Pallas – A Song for Tomorrow

Pallas – A Song for Tomorrow

Cherry Red Records

It took them a year, and the voices of all four band members are featured equally, with each musician sharing lead and backing vocal duties, heavily emphasizing layered harmonies.

The album, A Song for Tomorrow, revolves around people and human interaction, relationships, moods, and emotions. It explores what inspires us as individuals, the contrast between our inner selves and what we show the world, how we pick ourselves up after falling, our vulnerabilities, our self-destructive tendencies, and making significant life changes. It is heavy subject matter—much like many other albums being released around this time, as it seems everyone is currently struggling. For Pallas, however, this carries extra weight: they have announced that this will be their last album, coming alongside the news that singer Alan Reed was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and has had to retire from live performance.

The album opens bombastically and orchestrally with "Reset," followed by the haunting and mostly instrumental "Rage." Why guest singer Natasha O’Neil takes the lead vocals on the title track, "A Song for Tomorrow," is a question I cannot answer—perhaps because her voice comes across as a bit too childlike. However, in "Dirt," we hear the amazing voice of Alan Reed, which is the absolute highlight of the record.

If I sound a bit critical, it is because juggling multiple different lead singers feels slightly disjointed at times, even though their collective harmonies are fantastic. Musically, however, the album is an absolute stunner. It features beautiful melodies, fantastic arrangements, and sublime musicianship. As mentioned, it is bombastic, orchestral, and a sheer joy to listen to. The artwork is also a wonderful complement to the songs—truly beautiful. If this is indeed Pallas’s final album, they are certainly going out with a bang.