First Jethro Tull Album in Two Decades Out Friday Jan. 28

On its first album in more than two decades, Jethro Tull shines with a collection of progressive rock that is musically and lyrically adventurous. “The Zealot Gene,” out Friday, Jan. 28, demands repeated listening, such is its layers of band leader Ian Anderson’s musical nuances and lyrics, and metaphors that down to the line can be interpreted in new ways with every go around.

“The Zealot Gene” is the English band’s 21st studio album and first since 2003. Anderson’s last work, “Homo Erraticus,” was released in 2014 as a solo album. On “The Zealot Gene,” Anderson’s unique views on religion provide a major subject throughout much of the album such as on standout “Mine is the Mountain,” in which God asks his followers to ‘for God’s sake, kindly leave me alone.’ Some messages are somewhat straightforward while others tracks’ meanings demand delving in and giving deep thought. It’s definitely thinking man’s rock. Musically the band sets the perfect soundscape.

Anderson’s legendary flute trills, sometime jazz fusion leaning, often take lead but also intertwine seamlessly with Anderson’s acoustic guitar work, Joe Parrish’s electric guitars, and John O’Hara’s perfectly placed keyboards to paint upbeat and atmospheric pictures. David Goodier’s pulsating bass and drummer Scott Hammond’s propulsive chops provide a solid backbeat.

The album isn’t all about religion. Opener Mrs. Tibbets reflects up the Atomic Bomb while the title track explores today’s black-and-white, angry and argumentative society in which fanatics provide ‘naked flame near gasoline’ and bring down ‘Ear-splitting twitter thunder and a screaming banshee wail.’

The “Zealot Gene” shows that Jethro Tull, 55 years on from its first album, are as vital a band, both musically and lyrically, as at any time in its storied career. Hats off to Mr. Anderson and company.

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ian Anderson.

Was “The Zealot Gene” recorded during lockdown or before?

From December of 2017 to January to late March of 2018 I wrote all the album’s lyrics and sent demos to the band, who made rapid progress. After 4 days of rehearsals we had completed seven tracks. But there were tours to do and we did book more session time but somehow the years went by and I needed to make a point of doing the last five songs. Between tours we were only home for 2 or 3 days. To rob the members of the band of time off seemed mean. I kept looking for a larger window of opportunity and then of course in 2020 we were in lockdown and there was no possibility to get together safely. In January of 2021 things were still not looking good and I decided I had to finish the last 5 songs myself. Those songs are a little lighter in feel, a little contrast, not so densely instrumented. So it turned out to be a positive thing.

Do you think you’ll be able to tour this year for “The Zealot Gene?”

We’ve already had to cancel two tours. We were to start this month but could not because of local government restrictions. I’m anticipating that we’re still really potentially in a bad place. Covid is once again making life very difficult for us musicians to make a living. If the rescheduling of concerts in these next few months goes the way that I fear it will then we may well have time on our hands to start recording again.

Do you set out to make Jethro Tull or solo records, or does the music and lyrics that come out of the creative process lend itself to either?

I’m an acoustic musician. I still do the same thing. My role doesn’t change. My decision making comes at the outset of the process. In 2014, I decided I would write, record and release an album under my own name. The album was called “Homo Erraticus.” Looking back it really was a band album. Looking back I should’ve thought to call it a Jethro Tull album. These people have been on average with me about 15 years and have done hundreds of concerts as members of Jethro Tull but were never on an album simply called Jethro Tull. So I decided on day one that “The Zealot Gene” would be a Jethro Tull album.

On day 1 of writing I decided I would write 12 songs, each one about a powerful human emotion. I wrote a list of words. One word for each song. Love, compassion, humility, loyalty, anger, retribution, jealousy, rage. Those are all words I remember reading in the Bible. I did an Internet search and copy and pasted some Biblical text as a reference point.

The title track to “The Zealot Gene” explores today’s hyper active world in which there seems to be only left and right with no middle ground.

That song became the title track because it captured the zealotry, the fanaticism of people, with social media increasing the regimes of the right wing all over the world. It’d be easy to say it’s about Trump but he’s one of half a dozen people that come to mind politically. It’s about a whole bunch of people who are a really a dangerous force on planet earth. Everybody has a right to free speech but you’ve got to temper that wanting to say nasty things about people in a very public way. Before sending out a tweet, think about it overnight. If you feel the same way in the morning send it.

In Brief Visitation is a beautiful piece. What can you tell us about the song?

It’s not just about Jesus. It’s about anybody who is sacrificed, the fall guy, to pay the price for an action that is not solely the act of one person. Christianity has a great narrative and I have a great respect for it and it is part of the northwestern European culture into which I was born. Having said all that I’m not a Christian and don’t pretend to be, but I do work for the church with benefit concerts. I set out to raise money every year. I feel I kind of owe it to the cultural traditions I was born into even if I’m not a true, blue Christian. I have an enjoyment of working in cathedrals and churches. It’ given me something from it and I feel like I should give it back. I’m a Christian without being a Christian.