Though I have just discovered this band, the group has been around since  1974-  under the band-name of Rainbow… but it took until 1979 to create a stable band known as Pallas.  They were characterized by a Marillion/early Rush sound, with a heavier Genesis feel.

Pallas  was created in Aberdeen, Scotland,  with the line up of keyboardist-  Ronnie Brown,  Niall Mathewson on guitars, Graeme Murray (bass and vocals), drummer-  Derek Forman and theatrical phenomena Euan Lowson on vocals.

After playing small gigs  with many trials and low-points, the band stuck together and signed with a large label- EMI in 1983. EMI  enlisted Pallas because of the interest (and success),  in Marillion, hoping to create a larger progressive stable. 

EMI re-released the bands first album-  `Arrive Alive’  EP (which was released prior  independently).

      The following year, Pallas traveled to the United States to create their most powerful and popular album- `The Sentinel.’  The album was produced by prog-veteran Eddie Offord (Yes, ELP) and was  a conceptual piece that reflected the cold war between the  Soviet Union and the United States using the lost continent of Atlantis as a theatrical backdrop. It quickly became a neo-prog classic.  During the successful  tour- vocalist Lowson, who took the show to a highly theatrical vision (with masks and Gabriel/Alice Cooperian flair), left the band in the summer (1985).  Whether he was fired or quit, no one inside the band has divulged this information.

      After  publishing an  advert  in British music magazine- Melody Maker- looking  for a new singer,  the band hired Pallas fan/vocalist Alan Reed.

       To introduce Alan to the Pallas fans, the band released an  EP entitled- `Knightmoves,’  which was well-received.

      Their second album, `The Wedge’  (1986), was less bombastic than `The Sentinel.’  It was a more commercial/polished and mature release, produced by  Mick Glossop (UFO). The album sold well (100,000 albums sold in Europe).

      In the late 80’s  a promised third album  never materialized.  Many fans thought the band split up, tough things were more confusing when Pallas would play  the odd live appearance and a  demo produced for the fan club called- Sketches illustrated that the band though almost dormant was not dead.

      Though new material could be found on a  two compilation CDs released  by the Dutch SI Music label (and a tribute album to the late Geoff Mann), progress on  a formal release was hindered  by personal commitments along with Alan living in London as apposed to the other members in Scotland.

      After thirteen years of hibernation, the band released `Beat The Drum,’ in 1999.’ The album proved that the band never lost their fire and energy while embracing a more `modern’ sound with their trademark power and  stylistic elements.  Pallas was signed to InsideOut Music (who re-issued their back catalog) and went on tour in Europe.

       In 2000, the band released a live album that tarnished their superb playing by poor mixing/production.

The next release- `The Cross & The Crucible,’ is regarded as one of their best works to date-  another conceptual album based  on the conflict between  church and science  and the fate  of humankind.

      Alan Reed  explained that:  “The history of mankind has seen many wars under the guise of religion, whatever shape or form it may have taken. It’s pure irony that every faith teaches first and foremost values like peace, love and partnership, yet the armies of certain religions have killed and destroyed throughout the centuries.”  Though more mature and refined, the band returned to their prog styling and the album was  well-received and showed that the band was at their peak.

In 2002, the band released an unheard of 4 hours of MP3 demos, live tracks and rarities under the title- Mythopoeia. Songs included vary from 1979 to 2001. The CD includes their epic  20-minute medley of March On Atlantis / Atlantis  as a studio track.

With the exception of some music videos and numerous bootleg video recordings, the band was never filmed properly. In 2003 that changed as Pallas released a DVD/CD of their gig  recorded in De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands (September 7th 2002). Not only was the performance powerful, but it marked the first time that Euan Lowson  was invited back to sing two songs- first warming up on `Cut and Run’ (off The Sentinel) before playing the one song that only Lowson can perform- the first time in 18 years- The Ripper which showed   Lowson stabbing himself and throwing his entrails into the audience.

The image though powerful doesn’t outshine the bands performance and Alan Reed’s vocals.

Pallas   debuted in the US   at the   2004 Nearfest festival  to excellent reviews....  though the band  was unused to the less than animated crowd than they  are used to.  After further touring, the group decided to start working on a new album:  `The Dreams of Men,' which was  released on the 24th October 2005 as a special edition in slipcase.  `We started to explore a lot of dreams of mankind: the quest of true love or a better life, the striving for power, fortune, or bravery,“ cites  bassist Graeme Murray.  The album is getting very good reviews and though the Pallas power is still in plenty supply, the group uses a wider range of textures including:  classical, Celtic  and operatric vocal elements. 

Pallas current lineup:

     

          

Alan Reed – vocals

Graeme Murray – bass and vocals

Ronnie Brown – keyboards

Niall Mathewson – guitars

Colin Fraser – drums

     

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)   (DVD/CD)