IQ return with Dominion six years after 2019’s Resistance… and a lot has changed in between, both in the band and the wider world. A new album from this legendary band is always a special event. From the opening resonant fanfare of the epic The Unknown Door right to the triumphant end of Never Land it is clear that IQ are in a very different place. An IQ album is always indelibly imprinted with IQ’s distinctive style, but this album positively shimmers with bright optimism.
How does Dominion compare with some of their classic albums such as Ever, Subterranea and Frequency? Has the wait been worth it?
IQ always know how to commence an album with a song to draw us in and in The Unknown Door have shaped a mesmerising opening, commencing with a sonorous trumpet-like military fanfare and Peter Nicholls’ resonant voice. He is sounding better than ever, starkly vulnerable but intensely beguiling. In the opening bars a recording of the ill-fated British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declaring war on Germany after their invasion of Poland in 1939 can be heard in the background, similar to IQ’s use of President Harry S Truman’s announcement about the dropping of the Atom bomb at the beginning of 2009’s Frequency. With such an introduction we could be forgiven for thinking we are about to embark on another ‘war song’ akin to their classic The Seventh House, but both Peter Nicholls and Michael Holmes were both adamant in interviews with The Progressive Aspect that this is not the theme of the song. Apparently, Michael Holmes originally used that sample simply as a suggestion that the introduction would be enhanced with some sort of similar speech to convey an atmosphere. Holmes has shared that The Unknown Door is not about war – ‘it is a song about escaping from war’. Rather cinematically, Holmes has described the opening atmospheric section as the image of someone on a smoke-filled battlefield who wants to get away ‘and then the smoke suddenly clears and they are in a completely different place’. Peter Nicholls has explained that they considered various alternative speeches to convey the atmosphere they were seeking in the introduction, but they eventually decided that Holmes’ original ‘place holder’ Chamberlain quote was right for the piece. Nicholls typically is rather more enigmatic and poetic in his description of The Unknown Door. He imagines an overgrown door which makes one wonder what is behind that door? He went on to say that the song ponders ‘what’s behind that door is what you want it to be… the world you’re waiting for is in your hands’, which are thoughts echoed in the opening lyrics of the final uplifting section Dream Stronger in which Nicholls sings:
The World you’re waiting for, See revealed in unlit fields,
The Higher Ground is out of bounds no more…
Nicholls concluded in his interview with TPA that The Unknown Door tells us to ‘open that door into your own future and make that future the best it can be… and not just for yourself, but for other people that need our support.’
This positivity is reflected in the concluding resplendent final section as the whole band builds majestically to a zenith with Holmes’ swooping joyous guitar … and then characteristically it all drops away to a final soft guitar and Nicholls gently intoning a question that perhaps we all need to ask ourselves:
Whatever way you look at it, musically The Unknown Door is brilliantly shot through with the sort of explosive drama and emotional turbulence on expansive and cinematic soundscapes for which IQ have become renowned. Paul Cook’s drumming in particular on the second section Many and More Still, is titanic, agile and thrilling – no-one quite does ‘epic’ like IQ. Holmes’ guitars are a particular feature of this opening track, ranging from the softly tripping Spanish guitar-like early passage and the turbulent thrashing of the battle like middle section, through to the soaring guitar heroics of the closing Dream Stronger section, in perfect unison with Nicholls stirring vocals. This is peak IQ doing what they do SO bloody well. It’s hard to imagine there will be a more accomplished Prog epic in 2025.
The gorgeously melancholic and short but sweet One of Us is in complete contrast in scope and theme – Holmes has described it as a ‘palate cleanser’ after the opening epic. Nicholls sings gently, over Holmes’ delicate acoustic guitar, a sad break-up song in which one of the couple finds it impossible to accept the break up – an almost universal theme so many of us have experienced, conveyed in such touching emotion.
Michael Holmes recently shared that IQ still think in terms of vinyl ‘Sides’ of an album, so effectively ‘Side 2’ commences with the regal procession of No Dominion, opening out with Neil Durrant’s undulating keyboards before Nicholls’ plaintive vocals. There are clear references to Dylan Thomas’ poem ‘Death shall have no Dominion’, which in turn was influenced by St. Paul’s epistle to the Romans – quite a hefty lineage:
Nicholls has recently shared that he is not usually significantly influenced by poets or novelists, but acknowledges everything in life can be an influence in the creative process. He recently read the Welsh poet’s poem and took from it that:
‘Death is not the ultimate controller of our Destiny…it is, of course, but within that we have the powers to control our destinies ourselves’.
Additionally, he adds that he liked the sound of the word ‘Dominion’, and it ‘sparked ideas of our Dominions that we make for ourselves, our worlds that we define for ourselves’. He has also shared that the actual sounds of words and how they fit with the music is crucial to both Holmes and himself when creating songs – ‘it has to seem the two are inseparable’… and that’s certainly the case on No Dominion.
