + Billy Idol + Toto (US), Kraftwerk (US), Machine Head + Amon Amarth (Europe), Mammoth WVH + Dirty Honey (US), Napalm Death (Eur), Porcupine Tree (Europe),

Upcoming (USA/ROW)

UK Festivals 2021

Devin Townsend will support Dream Theater on their European dates.

Behemoth headline Friday night at next year’s Bloodstock.

Bearded Theory festival is back next year (Catton Hall, Derbyshire – May 26-29) with a line-up that includes Placebo, Patti Smith, The Flaming Lips, The Hives, Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, The Mission, Amy MacDonald, The Selecter, Wilko Johnson, Ferocious Dog and Dreadzone.

Skid Row have replaced Queensryche as the support act on the rescheduled dates for Scorpions’ ’Sin City Nights’ Las Vegas residency.

Uriah Heep replace Krokus as special guests for Saxon’s UK shows next January.

Other Stuff

Kraftwerk have been inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame.

Surviving members Micky Dolenz and Michael Nesmith gave their final Monkees performance in Las Vegas on November 14.

The BBC has announced that it will mark the 30th anniversary of the death of Freddie Mercury later this month with a new documentary called ‘Freddie Mercury: The Final Act’. The programme will air later this month alongside ‘Queen At The BBC’, a one-hour special.

‘Studio 666′ is the new horror-comedy film starring the Foo Fighters. It is set for release at cinemas on February 25.

Kent Hilli is the new vocalist for Giant who release their new album in January.

Bassist Michael Devin has left Whitesnake after a decade in the band and Tanya O’Callaghan takes his place.

Haken have announced that they have parted ways with keyboard player Diego Tejeida.

Opeth have replaced drummer Martin Axenrot with Therion’s Sami Karppinen for their US tour.

For the month of December the annual Dear John Concert will be streaming on Youtube in a “Best Of” compilation bringing together global stars and celebrities including Peter Frampton, Graham Gouldman and KT Tunstall. The footage is compiled from the 2020/21 concerts and hosted by legendary BBC Presenter ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris.

The link to watch the concert extravaganza will go live on 1st December at 19:00 UK time and available for rewatch from then until 31st December, bringing the iconic songs of The Beatles and John Lennon via livestream.

Net proceeds from donations will benefit the charity War Child UK.

You can purchase your ticket now by making a simple donation of £1 or more and tickets booked in November will also have a chance to win a free custom design ‘Dear John’ t-shirt.

Writer for Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and more, author and co-founder of Total Rock Malcolm Dome

Peter Makowski writer for Sounds, Metal Hammer and Classic Rock

The Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge

Rock photographer Mick Rock

Rock PR Judy Totton

Big Big Train singer David Longdon

Keith Allison, formerly of Paul Revere & The Raiders