The Tirith Are Back With a Prog Monster Album and a Single That Demands Your Attention

UK progressive rockers The Tirith have a new album arriving July 3, and the lead single “Save The Oak” makes a strong case for why it’s worth your time.

‘Quetzalcoatl’ is the band’s fourth studio album, and it arrives as their most expansive and cohesive work yet. Blending folk, jazz, and heavier rock into a signature prog framework, the record showcases intricate musicianship, shifting dynamics, and the kind of atmospheric storytelling the band has built their reputation on.

The Tirith’s story is a compelling one. Founding members Tim Cox and Dick Cory first played together as schoolmates in the 1970s under the name Minas Tirith, then reunited in 2010 after more than 3 decades apart. They came back with a catalogue of unreleased material and serious credentials behind them.

Tim Cox, the band’s guitarist, earned his stripes as a professional songwriter and producer, co-writing Rozalla’s iconic dancefloor staple “Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good).” Dick Cory spent those intervening years writing prolifically, and much of that work found its way into The Tirith’s sound.

Since reforming, the band released ‘Tales from the Tower’ (2015), ‘A Leap into the Dark’ (2019), and ‘Return of the Lydia’ (2022), all recognized for their conceptual ambition and expressive guitar work. Each record moved the needle. ‘Quetzalcoatl’ moves it further.

With drummer Paul Williams and keyboardist Anthony Hill now firmly in the fold, the band operate with a tighter, more unified sound. The live circuit has taken notice too. The Tirith have played Cambridge Rock Festival and HRH Prog, sharing stages with Focus, Karnataka, and Gnidrolog.

“Save The Oak” is a confident entry point into the new album, a track that channels the band’s layered approach into something immediate and gripping. The video is out now on YouTube.

‘Quetzalcoatl’ drops July 3. Twelve tracks, one of the UK prog scene’s most seasoned outfits, and a record built to last.

‘Quetzalcoatl’ Track Listing:

  1. Intro
  2. Quetzalcoatl
  3. The Slide
  4. Moon King
  5. Back to Space
  6. Rabbit Ings
  7. Dancing With Vampires
  8. Spirit of the Volcano
  9. Masters of Highways
  10. Save The Oak
  11. No Mind (Mushin)
  12. The Riddles