Graeme

Let’s face it you want an album to start with a bang!

We set out to write an opener for XXV, that would give a new listener to Pallas’ music and idea of what the band is all about. 

We also wanted to give longstanding Pallas fans a taste of what the album would be all about. 

We started off trying to write an orchestral overture utilising familiar chords from the Sentinel album, so that the experienced listener would instantly feel himself being drawn back into the world we created on the Sentinel album.

Those of you who caught some of the live shows last year, where we were previewing some new material will recognise that the opening section was changed whilst we were in the studio. We felt whilst performing Falling Down live, that the opening sequence wasn’t quite “kick ass “enough.

I think the changes we made in the studio have achieved what we wanted, namely to get the hairs on the back of the listeners neck standing on end, with a truly exciting opening to the album.

Thereafter I think this song gives Paul a great introduction, followed by some first-class rocking Prog where every member of the band gets to show off a little.

 

Paul

When I joined Pallas, XXV was in its infancy but straight away I felt an immediate over whelming buzz about this track. 

It’s filled with complimentary textures, from the double bass drums at the intro to the mind blowing Keyboard solo and big sweeping end section. 

It’s easy to get into your head and very hard to get out, even my non prog friends are singing it without prompt I may add. 

I feel Its sets the album up really well, musically its sounds happy and optimistic however the lyrics suggest otherwise and there lies its purpose.

So where does the Album go? 

Heavier? Darker? Deeper? Meditative? Explosive? 

All of the above……..

 

Niall

This is the bridging track between The Sentinel and XXV. It was great to be in a position to play this live before it was recorded. and doing this, really helped with the final arrangement. 

Stand outs for me are, Colin’s drum intro and the vocal. I love this track.

 

 

 

 

Colin

Continues where The Sentinel left off (with some melodic themes that are familiar). A big Double Bass Drum intro. 

The intro was actually added after the initial track was completed, as we didn’t feel it had the impact we had imagined. It has now!!! (Compare to the version on the Loreley live DVD). 

Then into 7’s where we get the chance to move around the time signature a bit, really fun. A real sing-along, hooky chorus, which I don’t think we could have considered in years gone by. 

Great vocal from Paul. A couple of introductory solos on the guitar from Niall and into the Keyboard solo. 

Really love the Keys solo, based the whole drum part round the keyboard part, then finishes with a typical Pallas bombastic ending.

 

Ronnie

Love the incessant 7/4 bass riff which underpins the piece. Melodies and themes emerge, develop, retreat, then the chorus explodes into being. 

Structurally, I’m not sure if I’ve heard anything else quite like this before - unique I think. It’s fitting that the piece should conclude with a variation on the ‘Atlantis’ chords. 

Good stuff

 

 

 

Lyrics

Domes of crystal spires of light reach out

We’re aspirational creatures there’s no doubt

Living in our brutal cities, nurture an inhuman race

Perish the weak, only the strong will last the pace

The sick and hungry all cry out 

But nobody cares to hear them shout.. 

 

Our world is falling down 

Spinning round

Falling down…

We're out of control we’re falling down

Our world is falling down 

Spinning round

Falling down…

We're out of control we’re falling down

Spinning round falling down….

 

Now the lunatics rise again 

 

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