The Tirith - Quetzalcoatl - Progressive Voyages Review
The Tirith have been around since the mid 1970's although this new incarnation really only be gins with their renewal and regrouping after many years of silence, they band reformed fully in 2010, releasing their Recordings of songs from their earlier incarnation as Tales From The Tower (2015l A Leap In The Dark (2019), Return Of The Lydia (2022l this new album Quezalcoatl cane out in July of this year.
The band remains the same lineup as before, Namely Tim Cox guitars and Kjeyboards Richard Cory, Vocals Bass and Acoustic Guitars, Paul Williams Drums and Percussion, Anthony Hill Keyboards.
Quetzalcoatl (The Feathered Serpent) is a major Mesoamerican Deity representing Wind, Venus, Dawn, Merchants and Knowledge, As a creator God and patron of learning. He was central to Aztec, Toltec and Mayan cultures, symbolising the union of earth and sky,often depicted as a serpent covered in quetzal feathers.
So to the music on this album which contains a total of 12 tracks of varying length between 1 minute to just over 9 minutes duration.
The album commences with an brief Instrumental prequel to the title track, Quezalcoatl this is mainly keyboards and various sound effects that paint an evocative image of a place and a time long gone, the actual track is quite hard hitting with a very noticeably satisfying bass line fromRichard Cory that locks in precisely with the drums of Paul Williams. The song speak of Quetzalcoatl and looks forward to his return which has yet to happen.
The Slide follows and this is totally different in its tone and is based on some dynamic chordal patterns and vocals, its quite an interesting song but not as strong as the title track somehow, it is not overlooked and thus doesn't overstay its welcome or detract too much from the other stronger tracks,
This is followed by Moon King with is another very strong song, It is a song about a mutual friend of the band who died too early, the song has a melodic progressive instrumental section.
The words are very warm as they remember their fallen friend, I especially like how the guitar chugs throughout this track, it is most effectively employed as it suggests a journey such as the one the friend is undertaking.
The instrumental section is suitably impressive in its tone, the Coda is repeated again in an extended outo to the track when again it impresses. Great track
Back In Space follows this revisits the space theme of the Tales From The Tower album, we learn that they were originally sent to find and colonise new planets but reneged on their mission and returned to earth and crash landed their craft The Lydia, now one of the spacemen is stranded in New York,nHis friends have all passed away and he is unable to adapt to the nightmare of city life, He decides it is best fir him to go back to space again, This song opens with a sinewy riff that forms the core of the track,
The song portreays the horrors of the city extremely well and you can sense his desire to escape to somewhere more suitable for him, i do like this quirky track.
Rabbit Ings follows this opens with acostic guitar - Rabbit Ings refer to the Old Norse origins meaning Marshy land or water meadows that survive in place names in Northern England, the song mixes folder moments with harder rocknstylings most succinctly, it is another great track.
Dancing With Vampires is up next, this a romantic waltz with a twist The alluring female vampire The fascination of her beauty and sweet perfume but the danger us when she sings her teeth into your neck, the music certainly has a gentke swing to it and a good guitar solo, a most unusual but enjoyable song nonetheless, I like that the bandxare not afraid to try something totally new an unorthodox with this song.
Spirit of the volcano is next this again returns us to their Tales From The Tower album, as this track develops the tale about how the tower is destroyed by a volcanic eruption that wipes out the civilised that was there,again this us another strong track withbgood instrumentation.
Master Of Highways is next and this one is very different it starts out as a country number and then moves into a boogie track and then onto a jazz instrumental improvisation, Once again this is a most unusual and very different style of song but one that does work very well, it has agrand sound to it.
Save The Oak is next this is another song from the earlier period of The Tirith and this is an Ecological and AntibHunting song, this again features more chugging guitars and has touches of The Beatles Get Back in its Rhythms, it hsas good lyrics abd a driving beat I really like how this one sounds it is sprightly and engrossing.
No Mind (Mushin) is next and is the album’s penultimate track this one concerns itself withbthe Japanese Zen influenced state of Empty Find or Though Freecas used in martial arts like Karate or Aikido, Where yhecaction becomes intuitive effortless and free from ego,
I like how this song sounds it is very free flowing in its sound and style, very impressive sounding track.
The Riddles closes the albumthere is a series of riddles that you can solve if you are so inclined
I have certainly enjoyed this album of fine songs and musical performances and I feel i should now delve deeper into this bands music for myself and possibly catch them live for myself.
Info here; Www.thetirith.bandcamp,com.
Author r John Wenlock-Smith Thursday 10th September 2026,