Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Sit down and prepare for a musical deep dive into Norse mythology with Jethro Tull (“Zealot Gene”). The band released their new album “RökFlöte,” roughly meaning “rock flute” on April 21. Since their previous drop was only last year, this release marks the shortest gap between two of their albums since “Stormwatch” in 1979 and “A” in 1980.

In order to fully enjoy this work, one must perch themselves atop a grassy bank in Iceland and meditate. Speaking Icelandic is a bonus but not required. Prog rock is a wild and winding genre, and Jethro Tull sits among other well known names such as Rush (“Clockwork Angels”) and Primus (“Conspiranoid”). If you do not want to ponder the musings of a 15th century Norse serf then this album is a skip.

“RökFlöte” opens with “Voluspo,” featuring Miss Iceland 2005 Unnur Birna and carries a flute tune that any ear can appreciate regardless of experience. The lyrics are half in Icelandic and half in English, taking on a poetic form. Which would make sense because “Voluspo” is taken from “Völuspá,” the name of an ancient poem from the Poetic Edda that tells the story of creation in Old Norse. “I remember yet the giants of Yore/Who gave me bread in the days gone by,” are lyrics meant to be interpreted as the prophetess Völva speaking to Odin.

That seems to be the case for the entire album, as singer Ian Anderson took a great interest in Norse mythology and wanted this new work to reflect that. With track titles such as “The Feathered Consort” and “Allfather” it is clear that a storytelling approach forms the core of the album. Words are hardly the main attraction as Anderson’s flute takes center stage, a common hallmark of any Jethro Tull piece.

In “Hammer on Hammer” a story of war and glory unfolds amid flute, guitar and drums while Anderson asks, “Was there a time when I was Jupiter?/Ringed like Saturn with a sacred belt.” A formidable amount of prior knowledge of the band and a strong understanding of the poetic form is seemingly mandatory for this track to make sense. However, the group has been around since 1967, after being in the business so long they are allowed to get more than creative with their subject matter.

As expected, there are little to no stylistic similarities present between the work of “RökFlöte” and their earlier hits such as “Living in the Past” from 1969. Flute-heavy pieces were a little more on the contemporary side back then and less medieval. In “Wolf Unchained,” there are notes of keyboard and even some organ melodies, which would not be found on hits such as “Aqualung” or “Cross-Eyed Mary.”

Jethro Tull has managed to take a new creative direction for the fifth decade in a row and they have done so with relative success. The best track out of the 12 has to be “The Navigators,” which is truly like listening to the results of a serf being given modern musical equipment. 

This album is not for the average music lover and its target audience is mainly middle-aged uncles, with a love of all things Nordic specifically. Give it a go if you are feeling adventurous.

Image from Jethro Tull via YouTube