Pallas

[Nicky007]

If there's a prog group in this world that's criminally underrated, then it's Pallas.

And as they are closely related to Arena musically (even Niall Mathewson sounds a lot like John Mitchell), it seems right to start this topic.

If you want to please yourself and prog, then purchase some Pallas albums.

I have their latest, The Dreams Of Men, and it's fabulous. You can read some excellent reviews at Amazon-US:

http://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Men-Pallas/dp/B000AY9OUS

Here's a list of their albums (from Wikipedia):

Arrive Alive (1981) Live
The Sentinel (1984) Studio Album
The Wedge (1986) Studio Album
Knight Moves To Wedge (1986) Studio Album
Beat the Drum (1998) Studio Album
Live our Lives - 2000 (2000) Live
The Cross And The Crucible (2001) Studio Album
Mythopoeia (2002) Compilation
The Blinding Darkness (2003) Live
The Dreams Of Men (2005) Studio Album
The River Sessions 1 (2005) Live
The River Sessions 2 (2005) Live
Official Bootleg 27/01/06 (2006) Live

Enjoy, and discuss.

Nicky.

[Teunis]

I own 'The Dreams of Men' and 'The Sentinel'. Frankly speaking 'TDOM' doesn't make a click to me, I find 'The Sentinel' better  . But Alan Reed has a beautiful voice, I was impressed by his performance on the NEO DVD. The track 'For The Greater Glory' is great  .

[PH]

I shall tell you a funny story!

At first I didn't listen music at all. Absolutely NO music at all.
Then my dad let me listen to Genesis' Duchess (from the Duke album). I was sold.
Then I kept listening to Collins era Genesis, later on the Gabriel era.
Genesis became my favourite band.

My dad had an illegal burned copy of Pallas' The Cross And The Crucible (ooohh tsk tsk tsk) and hadn't even listened to it.
He got it from a collegue of his, and I somehow got a bit curious to what it would sound like.
So I played it and the title song was soooo good! I loved it!
Then later on I discovered Arena and that was sooooooooooooooooooo good! I loved it even more.
When I listened to The Cross And The Crucible again later on I found it a bit disappointing to be honest.

But you've started something, I give it another chance and I might even buy it. (I'm not as illegal as my dad! )

[Nicky007]

OK, PH, let's share the bizniz: I sell the .......'s and you sell the ooooooo's. How's that?

Nicky.

[maddox]

The Sentinel (1984) Studio Album
The Wedge (1986) Studio Album
Beat the Drum (1998) Studio Album
The Cross And The Crucible (2001) Studio Album
The Dreams Of Men (2005) Studio Album


Enjoy, and discuss.

Nicky.

Funny you mention them, Nicky. Pallas for me is a band who is always stumbling in the slipstream of bands like Marillion, the old i admit  and Pendragon. Even on the time Arena stepped in.

And that's a shame. The Wedge for instance is really good as well is The Dreams Of Men. In many ways i think that Arena and Pallas are more or less alike. Music wise that is. 

*By the way i own the albums up high in the quote-section. 

[Nicky007]

*By the way i own the albums up high in the quote-section. 

Maddox, is your dad's name Rockefeller?

Nicky.

[maddox]

Maddox, is your dad's name Rockefeller?

Nicky.

No, it's Wim. 

[Teunis]

In many ways i think that Arena and Pallas are more or less alike. Music wise that is. 

That is true. Clive tells in the interview on the Neo DVD that the Pallas songs are a lot easier to play for him, because the keyboard parts are similar to Arena. The IQ songs are different. Strange that I like IQ much more than Pallas    .

[The Butterfly Man]

I really enjoy Pallas' music from time to time. I have their two latest albums, 'The Cross And The Crucible' and 'The Dreams Of Men'. Especially the track 'Mr. Wolfe' from their latest album sounds a lot like Arena, in my humble opinion...

Tom

[Peter]

Another band where the singer put me off listening to most probably excellent music... silly me?

[Nicky007]

Peter, you who are so singer oriented, have you listened to Chris Cornell's Euphoria Morning? A great album, with a lot of different moods, and Chris has been given room and right backing to sing out his soul on this one, which he does bigtime, instead of having to compete with guitar-egos in Soundgarden and Audioslave. I'm quite sure you'll like it.

Nicky.

