PROGRESSIVEWORLD.NET: REVIEWS BY ERIC PORTER

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Pallas - The Sentinel

Pallas - The Sentinel
Released: 1984 / 1992 / 2000
Label: EMI/Harvest / Centaur / InsideOut
Cat. No.: EMI ST-12350 / CENCD001 / IOMCD058/SPV 085-31992 CD
Total Time: 57:47

Reviewed by: Eric Porter, December 2003
I remember buying this album (yes, album) back in 1984-85 when I was introduced to the world of progressive music by a friend and my future bandmate. At the time, Marillion was the band that was introducing me to this music that we love. I had read as much as I could about progressive bands and remembered reading about Pallas from a Marillion article. Well, I found this album, and bought it, and honestly I think it was the only time I ever saw it in a record store. I was immediately blow away by the album art, which is terrific. I remember listening over and over to this record and being blown away by the epics, the sci-fi feel. It just all fell into place for me back then. When I saw it re-issued on CD with a few extra tracks ("Rise and Fall Pt.2," "East And West," "March On Atlantis" & "Heart Attack" were not on the original EMI release), and being put in the proper track order, nostalgia kicked in and I had to have it.

The liner notes indicate that the band was working on The Sentinel as a concept record that reflected the doom of mankind while using the myth of Atlantis as a backdrop. Today, I am not as big a fan of the 80’s neo movement as I once was, but I do still enjoy this disc. Pallas showed some balls on this record with tracks like “Shock Treatment," “Cut And Run”(with its James Bond theme keyboard solo) and “Arrive Alive." But for me the two killer tracks are “Atlantis” and “Ark Of Infinity." These two tracks really build up to great endings. I thought it was interesting that in the liner notes the keyboardist Ronnie Brown lists a Novatron in his arsenal of boards. I wonder if this was used in place of a mellotron, and if it was the sounds are pretty good to my ear. But this is a must have for any progressive fan who loved the neo movement of the eighties.

I ended up losing track of this band. I believe The Sentinel ended up being the bands only major label release. Even with the great artwork, getting to work with a famous producer (Eddy Offord – Yes), the band just never got the breaks. Their lead singer at the time, Euan Lowson, left and the band may have just had difficulty keeping things together. But, as all us NEARFest fans know, Pallas is alive and well, continuing to release music and will be appearing at this year’s festival. Hopefully we will get to hear a few tracks from this record.

[See also Steph's review of the vinyl version and Bobo's review of the IOM reissue -ed.]

More about The Sentinel:

Track Listing: Shock Treatment (4:30) / Cut And Run (5:03) / Arrive Alive (4:09) / Rise And Fall (Pt. 1) (6:08) / EastWest (5:01) / March on Atlantis (5:23) / Rise and Fall (pt.2) (4:05) / Heart Attack (8:00) / Atlantis (8:07) / Ark of Infinity (7:08)

Musicians:
Euan Lowson – Vocals
Graeme Murray – bass, bass pedals, backing vocals
Ronnie Brown – keyboards and backing vocals
Niall Mathewson – Guitar, Guitar Synth, and Backing Vocals
Derek Forman – drums and vocals

Contact:

Website: www.pallas-uk.com
Note: will open new browser window

Discography

Arrive Alive (1981)
The Sentinel (1984/2000)
The Knightmoves EP (1985)
The Wedge (1986/2000)
Knightmoves To Wedge (combo reissue)
Beat The Drum (1999)
Live Our Lives (2000)
The Cross And The Crucible (2001)
Blinding Darkness (2003)
The Dreams Of Men (2005)

Blinding Darkness (2003) (DVD)

Interview: Alan Reed (2002)
Interview: Alan Reed (2003)
Interview: Alan Reed (2005)

	Pallas - The Sentinel
	Released: 1984 / 1992 / 2000 Label: EMI/Harvest / Centaur / InsideOut Cat. No.: EMI ST-12350 / CENCD001 / IOMCD058/SPV 085-31992 CD Total Time: 57:47
	Reviewed by: Eric Porter, December 2003 I remember buying this album (yes, album) back in 1984-85 when I was introduced to the world of progressive music by a friend and my future bandmate. At the time, Marillion was the band that was introducing me to this music that we love. I had read as much as I could about progressive bands and remembered reading about Pallas from a Marillion article. Well, I found this album, and bought it, and honestly I think it was the only time I ever saw it in a record store. I was immediately blow away by the album art, which is terrific. I remember listening over and over to this record and being blown away by the epics, the sci-fi feel. It just all fell into place for me back then. When I saw it re-issued on CD with a few extra tracks ("Rise and Fall Pt.2," "East And West," "March On Atlantis" & "Heart Attack" were not on the original EMI release), and being put in the proper track order, nostalgia kicked in and I had to have it. The liner notes indicate that the band was working on The Sentinel as a concept record that reflected the doom of mankind while using the myth of Atlantis as a backdrop. Today, I am not as big a fan of the 80’s neo movement as I once was, but I do still enjoy this disc. Pallas showed some balls on this record with tracks like “Shock Treatment," “Cut And Run”(with its James Bond theme keyboard solo) and “Arrive Alive." But for me the two killer tracks are “Atlantis” and “Ark Of Infinity." These two tracks really build up to great endings. I thought it was interesting that in the liner notes the keyboardist Ronnie Brown lists a Novatron in his arsenal of boards. I wonder if this was used in place of a mellotron, and if it was the sounds are pretty good to my ear. But this is a must have for any progressive fan who loved the neo movement of the eighties. I ended up losing track of this band. I believe The Sentinel ended up being the bands only major label release. Even with the great artwork, getting to work with a famous producer (Eddy Offord – Yes), the band just never got the breaks. Their lead singer at the time, Euan Lowson, left and the band may have just had difficulty keeping things together. But, as all us NEARFest fans know, Pallas is alive and well, continuing to release music and will be appearing at this year’s festival. Hopefully we will get to hear a few tracks from this record. [See also Steph's review of the vinyl version and Bobo's review of the IOM reissue -ed.] More about The Sentinel: Track Listing: Shock Treatment (4:30) / Cut And Run (5:03) / Arrive Alive (4:09) / Rise And Fall (Pt. 1) (6:08) / EastWest (5:01) / March on Atlantis (5:23) / Rise and Fall (pt.2) (4:05) / Heart Attack (8:00) / Atlantis (8:07) / Ark of Infinity (7:08) Musicians: Euan Lowson – Vocals Graeme Murray – bass, bass pedals, backing vocals Ronnie Brown – keyboards and backing vocals Niall Mathewson – Guitar, Guitar Synth, and Backing Vocals Derek Forman – drums and vocals Contact: Website: www.pallas-uk.com Note: will open new browser window Discography Arrive Alive (1981) The Sentinel (1984/2000) The Knightmoves EP (1985) The Wedge (1986/2000) Knightmoves To Wedge (combo reissue) Beat The Drum (1999) Live Our Lives (2000) The Cross And The Crucible (2001) Blinding Darkness (2003) The Dreams Of Men (2005) Blinding Darkness (2003) (DVD) Interview: Alan Reed (2002) Interview: Alan Reed (2003) Interview: Alan Reed (2005)