Pallas
Wearewhoweare

The strange case of the Pallas... They are a historical neo-prog band, which delivered to history an album considered one of the most important of the genre ("The Sentinel")... but the progressive audience sometimes forgets about them! At least, in the progressive spaces I frequent, I notice that they are mentioned quite little, almost as if they were a band of little importance. Their forthcoming releases are never particularly anticipated or discussed, and someone even confesses they can't listen to them (recently, I mentioned them right on the occasion of this latest release, and someone replied with a straightforward "nomen omen," meaning "boring by name and by nature," showing how loved they are...). Even on YouTube, some of their tracks or other content is sometimes hard to find...

Yet I can say that their best work was created right after that much-acclaimed album (which practically marked the beginning and end of their status as a "prominent band"), particularly what they produced since their return to the scene in 1998.

“Wearewhoweare” truly marks a real compositional maturity and is even in my personal top 10 of albums released in 2014! An album that confirms the relaxed yet dark and edgy sound the band has carried forward since the days of "Beat the Drum" but is more inspired than ever in terms of sound. I admit I don't know their albums inside out (as is the case with most of what I listen to), having loads of stuff to listen to every time, and when their previous "XXV" came out, I didn't devote many listens to it. However, this one has spun many times in my player; there might be a reason, probably residing precisely in the fact that there are more interesting solutions here than in any other album by the group. However, there is not even a radical change of style, and the stylistic format follows the pattern of previous works; if you liked those, you can rest assured. Most of all, the keyboard work makes the difference, always very varied and not excluding fine electronic effects.

Here we have 8 tracks that share certain characteristics without resembling each other like peas in a pod. "Shadow of the Sun" is characterized by its relentless rhythm, decisive bass and guitar riffs, and powerful synth entries; "New Life" strikes for its lulling sounds; murky, nebulous, and full of dark sounds is "Harvest Moon," perhaps the best of the bunch; "And I Wonder Why" is instead more sunny, "summery," and catchy. "Dominion" moves into slightly harder territory, while "Wake Up Call" stands out for its dark bass lines (also supported by electronic effects), showing how they are a significant element in the Pallas' sound; "In Cold Blood" is more delicate and "sleepwalking" than ever; the concluding "Winter Is Coming" is the one that excites me the least, but beautiful sounds are not lacking.

At the end of the listening session, the moral is one: we need to shake off the stereotype that the Pallas are "the ones from The Sentinel". That was just a launching pad, excellent as it may be, but you can't remain attached to the most well-known specimen (something that happens with a lot of bands...), especially when the others prove to be even better. Even if they may not be a truly "vital" band and may not rank among the top 100 of all time, I think they always deserve another chance. To those who consider them "boring," I would recommend trying again, not looking at the length of their albums and pieces, and listening more attentively, perhaps letting the atmospheres drag the mind into other worlds... this time, you might be rewarded.