BEAT THE DRUM

After ''The wedge'' and the ''Knight Moves To Wedge '' EP, Pallas fell into a very long hiatus for about twelve years.The contract with EMI expired and the band members had to earn their livings,but they never officially disbanded.The re-issues of ''The sentinel'' kept the interest around the band alive and around late-90's surprisingly Pallas came back with a third studio release entitled ''Beat the drum'' with only drummer Derek Forman gone and replaced by Colin Fraser.Part of the album's material were actually re-recordings of the material headed for the follow-up of ''The wedge'' back in mid-80's.

The new Pallas album contains elements from both their previous studio albums,not being that dark as ''The sentinel'' but again not as poppy as ''The wedge''.Most of the tracks have a very modern and fresh sound within the Neo Prog characteristics but definitely with an evident AOR vibe (as on ''The wedge'') but almost always surrounded by delicate pianos and big symphonic synths (as on ''The sentinel'').Alan Reed is in great shape performing either sensitive, romantic or powerful vocal chords and the rhythm section remains as powerful as back in the 80's.The tracks are tight, well-crafted and energetic but on the other hand the lack of adventuruous passages or the adscence of ''The sentinel'' haunting atmosphere are two obvious minuses.Still a few tracks have a grand symphonic sound,deeply grounded in the Classic Neo Prog style of the 80's like the bombastic ''Insomniac'' or the even better closing piece ''Fragments of the sun''.

The Pallas' comeback was a nice and pleasant surprise,though propably most of their fans would expect a sound closer to their debut.However ''Beat the drum'' remains a fine and dynamic Neo Prog release with both catchy and more proggy grandiose moments,thus covering all the possible Pallas styles related to their history during the 80's.Recommended.