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| | The Cross & The Crucible | | | Music Artist : | | Pallas | | Music Style : | | General | | Record Label : | | Inside Out U.S. | | Release Date : | | 2001-08-07 | | Store Price : | | $16.98 | | Artistopia's Price: $16.98 | | Usually ships in 2 to 3 weeks | | |
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CD Tracks/Songs
Disc 11. Big Bang
2. Cross and The Crucible
3. For the Greater Glory
4. Who's to Blame
5. Blinding Darkness
6. Towers of Babble
7. Generations
8. Midas Touch
9. Celebration!
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Other Artist Albums
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Customer Reviews of This Album/CD |
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 Not too shabby!
Submitted on: 2008-05-19 |
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This album probably shouldn't get 4 stars, however as it is so much better than Pallas previous effort (Beat the Drum), I will give it the 4 stars. Now, if you try to compare it to the bands earlier stuff (The Sentinel, The Wedge e.t.c) it unfortunately doesn't come close. Those early albums are simply brilliant and The Cross and the Crucible just won't quite make it to those heights.
Still, worth getting for all fans of neo-prog, and light hard rock. |
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Pallas - Explores Religion Vs Science
Submitted on: 2007-12-02 |
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| "Cross And The Crucible" is a concept album of sorts that explores the history of science verses religion and their often adversarial relationship in world events. I actually find the concept interesting subject matter and the band seem to present both sides about evenly. It is interesting in looking at other reviews for this album they really seem to be mixed. In fact some really seem to dislike this disc. To my ears it is an improvement over their previous effort "Beat The Drum" and I really like it for the most part. Yes there are a few passages here and there where the band pretty blatantly emulates Yes and Peter Gabriel, but it is not to a point where it is what I would call a rip off. Some complain that Pallas are not prog enough, others claim that they are not metal enough. To me the band finds a rather nice niche between progressive rock, pop, and metal and this album pulls everything off nicely. I personally think this is one of the band's stronger albums. |
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 Not metal enough/ not exactly prog either
Submitted on: 2005-09-18 |
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My first impression of this band was, "Is this prog?" Pallas seems to be more evocative of late '70s/early '80s arena rock than they are of neo-prog. In fact, some of these songs bear a strong resemblance to the '80s rock band Dokken, like 'For The Greater Glory'. Another song, 'Who's To Blame' is very good, but isn't what I'd call prog either. "Celebration' is also a good song and is remeniscent of '90s YES, which may or may not be a compliment.
The writing is better than you might find on an '80s metal album. Its more imagination based and not relationship based, which is a plus for me. But the music isn't challenging or intricate, and the musicianship is competant, but not spectacular. Some songs though, are a tad corny in places.
These guys may, at times, remind me of '90s Marillion or IQ, but aren't equal to them in terms of writing and performance. Performance wise, I wished the music had more balls to it. Don't get me wrong, I like keyboards (If I didn't, I'd hate prog), but the guitar was so distant on this album. Whether its that way all the time I don't know, since this is my first Pallas CD. A stronger guitar presence would have given this somewhat fanciful material some much needed teeth. Given that it sounded like a keyboard driven album, it wasn't as melodic as say, Spock's Beard or IQ.
I'm not saying that there is no place for Pallas in prog music. It doesn't take a whole lot of effort to listen to these guys. The vocals are easy on the ear and aren't the aquired taste that some prog vocalists are. Its just that my interest in this style of music waned about 15 years ago. There were (and are) too many bands out there who do this style of music better. |
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 bean o rama
Submitted on: 2004-11-30 |
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| THIS MUSIC IS AWESOME. NEO PROG LIVES ON. MARILLION CAN GO ON MAKING CRAPPY HOGARTHIAN SAP. AT LEAST WE HAVE BEAN AND THE GANG CARRYING ON THE TRADITION. MAN, E.T. IS GREAT ON THE KEYS!!! I ALMOST TOOK OFF ONE STAR FOR STEALING BITS FROM AWAKEN. BUT WHO CARES! A GREAT LISTEN. |
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 Like a wet afternoon
Submitted on: 2003-04-28 |
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| I am always on the look out for new prog. This looked promising. After reading a review from someone that seemed to share my tastes, I gave it a try. Pallace is.... How should I put it. Lucky to have found a label. I spent my evening going through this CD for the 7th time in hopes to find something I enjoyed. Occasionally I found a passage here and there that I liked. More often than not, I am bored listning to this. It smacks hard of a band that badly wants to be prog, and imitates those who have done it correctly. All I can say in closing, put on I.Q.'s Seventh House and listen to the title track. I'm not one for lables, but if you want excellent neo-prog, put I.Q. on. It;s imaginative and interesting. PALLAS sounds slapped together and forced. I tried, lord knows I tried to like it. |
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