Dominion by IQ

I first saw IQ at the Hammersmith Odeon supporting Magnum. Magnum were a sort of Spinal Tap tribute band, prog-adjacent at times but not really interesting for me. I was there for the prog. And IQ did not disappoint.

They were one of the leading lights of the neo-prog movement in the 1980s, desperately unfashionable but with a loyal set of fans. And now, they're back, with the album Dominion, released on March 28th, 2025. And, in summary, it's good, and it's classic IQ.

Prog is a very wide genre, but one of the things most associated with it is long-form songs. The first song, 'The Unknown Door' is over 22 minutes long. Now, when you're writing a song that long, you have to make sure there are strong themes, and that those themes are repeated and varied. This is the basis of classical music, and for a reason: if you don't do it, the music turns into a medley, incoherent and rambling. The music has to take you on a journey, returning home after learning something new. And IQ have always understood this. There are many other prog bands who don't.

As an example, go and listen to Grendel by Marillion. It's chock full of great 'bits' that sound really prog, but there's no repetition, no variation. It sounds incoherent and rambling. Now listen to Supper's Ready and pick out all those themes that weave in and out. It's a masterpiece of classical construction.

The Unknown Door is an excellent example of a long-form song that gets this right. The music itself is excellent, a return more to the sound before 'Road of Bones'. But crucially, it is tied up at the end very nicely with a return - but changed - to the opening.

The second track, 'One Of Us' is a really nice change of pace. Some beautiful acoustic guitar reminiscent of Greg Lake. This is most unlike IQ, but it's great. Maybe the drummer (Paul Cook) was on holiday.

'No Dominion' opens with a great harmonic sequence that surprises at every turn before going into a very unsurprising keyboard riff. As usual, I'm not going to give a detailed blow-by-blow of the rest of the album, but in summary it sounds like IQ being IQ, but in a very good way.

I will say something about the lyrics. I love Peter Nicholls' voice, it has a beautiful tone in the lower register which works perfectly for the music. But the lyrics are, as ever, completely opaque. I don't think I've ever known what he was talking about. It sounds like he picks a great title and then writes stream of conscious stuff leading from it. The result is unfathomable. And at times (for example in 'Far From Here') a little awkward.

Overall, this is an excellent album, and a return to an earlier sound. I didn't dislike Road of Bones, but it didn't sound quite like IQ. This does. Highly recommended.

Reasons to listen:

  • You like classic IQ such as 'The Seventh House', 'Dark Matter' and 'Frequency'
Reasons not to listen:
  • You like songs to tell a story

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