Album Review: God Is An Astronaut, Embers

Post-rock royalty God Is An Astronaut are back with their 11th album Embers – and it’s an absorbing affair that affirms the veterans still have plenty of fire in their bellies. Hailed as the Wicklow trio’s most grandiose effort to date, the labyrinthine LP is inspired by life, death and everything in between. Wrapped in a gorgeous sleeve drawn by Hot Press’s own David Rooney, Embers is an epic and enthralling opus from one of the best to do it.

Featuring guest appearances from the legendary cellist/shaman of strings Jo Quail and multi instrumentalist (and former GIAA collaborator) Dara O’Brien – who adds some sitar and percussion to the pot – the band draw on psych, krautrock, desert rock and prog over the course of nine sprawling tunes. Standouts include the chilling ten-minute title track, which is a thriller from start to finish, and the Middle Eastern-flavoured, cinematic speaker-rattler ‘Apparition.’

Powerful and poignant, Embers is an exhilarating addition to their discography.

8/10