Pallas
- The Sentinel (1984)
Apparently, this is the
must-have album from this well regarded neo-progressive
outfit. Almost immediately, the impression is that
Pallas are much harder edged than most neo-prog bands,
as songs like "Shock Treatment", "Cut and Run" and "Arrive
Alive" are actually pretty heavy, even approaching an
almost proto-progressive metal feel at times. None of these early songs
are particularly appealing, though "Shock Treatment" is
decent and "Arrive Alive" has an energetic refrain.
The album begins to hit its stride at "Rise and Fall"
and it's at this point that the songs begin to link together
in a "concept" album fashion, with more atmospheric tendencies
displayed, along with a stronger sense of dynamics.
Evidently, the concept regards the fall of Atlantis, metaphorically
applying it to the state of the world in the Cold War mid-80s.
Euan Lowson has a hoarse, earthy vocal tone that is good
but takes getting used to. Unlike many contemporaries,
he's able to dispel the ubiquitous Genesis comparison
by refraining from the typical Peter Gabriel copy-catting.
The first portions
of the concept segment of the album didn't particularly
impress me, and I didn't really have high hopes for this
album at all. However, the second half, particularly
the last three tracks, are all very nice. Generally
heavy yet infectious, with superb melodies and tons of
emotional punch. Overall I found the album fairly
uneven with some good moments, though definitely not a
classic and certainly a tier below the best albums by Marillion
or IQ. - Greg Northrup [February 2001]
Click Here for Tracklist and Lineup
Info
Pallas - The Cross and the Crucible
(2001)
Pallas, as many
of you know, is one of the original bands in the so-called
neo-progressive movement. Having released one of
the classics of the sub-genre with The Sentinel
in 1984, the band lost their original singer, Euan Lowson,
and took on a newer, more commercial approach with new
vocalist Alan Reed. They released two mediocre LPs
during the mid-1980s and fell silent for over a decade.
Though Pallas' “comeback”, Beat the Drum, was finally
released in 1998, it felt about ten years out of date; sounding
more like Loverboy or Styx than the Pallas of old,
and it failed to make much of an impression in my opinion.
With the newly
released The Cross and the Crucible on the Inside
Out America label, Pallas have finally given longtime
fans something to get excited about. Not only is
this CD infinitely more progressive than anything they've
done in years, it's a concept album to boot! The
concept itself is fairly easy to follow and concerns itself
with man's relationship to religion and science, and how
both entities have forced mankind to concurrently come
to terms with both faith and reason. As for the music,
it is in a similar heavy hitting vein as The Sentinel,
but with some of the slickness of their more recent product.
After a 3 minute ambient introduction ("The Big Bang"),
the album really kicks in with the title track.
At 9 minutes plus, it goes through many nice mood and
tempo changes, with Mathewson's heavy guitar and Browns
symphonic keyboards leading the way. In the past,
I've found Reed's overly dramatic vocals a bit irritating,
but on this album, he acquits himself just fine.
"For the Greater Glory" is another nice mid length track
and climaxes in fine Steve Hackett-like fashion.
The only song that doesn't do much for me is "The Blinding Darkness",
which goes on much longer than it needs to. From there,
it gets much better and with tracks such as "Towers of
Babble" and the 11 minute "Midas Touch", you might think
that you'd accidentally slipped Yes' Going for the
One in the CD player! There's a great bit of
Wakeman-like church organ on "Towers of Babble" and the
ending of "Midas Touch" sounds a hell of a lot like Yes'
"Awaken". The album closes with the uplifting "Celebration",
and although it's a decent way to tie up the album, it
is a bit too cheery, but does offer a cool nod to The
Sentinel.
This is an excellent
CD and old fans are going to eat this one up. It won't
change anyone's opinion on neo-prog, but if you do like bands
like IQ and Pendragon, this is a great one to add to the collection.
If you've never heard Pallas before, The Cross and the Crucible
is a recommended starting point. Hopefully, the band continues
in this direction. -
Steve Pettingill [October 2001]
Click Here for Tracklist and Lineup Info
