FIRST TIME HEARING IQ- "The Darkest Hour" (Reaction)

[@retroreactions....]

Another long and introspective journey through the ever changing array of life experiences and emotions captured in the mind, heart and soul.. Plenty of sonic pleasure as always... Thanks for watching! 🥰

[@ArthurMol-ib5tg]

IQ one of my favourites band. They have so many great albums. Evers album is a jewel. Such a great live band aswel. In Holland very famous

[@doplinger1]

Ive never heard of these guys, but I can see why you like it. I’m getting Yes, Rush and Jeff Wayne vibes!

[@retroreactions....]

I also reacted to 3 others from them, just as amazing: Further Away, Subterranea and Sleepless Incidental...thanks

[@stevecowder4774]

Wow man, you’ve already dug really deep into the prog world with these guys. That’s awesome. It wasn’t until March of this year did I first discover IQ. But I’d never heard of “ Darkest Hour. “ Certainly a very intriguing choice. It was most enjoyable. And just when I thought I was done collecting prog 😆. I’d love to recommend another epic, long tune from them off their debut, “ Tales from the Lush Attic. “ It’s “ The Last Human Gateway. “ Definitely a juggernaut you’ll want to check out. And Thanks for bringing this song to my attention.

[@wushu_jingwu_ar]

Yes The Last Human Gateway is an old epic, for more recent epics "Frequency" and "Sacred Sound".

[@stevecowder4774]

@@wushu_jingwu_ar Oh good, I'm glad you're familiar with " Gateway. " And I'll have to check out those others. Thanks !

[@retroreactions....]

I love discovering new (for me) prog bands, especially excellent ones like this band. I know I have so many more to go, especially the non-US and non-UK prog bands. I added your vote for TLHG, it's up to 4 votes now! You're welcome, I'm so glad it was new for you and that you liked it! Peace...

[@retroreactions....]

Hello. Unfortunately the last 2 are outside of my 1970-1999 channel window, but I will add your vote for TLHG! Thanks

[@wushu_jingwu_ar]

btw for your consideration, there's a live version at De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Holland - October 23, 2011 that is better than the original recording if you like to see how their musitianship look like closer to the present but playing an old piece, IMO they became a lot more mature and tight after 2000, cheers @@retroreactions....

[@michaelbaucom4019]

Tasty masterpiece is understatement. If this isn't prog enough for you, nothing is prog enough for you. Forgot about the choir in the back our host noted. Details like that separates the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.

[@retroreactions....]

Prog song royalty up there with the other best bands! Certainly a band where their early work must be as good as their recent work. Thanks for being first today my friend! 🥇

[@franckb8279]

One of their masterpieces. Fan of IQ since this album. Got all their albums. For me the modern Genesis my favorite band ever. You've got so much to discover. I recommend you Subterranea, Dark matter, The road of bones, Frequency.

[@lilybee2955]

Yay, a song from my favourite IQ album! Funny thing is, I didn't like it at first. Then one day I had these weird earworms coming from nowhere... Then I realized they were songs from the album "Ever". So I listened to it all over again and what a blast it was this time around!💥 Thank you so much for sharing this one with us, Brandon.👍

[@retroreactions....]

Yes, I saw in past comments that you love this album, so I'm glad you caught this one! Nice that the album grew on you. You're welcome, much more IQ in the future!

[@lilybee2955]

@@retroreactions.... Whoa, what an incredible memory you have! I know a few channel owners who could take some courtesy lessons from you! Keep up the good work! 😄

[@retroreactions....]

🥰

[@drmagic60]

Great choice today Brandon! I love IQ, I’ve listened to them for probably more than 20 years. This is a great album, another track on Ever is “Further Away”, which is a 14+ minute masterpiece! One of my favorite albums of theirs is The Wake from 1985…. it has many great songs. Their debut album Tales From The Lush Attic from 1983, opens with a nearly 20 minute song. Of course they’re another rabbit hole to explore. I enjoy many of their post 2000 albums as well.

[@retroreactions....]

Agree! I knew you loved this album. Ah yes, I did Further Away already, thus I'm certain that you watched it! Yes, The Last Human Getaway getting some love here today, up to 5 votes now. And of course I MUST return to the amazing Subterranea asap!! Thanks

[@AlexAlex-dr9zc]

This track always make me think of Geoff Mann who passed away in early 1993. This guy was a very close friend to the band and his passing was a huge loss for them as for anyone who knew this LARGE man. Obviously the lyrics have something to do with it. Mann was the frontman of 12th Night from which you need to listen to the album Fact & Fiction from 1983 or the live album Live & Let Live. He also was envolved in Casino, a project with a one shot eponym album you really need to know, with Clive Nolan (from Pendragon/Arena/Strangers On A Train to name only a few), 12th night drummer Brian Devoil and also Sylvain Gouvernaire on gtr who gave birth to another one shot project, with Pete Trewavas and Ian Mosley from Marillion, named Iris. The album Crossing The Desert (100 % instrumental) from 1996 will I hope find its way to your ears and soul.

