IQ – Resistance (Giant Electric Pea, 2019)
IQ is one of the few great acts left from the second wave of British progressive rock bands. Ironically, in this digital era of connectivity, the group is very hard to reach for a music journalism publication like ours.
IQ has gone through various lineups and genre variations. With the monumental Resistance double set, IQ is in nearly solid progressive rock territory.
Throughout the album, IQ takes the listener on a dark, magical ride. The band has matured into a formidable act and delivers mostly masterful state of the art symphonic progressive rock.
Peter Nichols has become one of the finest vocalists and lyricists in the current progressive rock scene. The CD booklet includes the lyrics to the full album.
The current incarnation of the band features superb instrumentalists. Keyboardist Neil Durant is one of the stars of the album. His grand organ; exquisite dreamy, cinematic and epic mellotron; and remarkable synth solos are spectacular and memorable. The rhythm section is equally fabulous, delivering power, energy and calm subtlety as well.
I have mixed feelings about guitarist Michael Holmes, who co-composed most of the album. One of the reason why I wouldn’t give Resistance a 9 or 10 out of 10 is the prog metal riffing he injects in some parts of the album. He demonstrates he is an outstanding guitarist when soloing and playing acoustic guitars, but the regressive metal chugga chugga in various sections detracts from the general beauty of the album. It’s paradoxical because, at times, he uses loud, innovative distorted guitars that don’t sound like metal so there is way to sound apocalyptic and forward thinking without having the need to insert outdated prog metal.
The lineup includes Peter Nicholls on lead and backing vocals; Michael Holmes on guitars; Paul Cook on drums and percussion; Neil Durant on keyboards; and Tim Esau on bass and bass pedals.
Buy Resistance in North America
Buy Resistance in Europe
I like this song, “Fallout” by I.Q. In parts, it seems to almost have a chord progression similar to the song “Awaken” on the Going For The One album by YES. I haven’t heard all of the I.Q. albums, but my favorite song by them is “It All Stops Here”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0txC8yJEqQ