

This time last month, heads were spinning hither and yon as noted rock band Titus Andronicus boldly kicked open the door to a new era with the announcement of their forthcoming studio album An Obelisk (available June 21st from Merge Records) and the release of its first single, “(I Blame) Society.” The curious and the converted alike were startled to find the long-running rockers leaning in to the most assertive elements of their sound like never before, with the aid of producer and certified rock legend Bob Mould. Today, Titus Andronicus add another brick to their monument to modern malaise in the form of their new single, “Tumult Around The World.”

While “(I Blame) Society” offered the first glimpse into the muddled mind of the disenfranchised “narrator” whose emotional and intellectual journey makes up the narrative of An Obelisk, the album-closing “Tumult Around The World” serves as an uplifting anthem of unity and compassion for an increasingly divided world.

“It’s so hard to stop the stream of spoilers these days,” explains singer-songwriter Patrick Stickles, clearly eager to stop mucking about and get on with it. “It should not be terribly surprising to anyone that we must each strive to shatter the illusion of individuation so that we might offer greater empathy and understanding to our whole human family, united as we are in our common struggle, and even if it is, well, I don’t want to wait until the record comes out to tell everybody.”

With anticipation for An Obelisk reaching a nearly unbearable peak of intensity, it’s even less of a surprise that the short run of intimate Titus Andronicus concerts this summer have swiftly sold out -— tickets remain for only the band’s appearance at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library in Fredericksburg, VA on July 27th. Does the recently announced inclusion of Titus Andronicus in the lineup for Vancouver, BC's Westward Music Festival this September portend the revelation of additional dates this autumn? “Maybe, but also maybe not,” Stickles slyly states, as elusive as ever. “Just in case, everybody better get tickets to the library show.”

Enjoy the official audio for “Tumult Around The World” now. If that isn’t enough (and it won’t be), revisit the lyric video for “(I Blame) Society” and pre-order An Obelisk from the Merge Records store on CD, LP, or grayscale Peak Vinyl today.

Titus Andronicus on tour:

Jun 21 Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade (Record Release Show) [SOLD OUT]

Jul 23 Washington, DC – Comet Ping Pong [SOLD OUT]

Jul 26 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle (MRG30 Festival) [SOLD OUT]

Jul 27 Fredericksburg, VA – Fredericksburg All Ages

Jul 28 Philadelphia, PA – PhilaMOCA [SOLD OUT]

Sep 12-15 Vancouver, BC – Westward Music Festival