Revitalised with a new singer and an excellent new album in their kit bag, Pallas now appear more focused and hungry than ever at making up for lost-time after years of sporadic activity and line-up changes. Having now released three albums over the last 10 years, the band have been certainly more prolific than many of their NWOBP peers and it's great to see and hear a band of this quality firing on all cylinders both live and in the studio.

In spite of its location in the not so leafy hood of Kingston 'East Central', the Peel attracts a regular and loyal clientele, even if much of that is at the "gentleman's establishment" that a joins the fine hostelry that hosts the live music. Kudos then to the promoters of the House of Progression, who have established The Peel as the go-to-venue in the South East for prog, metal and beyond, eschewing the easy option of simply booking covers bands.

Tonight is all about presenting the new album, 'XXV', in all its deep dark glory. Indeed, proggers expecting lush mellotronically ethereal keyboards and odes to wizards and unicorns are likely to be disappointed and possibly traumatised. 'XXV' is a compelling listen, particularly when savoured in a single sitting. Most importantly, it rocks, prog-dudes. It delights and surprises in equal measure from the diversity of moods it conjures and the intensity of the performances. Conceived as a sequel to the band's seminal debut, 'XXV' continues the Atlantean tale of the Sentinel and his mission to save us poor earthlings from self-destruction. Yes, heavy concept man, but you can always do a doobie and just listen to the music and not get caught-up in the 'Man From Atlantis' storyline. The thing is, even if you do just that, with repeated listens you'll find the story pulling you in, webbed-toes and all.

The gig is billed as the launch party for 'XXV', so only journos and friends and family are likely to be familiar with the material. Perhaps with this in mind, the band opted to play the new album in sequence with 4 older tracks inserted mid-set. However, given the strong narrative thread that drives 'XXV', the show lost a little momentum by splitting 'XXV' into two parts. In particular, I missed the powerful segue of the cult-ish 'Monster' into the sinister 'Alien Messiah'.

Relative new signing, Paul Mackie has a great stage presence and manages to the get the balance just right between power and theatricality that suits the music perfectly. This is particularly evident when he 'does a Gabriel', donning a mask representing the eponymous Sentinel of the story, as the portentous "mend your ways or all will be lost" speech is broadcast. It's a testament to the composition and performance (and a strategically located smoke machine) that this raises not one titter from the rapt audience. It just works.

As with the first four songs on 'XXV', the music in the second half ebbs and flows to great effect from the metallic riffery of 'Sacrifice' to the beautifully reflective 'Violet Sky'. With every band member flexing considerable musical muscle, the show culminates in a stunning finale that Muse would be proud of, as the 'XXV' story finally concludes...or does it ?

The inevitable encore starts with classic slow burner 'Sanctuary' from the vintage '86 platter 'The Wedge', leading into a thrusting 'Cut And Run' from their '84 debut. I found this eminently preferable to the expected (and over-familiar) 'Arrive Alive'. Indeed, Pallas are a band very much alive and, judging by the quality of XXV and this evening's gig, are more than ready to compete with the biggest and the best, when they appear at the High Voltage festival this summer.

Set list: Falling Down, Crash And Burn, Something In The Deep, Monster, Greater Glory, Ratracing, Ghostdancers, Midas Touch, Alien Messiah, XXV (1), Young God, Sacrifice, Blackwood, Violet Sky, XXV (2), Encores; Sanctuary, Cut And Run