CREDIT: BRAD CONRAD
The Tea Party will be back at London Concert Theatre on November 23.

I write about random things a lot. I write a lot about random things. London is about to receive an infusion of new classic rock this weekend – November 23 sees the return of The Tea Party to the London Concert Theatre, armed with a new album and a renewed sense of energy and purpose.

The show on Sunday is The Tea Party first since the release of The Ocean At The End, the band’s latest record and first new studio album together since Seven Circles was released 10 years ago.

When the band – guitarist Jeff Martin, bassist/keyboardist Stuart Chatwood and drummer Jeff Burrows – played the London Concert Theatre about this time in 2011, it had recently reunited for the band’s No Politics ... Just Rock and Roll tour and at the time, it seemed as though a reunion beyond the tour still hung like a question on the air.

If The Tea Party felt any rust, however, the band didn’t show it. Its catalogue of iconic rock songs including “Fire In The Head” and “Heaven Coming Down” – and even a few darker fan favourites including “Psychopomp” and “The Halcyon Days” – left the audience genuinely awestruck.

The tour was such a success that it led to another, one through Australia that the band recorded for its double live album Live From Australia: The Reformation Tour 2012.

“It was over the top,” Chatwood said. The overwhelmingly positive reception the band received affirmed and even facilitated its choice to reform for good. “I think the intent was always to make music at some point, but stuff like that makes the decision so much easier. We have some musical statements still to make.”

Not only did Australian audiences fan the fire for the band’s return, the great southern land also provided inspiration for the scope and imagery of the record as vocalist and guitarist Jeff Martin’s home for many years. Bombastic songs on the album like “Brazil” and “Submission” were born in Australia before migrating to the band’s first home of Windsor, where the band members were seasoned by the band’s classic rock upbringing.

“Where we were raised across from Detroit, we were fed a diet of classic rock,” Chatwood said, unafraid of the classic moniker in reference to the record. “There were four rock stations playing awesome rock music all the time, so you knew the 500 songs they played down there, every riff inside and out. It was our education.”

“We embrace our influences,” he said with a laugh. “For Christ’s sake, we have Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull playing flute on one of the tracks. But our goal has always been to try to move things forward, to grow on that education.”

With The Ocean At The End, The Tea Party have crafted a remarkable record, one that marries a their extraordinary blend of rock and world music with textures and tones that nod to radio rock masters from decades past. Listen to the single “The Black Sea” and the title track “The Ocean At The End” at your first opportunity ­– find them streaming on the band’s website while you’re looking up tour dates near you.

For more on The Tea Party or its new album The Ocean At The End, visit teaparty.com or follow along on Twitter @theteapartyband and @chatwood. The band’s new album is a strong offering, their supporting catalogue is dumbfoundingly good and they’re in top form together live – all signs point to a night to remember, and one that will have to be seen to be believed.

And for more of the latest music news, album streams and concert previews, follow this column on Twitter @fsu_bobbyisms. Another hot gig in London November 21 at Call The Office – The Strumbellas return with Sam Cash & The Romantic Dogs, pass it on. I’m out of words.