SUBTERRANEA

A punk tries to survive in a subterranean world full of sewers and chemical contamination?

Subterranea it is IQ's masterpiece double record, and it has a pretty interesting backstory. The band traces its origins to 1976, back when they were called The Lens. It was a different band then, with a focus on instrumental music, but when The Lens broke up in 1981, IQ was formed and took a different path. Through the years, they faced lineup changes, but their love for progressive rock never disappeared.

Provider: "Are you inside, provider, or am I? Immersed in all the darkness and decay Denied the sleep to dream myself away Said I was bright, too sensitive to fly?"

The album is a concept piece that tells a strange and mysterious story about a man trapped in a controlled environment. The music captures the darkness and emotion of the story, shifting between heavy, intense moments and softer, more introspective ones. Even though it's nearly two hours long, the album manages to keep you engaged with its energy and recurring musical themes.

Subterranea: "'I never was aliveI died with Knives and nails and nightingales This is all the anger I can hold?'"

The idea for Subterranea began around 1994. The band slowly built the concept, testing out songs live and tweaking them. By 1997, IQ was ready to bring the full concept to life with a big stage show to match the album's complex story. They spent time refining the songs, and after much work, they ended up with 19 tracks, all carefully arranged with significant contrasts in tone. The great sound in "Subterranea" mix their more comercial of "Nomzamo" with their complexity on "Ever" adding a solid 90's sound, all blending in one record

Speak My Name: "There are times when I remember But in my heart I'm not the same And I feel myself connected Every time you speak my name You speak my name?"

Musically, the album is a mix of styles. You get IQ's trademark complex song structures in tracks like "Failsafe" and "The Narrow Margin," while songs like "Speak My Name" and "High Waters" are more emotional. The album uses recurring musical themes to tie everything together, making it feel like a single, unified journey. Peter Nichols: maybe done his best writing contribution here and their best vocal performance, Mike Holmes: Sounds heavy and fresh and up to date their sound in 90's, Jon Howitt: The new guy on his second record he add structures in the zones were Tim Eseau fails in the past. adding strong to the rhythm line, Martin Orford made a lasting keyboard work taking sounds from analog keyboards mixed with modern sounds and Paul Cook made their best drum performance ever he was on his best moment at that time.

The Sense Of Sanity: "Nothing here is guaranteed, nothing's understood Now that I am far beyond beginning to belong"

Even with its complexity, the album hits you on a visceral level. It's not just about telling a story?it's about making you feel it. There's so much variety in the music, from the saxophone in "Capricorn" to the softer, folk-like melodies in "Provider." Each song builds on the last, deepening the story of a man lost in a mysterious, oppressive world.

Capricorn: "The heart beating in Capricorn, I take on a guise They won't define me anytime in the English rain Will I feel an automatic release from all this pain??"

The artwork, created by Tony Lythgoe, also adds to the atmosphere. The booklet is filled with strange, unsettling images that match the album's themes of identity and isolation. It's the kind of album where every element, from the music to the visuals, works together to create something bigger than the sum of its parts.

Unsolid Ground "For every move I tried to make when I was stranded At least I'm standing on unsolid ground?"

IQ didn't stop at just making an album; they took *Subterranea* to the stage, turning it into a theatrical performance complete with elaborate set pieces. The band's dedication to turning the album into a full-blown experience shows just how much they believed in it.

Somewhere In Time: "And all the time identified, it's hard to take it in at all There must be many more besides Those to watch us while we're sleeping?"

In the end, Subterranea doesn't spell everything out for you. The story is open to interpretation, and that mystery is part of its appeal. It's an album you can keep coming back to, each time finding something new in both the music and the story. It's a high point for IQ, showcasing their growth as a band and their ability to create a work that's not just music, but a full artistic experience.

Norrow Margin (Final Section) "Now I want to be alone like a stronger man Then I can understand As I try to remember where I know you from Provider, are you inside or am I??"

Share this IQ review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Stoneburner
• Report this review (#3093212)
• Buy IQ music online with PA partners
• Show all IQ MP3/Stream
• Go to IQ page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Subterranea page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for IQ related discussions