[Peter]

Yes, Nicky, I like that album, listening to it now, thanx for the reminder

[Nicky007]

Since most people here still seem to think that I'm on a false track being so hot on Pallas, let's have a go at the lyrics of The Dreams Of Men:

The album starts with an introduction of the Bringer Of Dreams, a pretty kinky fellow:

They know you're here, your own dark fears
You know you can't stop the show
You're at the mercy of the Bringer of Dreams

A dream or a nightmare, tell me what will you choose?
No way of knowing if you'll win or lose
Perhaps you'll find your heart's desire, or burn forever in your own hellfire


The best song on the album is The Last Angel. It's about an angel that's

Sent on a mision to rescue your kind
I've seen so many things that I wished I was blind
I'm floating thru space, I'm diving thru time
Lived millions of lives, none of them mine
Why did I fail here, well I'll never know
Now I'm wandering thru a desert of desolate souls
All searching for heaven

And I see you as you murder your brothers for power
And I see you turning away from the poor in your Ivory Towers
And I see you, as you kneel in the church of celebrity
And I see you selling your soul for the price of your dignity
Why was I sent here? God only knows!
Now I'm wandering in a desert of desperate souls


Warriors is about the 9/11 suicide bombers:

I recall like yesterday the horror of it all
One image burned the screen in every home and hall
We watched in shock and awe as flesh and faith collide
Changed the world forever, shadows hide now in our minds

Warriors line up to die, face each other eye to eye
There is courage in what they do, strength and honour, respect is due
Suicide killer - Why should heaven wait for you?
Suicide killer - How can you stomach what you do?

He feels the wings beneath him ... he is flying
The world he's leaving will soon be changing
The gates of paradise are open, waiting
This is his Dream


Ghostdancers is about the tribulations of the Scots under Brit rule, and their dreams of the Promised Land:

The thin red line, it was my life to fight for King and country
But Boney's gone, the job was done, old King George has no use for me
There were times we laughed and danced, life was good, we loved our land
But now we starve in our backyard, the children die in their mother's arms

We're sailing to America in a ship of dreams
Going to start a new life in the new world
We're sailing to America in a ship called "Destiny"
Gone to make our fortune where the land is free

.
.
.

In a fortress called America, shadows haunt our dreams
Poisoning the new life in the new world
Our wayward son America betrayed our destiny
Threw away good fortune, chained a land that's free

White man came here long ago, he stole our land, killed our buffalo
He made us clowns in his Wild West Show, Ghost Dancers sing: He must go!


Now, does this make an impression?

Nicky.

[bellanova]

Wow! They really strike home. Is the music as good as the lyrics cos i may have to give it a go?

[Proglady]

The Sentinel (1984) Studio Album
The Wedge (1986) Studio Album
Beat the Drum (1998) Studio Album
The Cross And The Crucible (2001) Studio Album
The Blinding Darkness (2003) Live
The Dreams Of Men (2005) Studio Album

I own the albums in the quotesection and like them very much!

[Nicky007]

Wow! They really strike home. Is the music as good as the lyrics cos i may have to give it a go?

DO!

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

Another band where the singer put me off listening to most probably excellent music... silly me?

Cap, with the risk of hanging next to Paco, I say YES. I consider Alan Reed a great singer, just like the other Pallas guys cut it, like crazy.

Nicky.

[bluepony]

One could almost get the impression that Pallas is one of your favourite bands, Nicky! 

[maddox]

Cap, with the risk of hanging next to Paco, I say YES. I consider Alan Reed a great singer, just like the other Pallas guys cut it, like crazy.

Nicky.

That shows how opinions can differ. I agree with Peter that Alans' singing capabilities are a bit poor though i really enjoy their music. 

[Nicky007]

Be honest now, Maddox: How many times have you spun The Dreams Of Men?

Nicky.

[maddox]

I need at least 4 hands to come to a conclusion. 

[Nicky007]

One could almost get the impression that Pallas is one of your favourite bands, Nicky! 

Now that you press me, Bluey, I will admit that my three absfave groups are: ... guess which  

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

I need at least 4 hands to come to a conclusion. 

Well, you told me last that you have a hook instead of fingers 

Nicky.

[maddox]

Well, you told me last that you have a hook instead of fingers 

Nicky.

One hook, that means i've got some fingers left. 

[bluepony]

Now that you press me, Bluey, I will admit that my three absfave groups are: ... guess which  

Nicky.

Mmmm... Pallas, Pallas and... Pallas? 
Oh, and maybe Arena too!