Sign of The Times (Pallas, 2023)

Pallas are like good wine: they improve with each passing year. Their December 2023 album titled "The Messenger" is a very fine piece of prog, full of energy, creativity and, last but not least, beautiful musical themes. "Sign of The Times" is the opening track and it includes all the essential features of the album: majestic riffs, tight progressions, unpredictable changes, atmospheric passages, impeccable performances, an underlying strain and a challenging plot. 

Such a beautiful cover art!

The harsh lyrics are well written and perfectly sung by Alan Reed, a singer I adore. How can I describe his voice? Last time I tried to he desagreed, but he seems to me he's like a modern Janus with two faces: an angel and a devil. And I like both. The rest of the band, of course, is also awesome and our friends from Aberdeen are a perfect clockwork, a treat for the pickiest ears. Just listen to this song and you'll be aboard the most exciting roller coaster... don't stop the ride!

The Cross & The Crucible (Pallas, 2001)

Pallas made their way into the progressive hearts thanks - among many other qualities - to their energy and to their brilliant tempo changes. That's exactly what you'll find in the title song of their 2001 album. A beautiful, deep background supports Alan Reed's vocals in the first part of the track, while the guitar and some pseudo-gregorian choirs introduce a largely instrumental final section, full of epic effects and including a wonderful guitar solo by Niall Mathewson.

"The Cross & The Crucible" was the fifth studio album by Pallas.

 

This song presents in a highly dynamic way the concept of the album, based on the double option of faith and science and on their relative risks. What I especially like here is the round, somewhat tridimensional sound, and also the pleasant contrast between smooth and rough instruments, something Pallas know how to set up since their debut album. Thank you for that, guys!

Heart Attack (Pallas, 1984)

"The Sentinel" was a seminal album in the '80s resurgence of prog rock and this song represents very well the martial, dramatic sound of the band, especially in this sci-fi concept album, their first and most loved one. It is important to say that this song was only released in the 1992 CD version of "The Sentinel", where the band also changed the running order of the tracks, in order to restore the original concept, including the music that didn't find its place in the LP. So, this song isn't a filler, not at all, and that's why I add it here to my collection.

Could a cover art be more progressive than this one?

The massive presence of old and new keyboards provided by Ronnie Brown, a very good Niall Mathewson's guitar solo, Euan Lowson's almost desperate and always theatrical vocals are some of the features of this 8 minutes epic and mostly slow tempo song. The mood changes are stunning, leading away the listener through war and peace, silence and noise, pleasure and pain. The melodies are well written and the rythm section supports each turn providing creative and intricate rythms, while the keys hold up the vocals properly stressing their emotional peaks. That's exactly what I like in a progressive rock song.