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IQ: Dominion
 IQ's Dominion is a masterpiece that showcases the band's continued growth and refinement. Vocalist Peter Nicholls' lyrics are, as always, thought-provoking and emotionally resonant, with lines like "what if the right had nothing left, would the left get nothing right", a philosophical introspection that is a hallmark of IQ's songwriting, and Dominion is no exception.
The album's epic opener, "The Unknown Door", sets the tone for the rest of the record, delivering a comprehensive representation of IQ's sound. This keyboard-led album, courtesy of keyboardist extraordinaire Neil Durant, is a departure from their previous guitar-driven work, Resistance, and showcases the band's constant search to evoke emotions and manipulate moods. The 20-plus minute track is an instant classic, weaving together complex themes and atmospheres.
The album's highlights include the beautiful "One Of Us", with its pastoral acoustic guitars and outstanding vocals. Nicholls' warm, expressive voice brings depth and nuance to the lyrics, making the song a standout track. The title track "No Dominion" features drummer Paul Cook's perfect rhythmic dominance, who alongside bassist Tim Esau creates a hypnotic tempo that's disrupted only by guitarist Mike Holmes' heavy and melodic solo.
The eerie "Far From Here" is a masterclass in balancing obscurity and beauty. The song's complex structure and awkward changes feel both unexpected and perfectly in place, showcasing IQ's skill at crafting emotionally resonant music. The lyrical content is expertly woven, exploring themes of loss and longing... and it's my personal favorite from this album.
The album's closer, "Never Land", is a post-rock laden exploration of new frontiers. The melody builds up to a beautiful conclusion, leaving the listener with a lasting impression. With Dominion, IQ proves that even after 40 years, they're still pushing the boundaries of progressive rock.
This album is a must listen for IQ fans and highly recommended for progressive rock enthusiasts. The band's ability to craft complex, emotionally resonant music is unmatched, and Dominion is a testament to their enduring legacy. If you're looking for an album that will challenge and reward you, look no further than Dominion.
Track Listing:
1. The Unknown Door (22:33)
2. One Of Us (3:10)
3. No Dominion (6:25)
4. Far From Here (12:44)
5. Never Land (8:16)
Added: June 1st 2025
Reviewer: Jose Antonio Marmol
Score:  
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 933
Language: english
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IQ: Dominion
Posted by Pete Pardo, SoT Staff Writer on 2025-06-01 23:57:46
My Score:
The last we saw UK progressive rock legends IQ was with their 2019 release Resistance, which was another in a fine line of darker yet wholly satisfying albums that have seen the veteran band continuing their strong track record of success. With their 13th studio album Dominion, the dark and mighty sounds continue, and once again, they've created another stellar album that slides in right alongside their recent output.
Opening up with "The Unknown Door", a 22-minute epic that pulls the listener right into things, Peter Nicholls' vocals are emotional and yearning over sparse instrumentation, which to start is mostly soft keyboard textures, eventually giving way to some light drums and acoustic guitar joining the fray. Then your expected IQ-styled bombastic prog happens around the 5-minute mark, with oads of aggressive guitars and lots of keys, including some Mellotron and cascading Hammond. Peter's vocals are still SO good, as he's just a remarkable singer. I like that the tone of the music is still somewhat dark, which the band has really taken to their last few albums. You get a big symphonic finale with some terrific guitar solos, making for an outstanding way to start off the album.
"One of Us" follows, mostly acoustic guitar, ethereal keys, and Peter's gentle vocal...a nice little track after the bombast of the first one.
We do get back to big symphonic prog on "No Dominion", again, kind of dark and moody, and expect a big backdrop of Mellotron and synths, with Peter's dramatic vocals and another stellar guitar solo from Mike Holmes, who is so underrated as a player. If you love Hackett and Rothery, this guy is for you.
"Far From Here" is the second longest track at nearly 13 minutes long. This one starts off mellow and dreamy, and then around the 3-minute mark gets a bit heavier, with killer keyboards and drumming (there's a Tony Banks flavor that I get here with the synths and Mellotron)-the middle section again is pretty heavy with the riffs, glorious synth tones too, more tasty guitar solos and then an emotional Peter vocal to close it out with haunting piano. Great song.
"Never Land" closes, a fairly moody yet symphonic number, but it also picks up the pace and gets pretty upbeat around the mid-way point, a nice slow builder of a song with some great vocal melodies from Peter, and the album then quietly ends.
Dominion is easily another big triumph for IQ, a band that when it's all said and done, is going to have one of the strongest discographies of any prog band of the last 50 years.
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