Veteran proggers Jethro Tull have announced details for the group’s first studio album of new material in over eighteen years, since The Jethro Tull Christmas Album in 2003.  Originally making headlines in March of this year, the band’s newest offering, titled ‘The Zealot Gene’, will have a January 28th, 2022 release on Inside OutMusic. To give Tull fans their first taste of the new record, the group has released the first single from the album, titled “Shoshana Sleeping”, accompanied by a stunning visual created by Thomas Hicks. You can watch it now here: https://youtu.be/uPTeqsBd1Ik

A record that began to take shape as early as 2017, ‘The Zealot Gene’, in many ways, seeks to defy convention during a time when the business of being a touring and recording artist has never faced more uncertainties. Tull bandleader Ian Anderson holds no reservations about the role for which the mythos and themes of Biblical storytelling played in the lyrical content of the new album, saying:

“While I have a spot of genuine fondness for the pomp and fairytale story-telling of the Holy Book, I still feel the need to question and draw sometimes unholy parallels from the text. The good, the bad, and the downright ugly rear their heads throughout, but are punctuated with elements of love, respect, and tenderness.”

Looking back on the earth-shaking disruption of the Coronavirus pandemic, which ultimately ended the band’s touring plans and hopes of a 2020 release for ‘The Zealot Gene’, Anderson shares, “It was so sudden. Amidst the concerns and warnings of the scientific community and a few more enlightened politicians, we all retreated in disbelief to our homes to wait out the storm.”

The Zealot Gene will be available in a variety of formats formats: Special Edition Digipak CD, Gatefold 2LP+CD+LP-booklet, limited 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook, and Limited Deluxe 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray Artbook

Both artbook editions feature a second CD of demos and initial ideas, plus extended liner notes and an interview with Ian Anderson undertaken by Tim Bowness of no-man.

The Deluxe 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray Artbook comes on white vinyl and includes a third LP with the rough demos. It also includes a slipmat and a numbered art print.

You can pre-order now here: https://jethrotullband.lnk.to/TheZealotGene

‘The Zealot Gene’ Tracklisting:

1. Mrs. Tibbets (5:54)

2. Jacob’s Tales (2:13)

3. Mine Is The Mountain (5:40)

4. The Zealot Gene (3:54)

5. Shoshana Sleeping (3:41)

6. Sad City Sisters (3:40)

7. Barren Beth, Wild Desert John (3:37)

8. The Betrayal Of Joshua Kynde (4:06)

9. Where Did Saturday Go? (3:53)

10. Three Loves, Three (3:30)

11. In Brief Visitation (3:00)

12. The Fisherman Of Ephesus (3:41)

The band current line-up of Jethro Tull consists of:

Ian Anderson – Flute, acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals

Joe Parrish-James – Guitar

Florian Opahle – Guitar (album only)

Scott Hammond – Drums.

John O’Hara – Piano, keyboards and accordion

David Goodier – Bass guitar