The SentinelPALLAS |
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Tracklist: This is one of the most talked about neo-progressive rock albums in the '80's. It has a reputation of being a masterpiece and a classic album in this genre. Despite all that, I hadn't heard it until InsideOut re-released it in the CD format this year, so it was with high expectations I started listen to it. This is a concept album with a war theme. The music is a mix between 70's bands such as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Rush and Yes, and eighties and nineties bands such as Arena, IQ, Marillion and Pendragon. The high-quality compositions have great melody lines, intelligent lyrics, many instrumental passages, great musicianship, bombastic keyboards and intricate rhythm and mood changes. In a retrospective view the sound is very eighties, much due to the keyboard sound. Besides the tracks that were on the original release there's also some tracks that never made it onto the vinyl version. The CD also includes a Multimedia section with pictures and a video of the band performing "Atlantis" live on stage. The highlights on the album are "Cut and Run", "Eastwest", "March on Atlantis", "Heart Attack" and the closing "Ark of Infinity", but every track is a masterpiece in itself. The gatefold cover artwork by Patrick Woodroffe is very beautiful. It's very reminiscent to Roger Dean's works, and it illustrates the music very well. If I have some negative critic it would be that I might have had too big expectations on this album, because it didn't really fulfil my dreams. I even doubt that "The Sentinel" were such an innovative album when it was released. Despite my few negative words, this is without doubt an album that deserves its place as a classic album in the progressive genre. The compositions are top-notch, and all in all this are a highly recommended album that you ought to buy. INSIDEOUT (IOMCD
058) Released in Europe
by InsideOut Music. -Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist- |
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Additional musicians: Derek Forman - drums Tracklist: To follow up "The Sentinel", Pallas debut album on a major label and a classic album in the neo-progressive genre must have been quite a hard task. However they almost succeeded in the follow-up called "The Wedge" in 1985. Now this album has been re-released on the InsideOut label, including additional CD-ROM track and three tracks from the 1985 EP "The Knightmoves". The CD-ROM track is a live version of "Win or Lose". The sound is very 80's with similarities to Magnum, Marillion, IQ and Yes, with memorable choruses, good melodies and harmonies. "The Wedge" is rockier than its successor; sometimes almost poppy or AOR oriented in tracks such as "The Executioner". Therefor this album is the least interesting of Pallas releases to date. There's however some really good tracks on this album, for example: "Dance Through The Fire", "Rat Dancing", "Just A Memory" and "Sanctuary". "The Wedge" has a better production than "The Sentinel" does, but the sound is much more outdated, and the compositions aren't as complex either. All in all this is, despite some negative thoughts, a really good album, but I suggest that you buy "The Sentinel" first! INSIDEOUT (IOMCD059) SPV (085-41152CD) -Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist- |
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Tracklist: This is Pallas follow up to their 1986 release "The Wedge", quite some time to wait. Pallas is most known for the 1984 release "The Sentinel". "Beat the Drum" were however the first Pallas album I heard. Unfortunately I haven't heard them before, because this is a brilliant album. Their music is neo-progressive symphonic rock that is sometimes closer to AOR than symphonic rock. The songs have a lot of good melodies, catchy choruses and strong musicianship. Some reminiscences might be Pink Floyd and Yes from time to times. The highlights are "Beat The Drum", "Insomniac", "Spirits", "Ghosts", "Blood And Roses" and "Fragments of the Sun". Except for a few tracks, this is one of the best albums from 1999. This album is highly recommended and you just have to get it into your record collection. INSIDEOUT (IOMCD 035) PALLAS (PALCD 004) -Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist- Pallas Contact & Info: |
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Musicians: Additional musicians: Tracklist: One of England's finest symphonic rock bands, Pallas, has released a new hour-long concept album called "The Cross & The Crucible". It confirms why Pallas is one of the leading bands in the genre. It is pompous, well produced, skilfully performed and there are lots of nice melodies and strong choruses. Musically the band is easily comparable to IQ, Marillion and Pendragon, but while they're just slightly better then IQ and Pendragon, they are much better than Marillion of today. I especially like the lengthy tracks "The Cross & The Crucible", "Towers Of Babble" and "Midas Touch", but also the shortest track "Who's To Blame". Every Pallas album has its own personality and originality and so has "The Cross & The Crucible". They were once labelled as a neo-progressive rock band, but nowadays that label doesn't do them justice at all. Pallas has cemented their place among the top names in the symphonic rock genre and judging by the strength of their previous albums, they'll probably stay there for a long time. Released by INSIDEOUT (IOMCD 079) Contact & Info: InsideOut Music at Kleiner Markt
10, 47533 Kleve, Germany; fax: +49 (0) Pallas, 9 Loirston Road, Cove Bay,
Aberdeen AB12 3PA, Scotland Discography: Reviewer: Greger Rönnqvist |
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