Pallas – XXV (2011)
Artist: Pallas
Album: XXV
Genre: Neo-Prog
Label: Theories Recordings
Year Of Release: 2011
Quality: FLAC (image+.cue)
Tracklist:
1. Falling Down (7:29)
2. Crash and Burn (5:28)
3. Something in the Deep (6:50)
4. Monster (6:21)
5. The Alien Messiah (6:50)
6. XXV [Part 1: Twenty Five Good Honest Men] (6:08)
7. Young God (5:18)
8. Sacrifice (4:22)
9. Blackwood (2:02)
10. Violet Sky (5:07)
11. XXV [Part 2: The Unmakers Awake] (6:00)
Personnel:
– Paul Mackie / lead vocals
– Niall Mathewson / guitars (electric, acoustic steel & nylon, Thai 3-string), Roland VG-8
– Ronnie Brown / keyboards
– Graeme Murray / stereo bass & 5-string bass, Moog bass pedals, electronics & Fx, backing vocals
– Colin Fraser / drums & Octapad
With:
– Pandy Arthur / vocals (1)
– Melissa Allan / vocals (9)
This album has been with me for quite a long time but I still keep it on hold for review for some reasons which one of them is to get to know better about the music. I have been a fan of this band since I had ‘The Sentinel’ at the first time and later I loved their ‘The Wedge’ album. To me personally, the music of Pallas fits my taste really well and there are two things that characterize their music. First is the vocal style of Alan Reed that is so peculiar and had blended nicely with the music of Pallas. I was actually bit disappointed with Alan when I saw their DVD for the ‘Blinding …’ where his stage performance was so standard. But later I got used to it and I started to accept him the way he was. His voice style has truly represented the music of Pallas. The second is Graeme Murray’s typical Rickenbaker bassguitar style that is so unique and becoming excellent part of Pallas music. I also like his stage act during their live performance.
So ..when I got this album I was bit disappointed hearing one of the characters in Pallas music had lost with the departure of Alan Reed. It’s so sad seeing Alan go especially when I followed through the separation process that seemed not making Alan happy with the situation. However, I fully understand the reasons put forward by the rest of the band members that let him go for reasons of not fully participated with the making of this album. Well, I don’t want to discuss about the matter because i think the band knows much better than me. But I was quite sad because I do not have Alan Reed unique voice here with XXV album. Fortunately, it did not take quite long for me to adapt with the new singer whom I think his voice is excellent too. It grew on me and finally I could accept his voice being part of NEW Pallas music. Lucky that I still have the dominant bassguitar work by Graeme Murray.
An Excellent Concept Album
Overall, I really enjoy this album in its entirety. In fact, I have been playing this album in its entirety more than 15 spins already. I have always played them full one length album because I could not afford to stop the music as it flows beautifully fro start to end. On thing surprising is the fact that the music is in a way getting harder with some metal style at the beginning of the album. The opening track “Falling Down” (7:29) is really a great opener with relatively fast tempo that reminds me to metal music especially on the speed of the bass drum work. I love this opening track. It follows nicely into the second track “Crash And Burn” (5:28) in similar style like the opening track. Unfortunately the music style dramatically changes into a mellow track “”Something In The Deep” (6:50) which I think is actually to early to enter as the first two opener are truly a rocker each. It’s like an abrupt change into quiet music. The track itself is not bad at all; in fact I enjoy the track especially with its string arrangement.
“Monster” (6:21) brings the music into neo-prog music with excellent melody and stunning guitar solo. “The Alien Messiah” (6:50) starts in an ambient mode followed with nice neo- prog music using excellent guitar riffs combined with powerful basslines and nice keyboard work. “XXV [Part 1: Twenty Five Good Honest Men]” (6:08) brings the music back to the origin of Pallas music with opening part that represents an ambient nuance followed with nice narrative-like vocal work. As the music flows, it brings with it a nice melody. I can see now the quality of the new lead singer as he can play his role nicely in this nice song. I like the way he sing in this lyrical verse “I am not God, I am just the man….”. Well ….this is the part of music that makes me like neo-prog especially during this segment where Paul Mackie sings while the music is playing symphonic style at background. Excellent!
“Young God” (5:18) brings the music back into metal-like style with tight bass lines. It grows even faster with the next “Sacrifice” (4:22) where I love the guitar work and the vocal. It’s more of hard rock music than a neo-prog one …but it’s still really nice. The guitar solo part at the end of the track is really nice. “Blackwood” (2:02) serves as transition piece to the very nice and very melodic and mellow “Violet Sky” (5:07) which tells about the end of the day. It’s a sad song and it’s really wonderful. Even though at the end of the world it’s useless to stay at the top of the hill because everything will be totally vanished according to The Koran. “What would you do if this is the end of the world?” Wow! What a nice voice, Mackie! The album conclude nicely with “XXV [Part 2: The Unmakers Awake]” (6:00).
I think the neo-prog lovers would love this album like I do. Thanks Pallas for making such a wonderful music like this one. Overall, this album is a 4+ rating; it’s an execlennt addition to any prog music collection. Keep on proggin’ …!!!
Review by Gatot
