THE SENTINEL

To start all over again

Since I discovered the seventies progressive movements I'm not that interested in neo-prog anymore. I used to like Arena and IQ a lot, but it's all RPI, Canterbury and Symphoprog these days. As we all know the eighties weren't a highlight for our beloved progressive genre and so we are used to embrace those who at least tried to make good prog during the eighties. Marillion is a good example, but Pallas is also one of the bands that re-started the genre.

The influence this album had isn't to be underestimated though. Those who know modern neo-prog bands will recognize it's sound directly when listening to this early offering of the genre. The keyboards sound modern, the guitars have that eighties dryness and the drums and bass are an acquired taste. The music lacks in interesting concepts and good (or even reasonable) lyrics are not to be found here.

The Sentinal is a man with two faces. The original vinyl record (which I own) has some difference in how the songs are placed on the album. Side one: Arrive Alive, Cut and Run, Rise and Fall. Side two: Shock Treatment, Ark of Infinity, Atlantis. This cut of side one and two is symbolical for the cut in the quality of the music.

On side one the first two songs Arive Alive and Cut and Run are horrible eighties tracks with all clichés and horrible recording techniques. The last song of side one is the first progressive track.

Side two is different. The up-tempo Shock Treatment shows some Arena like progressions and ideas. The magic begins with Ark of Infinity which can be seen as a good neo-prog track. The main theme sounds inspired and it seems like the band has found some great atmospheres to get their compositional qualities active. The best track is however the impressive symphonic Atlantis, which is a full-grown bombastic neo-prog epic.

Conclusion. As a whole this album isn't that good, but the second side of this record is worthwhile and I can recommend Ark of Infinity and Atlantis for those who embrace the digital age. This is only for neo-proggers and people who want to know about the development of the progressive genre. Three stars.

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