The Sentinel (album)

Last updated

The Sentinel
Pallas-sentinel-panorama.jpg
Studio album by
Pallas
Released13 February 1984 [1]
Genre Progressive rock
Length39:00
Label Harvest
Producer Eddy Offord
Pallas chronology
Arrive Alive
(1981)		The Sentinel
(1984)		 The Wedge
(1986)
Singles from The Sentinel
  1. "Eyes in the Night (Arrive Alive)"
    Released: 16 January 1984 [2]
  2. "Shock Treatment"
    Released: March 1984

The Sentinel is the debut album by British progressive rock band Pallas. Released in February 1984, [3] it is a concept album with lyrics based upon Cold War themes, using a futuristic version of the tale of Atlantis as a metaphor for a technologically advanced society brought to the brink of destruction. The cover artwork is by Patrick Woodroffe. [4]

Contents

Background and recording

Pallas had been actively touring for years before their debut album was recorded. A newly established association with Marillion, the popularity of heavy metal in the adolescent market, and a revival of interest in progressive rock led to the band being signed to EMI for a £500,000 advance. [3] As a further indication that EMI were considering the possibility of a progressive rock revival, Eddy Offord, known for his extensive work with Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, was brought on as producer. [3]

Much of the album's material first appeared in the Atlantis Suite, an epic science fiction rock opera which was a cornerstone of live Pallas shows at the time.[ citation needed ] The band's original intent was that the album would present the entire piece as a concept album. The group recorded the entire suite at the time; however, EMI wanted the group to balance its progressive efforts with more commercial songs, namely "Eyes in the Night" (AKA "Arrive Alive"), "Cut and Run", and "Shock Treatment".[ citation needed ] As a result, only four of the seven songs from the Atlantis Suite were presented in the original version of the album, and not in Pallas's preferred running order. The excised songs were issued as B-sides and EP tracks.

The album was re-released on CD in 1992, under the Centaur Records label, with bonus tracks and a different running order; the commercial tunes the band recorded at EMI's behest are put at the start of the running order as a "warm-up", whilst the remainder of the album consists of the Atlantis Suite in its entirety. The record was released again in 2004 under the Insideout label on a numbered, special edition CD with added content.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Kerrang! (mixed) [6]
Progreviews(favorable) [7]
Sounds Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]

In a retrospective review for Allmusic , Robert Taylor said Pallas's approach is derivative, and that the album's longer songs tend to be repetitious while the shorter songs are uninteresting standard rock tunes. [5]

Track listing

All tracks written by Ronnie Brown, Derek Forman, Euan Lowson, Niall Mathewson, and Graeme Murray

Side 1

  1. "Eyes in the Night (Arrive Alive)" - 4:08
  2. "Cut and Run" - 5:02
  3. "Rise and Fall" - 10:16

Side 2

  1. "Shock Treatment" - 4:29
  2. "Ark of Infinity" - 7:05
  3. "Atlantis" - 8:00

1992 CD re-issue

  1. "Shock Treatment" - 4:29
  2. "Cut and Run" - 4:59
  3. "Arrive Alive" - 4:05
  4. "Rise and Fall (Part 1)" - 6:05
  5. "Eastwest" - 4:58
  6. "March on Atlantis" - 5:23
  7. "Rise and Fall (Part 2)" - 4:08
  8. "Heart Attack" - 7:59
  9. "Atlantis" - 7:59
  10. "Ark of Infinity" - 7:05

Total length 57:26

Band members

Related Research Articles

Pallas are a Scottish progressive rock band from Aberdeen. They were one of the bands at the vanguard of what was termed neo-prog during progressive rock's second-wave revival in the early 1980s. Other major UK acts included Marillion, IQ, Twelfth Night, Pendragon and Solstice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Polyphonic Spree</span> American music collective formed by Tim DeLaughter

The Polyphonic Spree is an American choral rock band from Dallas, Texas that was formed in 2000 by singer/songwriter Tim DeLaughter. The band's pop and rock songs are augmented by a large vocal choir, and instruments such as flute, trumpet, french horn, trombone, violin, viola, cello, percussion, piano, guitars, bass, drums, electronic keyboards, and EWI.

<i>Euphoria</i> (Def Leppard album) 1999 studio album by Def Leppard

Euphoria is the seventh studio album by English rock band Def Leppard, released on 8 June 1999 in the United States and on 14 June 1999 in the United Kingdom by Mercury Records. The album aimed to return to their signature sound made famous by the band in the 1980s. It was produced by the band with Pete Woodroffe. The album charted at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 and No. 11 on the UK Albums Chart. It includes the song "Promises", which hit the number one spot on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.

<i>No Fun Aloud</i> 1982 studio album by Glenn Frey

No Fun Aloud is the debut solo studio album by Glenn Frey. It was released in 1982 on Asylum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep Yourself Alive</span> 1973 single by Queen

"Keep Yourself Alive" is the debut single by the British rock band Queen. Written by guitarist Brian May, it is the opening track on the band's self-titled debut album (1973). It was released as Queen's first single along with "Son and Daughter" as the B-side.

The Dreaming are a celtic rock band based in Scotland. The group were formed in 1993 by two friends Charlie Love (vocals/guitars/mandolins) and John Anderson (guitars). The original membership of the group also consisted of Karen Mathiewson (Fiddle), Keith Beacom (Drums), Anna Towler (Vocals) and Stuart Gordon.

