Band:	God Is An Astronaut
Album:	Embers
Style:	Post-rock
Release date:	September 2024
A review by:	AndyMetalFreak

01. Apparition
02. Falling Leaves
03. Odyssey
04. Heart Of Roots
05. Embers
06. Realms
07. Oscillation
08. Prism
09. Hourglass

Embers are still sparking for the Irish post-rock legends.

Formed in Ireland by twin brothers Torsten Kinsella and Niels Kinsella back in 2002, God Is An Astronaut has become one of the biggest names in post-rock. Although the band's style is strongly rooted in the genre, they also explore influences from musical styles such as krautrock, space rock, and electronic music, with Tangerine Dream credited among the band's main influences. The duo introduced drummer Lloyd Hanney in 2003 and so became a fully established trio who've since gone onto release 11 full-length albums, including latest effort Embers. Their peak, however, came from their sophomore All Is Violent, All Is Bright, a groundbreaking record that still stands the test of time for being one of the greatest post-rock albums ever released. Although they've never quite managed to hit that remarkably high standard again since, they've still continued to churn out quality albums, retaining their status as one of the best acts in the genre.

Embers took shape in honour of Torsten and Niels' late father Thomas, who managed the band up until his sudden death. Acting as a fitting tribute, the band takes inspiration from Thomas’ past from when he was bassist for the 60s psychedelic rock band The Orange Machine by introducing elements of psychedelia throughout the album, which include the sitar and slide guitars, some of which were Thomas’ ideas before his passing. Throughout Embers 9-tracked hour-long duration, you'll hear a collaboration of 60s psychedelia with modern post-rock, which begins with "Apparition".

This opening track starts with beautifully crafted acoustic melodies that are soon followed by psychedelic distorted guitars and a sitar that gives the album an early tinge of psychedelia. The rhythm remains hypnotic, mid-paced, and enticing for the most part; however, there are sudden bursts of harder post-rock instrumentation, where the drums start to beat harder and faster, and the bass becomes heavier and more upbeat along with the riffs. The intertwining guitars in the latter stages work hand-in-hand remarkably well as the sitar and heavy riffs collide, which is where we first hear the psychedelic 60s meet modern day post-rock.

The second song "Falling Leaves" is a real tear-jerker mostly based on soft melancholic instrumentation; here, the sitars work in harmony with the sweet acoustic guitar strings, while light electronic elements work wonders for the song's dreamy atmosphere. It's a thought-provoking 8-minute instrumental, with build-ups that really help your mind wander and reflect; for me the feeling this song gives is similar to that feeling you get when the sunlight breaks through the clouds and beams down on upon your face after what's been a long, grim, stormy day.

From here, the psychedelic elements and influences are minimalistic, but that doesn't mean the band have hung their boots up just yet, as from here stylish and groovy rhythm patterns begin to emerge, along with impressive build-ups that don't overcome their stay, and heavier sections that come just at the right time. Of course there's a 10-minute song featured, one that stands out as the only epic, being the title track "Embers". This song justifies its title due to its slow and intensifying build-up, which eventually leads to a blazing instrumental inferno. There's also a welcome addition in well-esteemed cellist Jo Quail, who expertly performs on the electronic, cosmic-themed track "Realms", as well as "Prism"; this is all before the song "Hourglass" finishes the album off with a stunning melancholic piano piece and beautiful sweeping guitar leads acting as an emotional goodbye.

God Is An Astronaut are masters of their craft; since emerging onto the post-rock scene 22 years ago they've always been fresh of ideas, pushing that extra bit further to find a sound and style while staying true to their own. Embers is not only a fitting tribute to a loss of someone close to the band's heart, but also a testament to show how the band have kept their style fresh and unique, always managing to maintain that strong sense of emotion through unparalleled songwriting and exceptional performances. Embers might not go down as one of the most memorable releases in the band's discography in terms of songwriting or breaking new ground (you could say that happened during the early stages of their career), but the emotional aspects behind this album are clearly second-to-none, and they've proven more than enough here that they're a band still at the top of the post-rock scene in terms of quality.