THE SENTINEL

This is certainly one of the earlier Neo-Prog albums as it was released in 1984 by these Scottish progsters.They had already released a live album and an EP up to this point, in fact "Arrive Alive" and "Heart Attack" that are on here were taken from the live LP released a year earlier.This is a concept album about the Russia / USA cold war set in Atlantis. Or so i'm told. The band signed with EMI for this their first studio album and wanted to make it a double album but the record label refused. I must admit PALLAS is a band i've had a hard time getting into for some reason and judging by the reviews here there are a lot of fans but also many like myself who are quite indifferent to this album. On a positive note they do use mellotron on all but one track.

"Shock Treatment" has this epic intro then it picks up with vocals. Guitar leads the way after 3 minutes then the vocals return to lead once again. "Cut And Run" is uptempo with drums out front.Vocals join in. It settles before 2 1/2 minutes with bass, drums and spoken words before kicking back in instrumentally to end it. "Arrive Alive" is one I just can't get into at all with it's uptempo beat and vocals leading the way. "Rise And Fall (Part 1)" has an epic intro like the first tune then it settles in around a minute. Nice bass as the vocals join in. It settles with spoken words after 4 1/2 minutes then kicks back in with guitar leading then vocals. "Eastwest" opens with the wind blowing. A beat with vocals before a minute takes over. It settles with spoken vocals 3 minutes in then it kicks back in. We get a brief guitar solo around 4 minutes.

"March In Atlantis" opens with piano only then reserved vocals come in. It picks up 2 minutes in and it's heavier too before returning to that earlier sound 3 1/2 minutes in. "Rise And Fall (Part 2)" opens with piano and atmosphere. Spoken words come in. Drums and bass before 2 minutes as words are spoken.The guitar cries out before 3 1/2 minutes. "Heart Attack" gets fuller around a minute with vocals. It settles back as contrasts continue. "Atlantis" has a powerful intro with chunky bass. It settles some 1 1/2 minutes in then the vocals come in as the tempo picks up. Spoken words come and go in this one. "Ark Of Infinity" is mellow early on then the vocals come in with drums. It sounds better after 3 minutes then it settles back as reserved vocals join in before kicking back in at 6 minutes.

3 stars at the very most, in fact a low 3 star rating.