One could argue that there are strong and prominent parallels between Palace and the legendary Europe, but I would wager that is a good thing as the song material conjured up by the former act is just as catchy and exciting as that of the latter. Palace are all about sing-along choruses, huge riffs, pulsating bass lines, and soaring vocals. Sure, some parts may come across as slightly clichéd or dated to some ears, but the beauty of this memorable musical gem is that the majority of its ten tracks are incredibly well-written and entertaining not to mention that these guys pull it all off with confidence and a genuine sense of attitude. Uplifting cuts such as the infectious title track, the glorious “Tears of Gaia”, and the riveting “Nothing Personal” are to die for, and the melodies are simply superb in general. The production strikes a nice balance between 80s pomp and slightly more modern-day bombast while the musicianship is stellar all around. Although the keyboards figure prominently in the mix, the emphasis is on the guitars, which gives Palace a bit more edge compared to many similar melodic rock bands out there. The first half of the album is a tad better than the remaining half, but only marginally.

If bands and artists such as Europe, Kee Marcello, Hardline, and Pride of Lions appeal to you then by all means check this hook-laden record by Palace out as “Binary Music” is a recommended listen.