With such an influence one could be forgiven that such a song may be sombre, but No Dominion proceeds with a sense of quiet dignity on a bed of piano, keyboards and Cook’s subtle drumming. The music perfectly frames Nicholls’ beautiful lyrics, exploring how we need to take control of our own fates, even in the face of death. Before Holmes’ guitar ascends appropriately heavenward the final resonant lines reveal the optimism that pervades this song and album:
Signs that hide in the plainest sight, Never Seen,
Trust the Timing of your Life to be Right’
In recent years IQ have held IQ weekends in Bury, U.K., and these have now expanded to Germany and Poland. They featured new song Far from Here on both nights at Bury in February 2025, which is hardly surprising as it is one of the best songs on the album and is destined to become a live favourite. Segueing from the previous song with the sound of a musical box being wound up (well… it is ‘Prog’ after all!), there is a sense of mystery and mystification with Nicholls intoning in almost fairy tale fashion over an eerie waltz. The song takes a decidedly darker turn as the band crashes in on a wave of Cook’s drums, with Neil Durrant’s slithering synth surfing along on this musical crescendo. Far from Here builds in intensity, driven forwards by Tim Esau’s lithe but thunderous bass. IQ really know how to create massive soundscapes dripping with atmosphere and infused with tremendous power, particularly after Nicholls desperately cries ‘Forsaken’ when they really take off the brakes. Cook’s detonating drums lays waste to all while Durrant’s keyboards weave and thread amidst the mayhem. Meanwhile Nicholls howls into the mighty musical maelstrom with passion – this song really means something to him! A brief synth dance rhythm interlude erupts again into a more uplifting passage as spiralling synths and guitars ascend with Nicholls’ voice proclaiming:
The emotional coda is soaked through with deep feelings, over a soft bed of pianos and synths, as Nicholls touchingly recalls the passing of his mother two years ago:
With the Time escaping us, ever knowing, I tried to reach you, to be there
Where you need to be, always in my Heart, And you’re not far from here.
This is a wonderful end to a great song. Peter Nicholls is a truly talented lyricist who deals in universal themes in enigmatic and poetic ways which listeners can interpret in their own way. At the end of the day, we have all experienced loss in some way or another, and any listener can identify with the simple, honest way he evokes such heartfelt emotions. IQ may be grand and ‘epic’ to thrill the senses at times, but simultaneously they also have the ability to be intensely personal and touch our hearts.
In a recent interview with TPA, Nicholls was asked what song he would recommend to new listeners to the band from this album and he immediately suggested the final song Never Land. This piece has nothing to do with the ‘Neverland’ of JM Barrie’s ‘Peter Pan’ – instead Nicholls has explained that the focus is upon a couple ‘who lived their life and did not give any thought as to how this would end’. The dreamy opening is a showcase for Nicholls’ beautifully fragile and emotive vocal voicing the feelings of the person left behind remembering their partner; ‘We learned to Fly but Never Land’. Tim Esau’s tasteful bass is particularly evocative in this opening passage. Such a subject matter could have had the potential to be overly melancholic or sorrowful, but the lyrical and musical trajectory is definitely inclined upwards towards a positive acclamation of love between this couple, even after death. Durrant’s wall of keyboards builds and builds in glorious celebration, with Cook’s drums impelling them on joyously. Nicholls echoing voice cries:
I see you now, I see you now
In all the ways we shared, You’re still everywhere.
Michael Holmes’ guitar chimes in with a suitably euphoric guitar solo and we then drift off into the ether, borne on memory’s wings. It is no wonder Nicholls recommended this joyful and deeply emotional song – this song combines all the classic elements of IQ in an accessible but affecting piece which can appeal to anyone – after all, we’ve all lost someone.
IQ are a great band at the height of their powers, but special credit must go to the skill and imagination Holmes shows in his excellent compositions, which the band then help shape into stirring pieces of music. Alongside Holmes is the poetic lyricism of Nicholls, who has a tremendous ability to convey feelings and experiences of such deep resonance. This is a very different person to the intense and darker emotions laid out so intensively and painfully on Resistance. Subsequently, Dominion is a world apart from its predecessor – more accessible, appealing and uplifting.
With Dominion, 44 years into their career, IQ have somehow managed to produce an album of such great quality which simultaneously enchants and excites musically whilst also touching the heart. Sounding fresh and invigorated, IQ sound better than ever and appear to be a band with a lot more to give in their twilight years, with many more Unknown Doors to open.
One of the best progressive rock albums of 2025? Well, obviously!
Indeed, Dominion deserves to be regarded as one of the best albums of their long career.
[The interview mentioned in this article between Peter Nicholls, Michael Holmes and Leo Trimming can be heard HERE on Shaun Geraghty’s The Prog Mill show]
TRACK LISTING
01. The Unknown Door (22:33)
02. One Of Us (3:11)
03. No Dominion (6:25)
04. Far From Here (12:44)
05. Never Land (8:16)
Total Time – 53:09
MUSICIANS
Peter Nicholls – Lead Vocals & Backing Vocals
Michael Holmes – Guitars, Keyboards & Backing Vocals
Neil Durant – Keyboards
Tim Esau – Bass, Bass Pedals, Backing Vocals
Paul Cook – Drums, Percussion
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Giant Electric Pea (GEP)
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 28th March 2025
DISCOGRAPHY
– Tales from the Lush Attic (1983)
– The Wake (1985)
– Nine in a Pond is Here (1995)
– Living Proof (live) (1986)
– Nomzamo (1987)
– Are You Sitting Comfortably? (1989)
– J’ai Pollette D’Arnu (1991)
– Ever (1993)
– Forever Live (1996)
– Subterranea (1997)
– Seven Stories into ’98 (1998)
– The Lost Attic (1999)
– Subterranea: The Concert (2000)
– The Seventh House (2000)
– IQ 20 (live) (2003)
– Dark Matter (2004)
– Frequency (2009)
– The Wake (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) (including Live at Bouderij) (2010)
– IQ Re-Mixed (2011)
– IQ 30 (live) (2012)
– The Road of Bones (2014)
– Live on the Road of Bones (2015)
– Tales from a Dark Christmas (2017)
– Ever (25th Anniversary Deluxe Re-Release) (2018)
– Resistance (2019)
– A Show of Resistance (Live) (2020)
– The Archive Collection 2003 – 2017 (2021)
– IQ 40 (Live) (2022)
– The IQ Weekender 2024 (Live) (2024)
– Dominion (2025)
