THE SEVENTH HOUSE

IQ are one of the newer bands from the 1980s progressive rock movement, but this album is from the year 2000. Starting off with "The wrong side of weird" IQ show that they have a sound of their own with references to "Yes" "Genesis" "Pink Floyd" and "ELP" throughout the track. Peter Nicholls vocals are strong and vibrant, bringing to mind a young Peter Gabriel and David Essex. The track is complex with great keyboards from Martin Orford, and stunning guitar from Mike Holmes, who reminds me of George Harrison in a lot of his playing. "Erosion" starts off eerily lonely, with Peter Nicholls vocals and Martin Orfords keyboards slowburning to a sudden hard section which is not unlike "Dream Theater" and i swear i can hear a bit of "Elvis" in Peter Nicholls vocals on this one - Hard stuff, and excellently played. Then we come to the title track which lyrically is about a seventh house. Musically it is very complex, something that ELP would have been proud of. The song twists and turns inside your head with some stunning musicianship from the IQ lads. The end of the song is very Madonna like, without sounding anything like her. "Zero Hour" is less complex but still challenging to the discerning prog lover, with the band sounding a little like "Trevor kent" in his "The contradiction principle" era, which is no bad thing in my book, because "Trevor kent" is criminally under-rated and should be selling out stadiums with his flawless prog......but i digress. "Shooting Angels" is the weak point of the album for me, hence the four stars instead of five. The track is too weak to be on an album of this excellence. I don't go a bundle on the Phil Spector-ish beat, and Nicholls lyrics sound like something Stashy John might have come up with. Guiding Light" however is a gem of a closer, and reminds me of some of the 1993 "Ever" album by these guys. great musianship and heartfelt vocals from Peter Nicholls on this one, which brings a tear to the eye. There are some great sections on this track which bring to mind the 1993 "Ever" album by these guys. All in all this is a prog album you should have in your collection, especially if you like the 1993 "ever" album by these guys

Cheers Chit