Irish band God is an Astronaut returned to Portugal with their new album, Embers, and were greeted by many fans who had long awaited this concert. The talented Jo Quail performed the opening act.
The new album, Embers, released on September 6th by Napalm Records, was the star of the concert at LAV-LAV-Lisboa ao Vivo, a more comprehensive musical experience with guest appearances by musicians such as Jo Quail, who is accompanying the band on this European tour and responsible for the opening act, Dara O’Brien, and Sean Coleman.
With more than a dozen studio albums released, others are being added to the live show and the anniversary celebrations of landmark albums in God is an Astronaut’s career, such as The End of the Begining and All is Violent, All is Bright.
God Is an Astronaut is an Irish post-rock band formed in 2002 by twin brothers Niels Kinsella (bass) and Torsten Kinsella (guitar, vocals). Their epic and cinematic sound stands out within the post-rock genre due to its strong integration of electronic, space rock, and kraut rock elements.
The band distinguishes itself by its more direct and urgent approach compared to many of its contemporaries, building its compositions around soaring melodic progressions and intense emotional peaks.
Although most of the tracks are instrumental, their music is densely atmospheric and highly emotional. Occasionally, they use processed vocals, almost like another instrument, which serves to heighten the sense of mystery or desolation.
They frequently incorporate synthesisers, loops, and electronic textures, giving them a more futuristic and spacey sound (space rock) than more rock-oriented post-rock bands.
God is an Astronaut’s live shows are renowned for their visual focus. The band designs its own edited videos and detailed lighting setups, creating what it calls a “complete audiovisual show,” where each song is accompanied by its own film.
However, at LAV, we didn’t have this video element; the lighting was poor, and the band, for some unknown reason, was almost always without lights. Added to this, photographers were prohibited from working from the pit.
God is an Astronaut remains a prominent name in the instrumental rock scene, with a sizable global fan base, but unfortunately, they didn’t have a full house in Lisbon.
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