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 operatic vocal elements.
With effect from 28 January 2010, lead singer Alan Reed left the band he had fronted for the past 26 years. He has been replaced by Paul Mackie.
On 27 July 2010, the band announced to have signed a new record deal for three albums with Music Theories/Mascot Records. The new album, XXV, was released 27 January 2011. The band confirmed that the album will be the successor to their 1984 release The Sentinel, thematically.[citation needed.
On 24 July 2011, Pallas opened the Prog Stage at the High Voltage Festival in London. Their half-an-hour set largely contained material from 'XXV', plus the song 'Eyes in the Night (Arrive Alive)'. Concert Live recorded the performance.
On 30 November 2013, Pallas played a full gig in Glasgow.The set contained not only known songs from the past albums, but also featured two new ones from the album Wearewhoweare scheduled for release in 2014. At the end of the set, former frontman Euan Lowson temporarily appeared on stage for two songs (Lowson had also participated in a single song of opening act Comedy of Errors).
In May 2014 the band released a statement in response to the death of artist Patrick Woodroffe, with whom the band had collaborated on cover artwork for The Sentinel.
Members
Updates courtesy of the Pallas Wiki Page
Pallas current lineup:
Ronnie Brown - keyboards (1979–1986, 1993–present)
Niall Mathewson - guitars (1979–present)
Graeme Murray - bass (1977–present)
Colin Fraser - drums (1998–present)
Paul Mackie - vocals (2010–present)
Discography
Studio albums
The Sentinel (1984) UK No. 41[7][8]
The Wedge (1986) UK No. 70[7][9]
Beat the Drum (1999)
The Cross & the Crucible (2001)
The Dreams of Men (2005)
XXV (2011)
Wearewhoweare (2014)
Compilation albums
Sketches (ca. 1990) - cassette release only
Knightmoves to Wedge (1992) - re-release of The Wedge with tracks from Knightmoves 12" single interspersed; this was later withdrawn in favour of a remastered edition of The Wedge with the Knightmoves tracks added at the end.
Mythopoeia (2002)
The Sentinel Demos (2009) - download-only release from the band's homepage
Live albums
Arrive Alive (1981) - initially a cassette-only release, then re-released on vinyl in 1983 with a different cover and slightly different track list; again re-released in 1998 on CD with tracks of the Paris Is Burning single added
Live in Southampton (1986) - cassette only fanclub release
Live our Lives - 2000 (2000)
The Blinding Darkness (15-09-2003)
The River Sessions 1 (2005)
The River Sessions 2 (2005)
Live From London 1985 (2005)
Official Bootleg 27/01/06 (2006)
Moment to Moment (2008)
Live At Lorelei (14-02-2012) - MP3-CD and DVD
