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"40 years of know-how are found in this new IQ disc: a must for fans of neo-prog."
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5/5
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Five years have passed since the release of "The Road of Bones", an album considered at the time to be the blackest in the band's discography. For this new production, Mike Holmes had announced the color: in the continuity of the approach started with "Frequency", the band would continue to harden the tone and offer even more big sound.
And as for the big sound, the contract is fulfilled beyond all expectations, without however migrating to metal that would scare away the band's aficionados. The production is simply enormous, highlighting aggressive guitars, especially on the first four tracks. But what strikes me in this whole first part is Paul Cook's enormous presence behind the drums, for a performance that we never imagined for this veteran who returned in 2014 from his musical retirement and his passion for fishing!
Thus, the muscular beginning of "Resistance", the superb rise in power of "Rise" and its fabulous choruses before the final appeasement, or "Stay Down" and its second dazzling part immerse the listener in a universe that has been well marked out by the group for many years, but still as particular.
All this does not prevent some digressions, such as the orientalizing beginning of'Alampadria' before finding the odd rhythms so dear to the group, but also a nod to Pendragon through a guitar solo that would not be denied by the friend Nick Barrett ('Shallow Bay').
The only slight downside in the middle of this ocean of musical fullness, the acoustic-electronic ballad "If Anything" seems somewhat inappropriate, especially positioned before the first epic track of the album, the excellent "For Another Lifetime" which from the top of its 15 minutes well structured around the basics of the band punctuates this first part in a very beautiful way.
Initially planned as a bonus disc of a future limited edition, the second CD was finally officially integrated into the package, and the least we can say is that it would have been a shame to deprive some of the buyers of such a pleasure.
Indeed, this second part takes us back some 20 years to the time of "Ever" and even more to the time of "Subeterranea". The two epic beaches of more than 20 minutes each return the image of a group with an impressive maturity, multiplying the themes and atmospheres, making it totally captivating to listen to these 55 silky minutes, concentrated of what the neo-progressive can offer the best.
For nearly 40 years now, IQ has been carrying high and strong this progressive current that we still call neo-New. While the ingredients have changed little over the years and album releases, it must be said that the band has mastered the art of accommodating them to make them delicious dishes for our ears. And it is not this "Resistance" that will lead us to claim the opposite. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. A Missile
02. Rise
03. Stay Down
04. Alampandria
05. Shallow Bay
06. If Anything
07. For Another Lifetime
08. The Great Spirit Way
09. Fire And Security
10. Perfect Space
11. Fallout
LINEUP:
Paul Cook: Batterie
Mike Holmes: Guitares
Neil Durant: Claviers
Peter Nicholls: Chant
Tim Esau: Basse
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(1) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
4.2/5 (16 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.2/5 (5 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH IQ
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT IQ
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