<i>Mag Earwhig!</i> 1997 studio album by Guided by Voices

Mag Earwhig! is the 10th studio album by American indie rock band Guided by Voices. Following the dissolution of the group's "classic" lineup, band-leader Robert Pollard recruited Cleveland group Cobra Verde as his backing band, while retaining the Guided by Voices name. It was the second release to feature future long-term collaborator Doug Gillard. Gillard had previously played on and co-wrote the song "Mice Feel Nice " on the Tigerbomb EP. Most of Mag Earwhig! was recorded in a professional studio in Cleveland by the new lineup and marked a departure from band's trademark lo-fi sound; additional songs were also recorded in Dayton, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magenta (Welsh band)</span> Welsh progressive rock band

Magenta are a Welsh progressive rock band formed in 1999 by ex-Cyan member Rob Reed. Reed takes his influences from artists such as Renaissance, Genesis, Mike Oldfield, Yes, Eurythmics and Björk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take It Back</span> 1994 single by Pink Floyd

"Take It Back" is a song by the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released as the seventh track on their 1994 album The Division Bell. It was also released as a single on 16 May 1994, the first from the album, and Pink Floyd's first for seven years. The single peaked at number 23 on the UK Singles Chart, the fourth highest in the band's history, below 1979 number 1 hit "Another Brick In The Wall" and 1967 top 20 hits "See Emily Play" and "Arnold Layne." The music for the song was written by guitarist David Gilmour and album co-producer Bob Ezrin, with lyrics by Gilmour, his wife Polly Samson and Nick Laird-Clowes.

"Goin' On" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1980 album Keepin' the Summer Alive. The single reached number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>Indian Summer</i> (Poco album) 1977 studio album by Poco

Indian Summer is the tenth studio album by the American country rock band Poco, released on May 1, 1977. The appearance of Steely Dan's Donald Fagen playing synthesizer on two of the tracks marked another move away from the country rock sound the band had primarily been known for. This was the band's last studio album before both Timothy B. Schmit and George Grantham left the group.

Ariel were an Australian progressive rock band fronted by Mike Rudd and Bill Putt, who formed the band in 1973 after the breakup of their previous group Spectrum. The original Ariel line-up was Mike Rudd, Bill Putt (bass), Tim Gaze (guitar), John Mills (keyboards) and Nigel Macara (drums). Gaze and Macara were recruited from seminal Australian progressive rock band Tamam Shud. The band released three studio albums and two live albums between 1973 and 1977, during which there were several line-up changes, with Rudd and Putt the only permanent members. Other members of Ariel included guitarists Harvey James and Glyn Mason and keyboard player Tony Slavich.

<i>Atlantis</i> (Earth and Fire album) 1973 studio album by Earth and Fire

Atlantis is a 1973 concept album by Dutch rock and pop band Earth and Fire. The first half of the album comprises a suite based on the story of the greedy and corrupt island of Atlantis, which is ultimately destroyed by the four elements: earthquakes represent Earth, volcanoes represent Fire, volcanic gases represent Air and finally the island is inundated by Water.

<i>The Captains Journey</i> 1978 studio album by Lee Ritenour

The Captain's Journey is the sixth studio album by guitarist Lee Ritenour, released in 1978 by Elektra Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sky Architect</span> Dutch progressive rock band

Sky Architect is a progressive rock band based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Their debut album, Excavations of the Mind, was released in 2010 from ProgRock Records. The drummer and backing vocalist, Christiaan Bruin, is also known for his solo project "Chris". They are currently signed to FREIA Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back Street Luv</span> 1971 single by Curved Air

"Back Street Luv" is a song by British rock band Curved Air, written by band members Ian Eyre, Sonja Kristina and Darryl Way. It was included on the Second Album and released as a single in July 1971 by Warner Bros. It reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart on 18 September. Warners also released it as a single in the Netherlands, Germany, France and Portugal. In 1975 a live version appeared on Curved Air – Live and was released as a single in the UK by Deram, but it failed to make any commercial impact.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monster (Imagine Dragons song)</span> 2013 single by Imagine Dragons

"Monster" is a song recorded by American rock band Imagine Dragons for the soundtrack to the 2013 action role-playing game Infinity Blade III. It is the band's fifth appearance on a soundtrack. The song was also included on the band’s second studio album, Smoke + Mirrors

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pallbearer (band)</span> American doom metal band

Pallbearer is an American doom metal band from Little Rock, Arkansas, formed in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naked Lunch (British band)</span> English band

Naked Lunch are an English band formed in 1979, by Tony Mayo who advertised for like-minded people in the Melody Maker. Mick Clarke replied and they then moved into a flat to work on further material. In preparation to play live further members were advertised for and Tim Yorke, Paul Nicholas Davies and Cliff Chapman joined and then, in 1981, by Mark Irving who replaced Yorke.

<i>Shadowlands</i> (Glass Hammer album) 2004 studio album by Glass Hammer

Shadowlands is the seventh studio album by American progressive rock band Glass Hammer, released on January 14, 2004, by Arion Records/Sound Resources.

References

  1. ↑ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 23.
  2. ↑ "Music Week" (PDF).
  3. 1 2 3 Stump, Paul (1997). The Music's All that Matters: A History of Progressive Rock. Quartet Books Limited. pp. 275–7. ISBN   0 7043 8036 6.
  4. ↑ "Prog Cover Artist Patrick Woodroffe Dead at 74". AntiMusic. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  5. 1 2 Taylor, Robert. "Pallas The Sentinel review". Allmusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  6. ↑ Dickson, Dave (23 February 1984). "Pallas 'The Sentinel'". Kerrang!. Vol. 62. London, UK: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 10.
  7. ↑ "Ground and Sky review - Pallas - The Sentinel". www.progreviews.com. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  8. ↑ Robertson, Sandy (18 February 1984). "Crystal Pallas". Sounds . p. 30.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.