[@retroreactions....]

Wow, thanks for the info. I was wondering who the guy was that he was singing about. Wikipedia has nothing on this song or album, so couldn't find out really anything in advance. I've never heard of Geoff Mann, but it's clear that he had a great career and made a big impact on much music and many musicians...Wow only 969 people listen to 12th Night per month on Spotify. That's a shame...

[@rodrigobasualto1200]

A new suscriptor ✌️

[@retroreactions....]

Thank you so much for watching and for subscribing!!!

[@gphill3954]

IQ is a local band for me..with some members coming from Southampton, my home town. Please check out ‘The Last Human Gateway”.. if you have the time. “The Wake” is also a often listened to album round my way.

[@retroreactions....]

Nice! Added another vote for TLHG, up to 6 votes, I will definitely be doing it at some point! Thanks. FYI, The Lamb 3 and 4 should premiere live today at 12 and 3 PM PST if all goes well. So far side 3 is not blocked...

[@gphill3954]

@@retroreactions.... hope I can make them.

[@gphill3954]

thats 8pm and 11pm for me.. which works...wonderful. Fingers crossed.

[@retroreactions....]

OK, an update...Side 3 for now will live premiere at 1 PM PST, so 9 PM your time. Sorry about the change. Side 4 of course was blocked, so I plan to have it go live on Patreon at 3 PM PST....thanks

[@TheAlbumReviewchannel]

This is just a great track from a super band.

[@retroreactions....]

Agree 100%, already getting better on a few listens!! Thanks

[@ArthurMol-ib5tg]

Yes Dave Indeed. Loved your reaction also. I liked the live video

[@reneelyons6836]

This is a first listen. I'm a 70's prog person. I do find this song interesting. And his voice is really different.

[@retroreactions....]

Cool... they always deliver great prog based on the 4 I've heard so far...Happy Taco Tuesday!! 🌮

[@reneelyons6836]

Yes, Happy Tuesday. Have a good night. 😀

[@retroreactions....]

I'm thinking, as I rewatch, that I got my rating wrong.... 😏

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

Coming from a a person who’s favorite genres are NOT prog…….I do like IQ ALLOT…..and this song is impressive as hell. Shades of Yes and early Genesis to me.

[@retroreactions....]

Can always be exceptions, especially at the level their music is at. Glad there's another IQ song you can add to your liked list! Thanks

[@boodoolu]

Please do "Further Away "

[@retroreactions....]

Hello! I have done that one already! Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3WrdGaah9OFjsUsi=qBqRlOjHVXuqvUVE

[@boodoolu]

Thanks Missed that one🤓

[@retroreactions....]

😊

[@stephanevilleneuve9450]

In a few songs, some keyboard sounds have aged rather poorly, but IQ's characteristic sound for future albums is well established on this one. The best is yet to come.

[@retroreactions....]

Great to know...of course I'm super excited for more from Subterranea! Thanks for stopping by..

[@stephanevilleneuve9450]

@@retroreactions.... You will not be disappointed

[@DarkestIQ]

i Have a Soft Spot for the Darkest Hour, Overall the Album Ever is Was Amazing easily a prog Masterpiece, atleast one of the Top 3 Albums from IQ, top 2 and 1 being Dark Matter and Number 1 Given to None other than there First Album Tales from the Lush Attic.

[@robertschwalb7660]

My favorite album by IQ. Everything through Subterranea is worth listening, but I felt the quality dropped off after that album.

[@retroreactions....]

Hello. I'll have to check out the rest of "Ever". The only recent song of theirs I listened to is Ocean, and I find it just as amazing as the other 4 I've heard. Thanks so much for watching!

[@sagitt1856]

Excellent choice of band and song! IQ, one of the best neo-prog bands; but very unfairly neglected. I own three IQ albums: 'Ever' (1993), 'Subterranea' (1997) and 'Dark Matter' (2004). However, even if 'Subterranea' had worldwide success in the community of prog fans because this concept album is so creatively high-level, 'Dark Matter' remains by far my favorite album. And taken from it, the two compositions that I listen to regularly: - “Sacred Sound” (one would think a perfect symbiosis of GENESIS and ELOY) - "Harvest Of Souls" (a true masterpiece which is reminiscent of "Supper's Ready" by GENESIS with passages with a YES sauce due, among other things, to John Jowitt's base guitar playing similar or almost to that of Chris Squire) Having listened to all of IQ's studio albums, up until their very latest, 'Resistance' (2019), musically I couldn't disqualify any of them. IQ has not made a musical shift; the band has always kept the course that has always been its own but has gradually perfected its sound. Only nuance: the last three albums ('Frequency', 'The Road of Bones' and 'Resistance') offer less originality in creativity... but that does not detract from the quality, the pleasure of listening is still there. Thanks.

[@retroreactions....]

Thanks! Wow, some big comparisons on those 2 songs you mentioned. I will add another vote for each! Glad the newer albums are great too. I really appreciate that you're always stopping by my friend... 🙏