Label- Napalm Records
Release Date- 15th July 2022
Track Listing:
1. The End Of The Beginning (Live 20 Year Anniversary Release)
2. From Dust To The Beyond (Live 20 Year Anniversary Release)
3. Ascend To Oblivion (Live 20 Year Anniversary Release)
4. Coda (Live 20 Year Anniversary Release)
5. Remembrance (Live 20 Year Anniversary Release)
6. Point Pleasant (Live 20 Year Anniversary Release)
7. Fall From The Stars (Live 20 Year Anniversary Release)
8. Twilight (Live 20 Year Anniversary Release)
9. Coma (Live 20 Year Anniversary Release)
10. Route 666 (Live 20 Year Anniversary Release)
11. Lost Symphony (Live 20 Year Anniversary Release)
Fans of God Is An Astronaut may have to do a slight double take with the Post-Rock outfits latest release as the title is familiar but different. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut, ‘The End Of The Beginning’, has given the band a chance to revisit and reimagine the songs. Recorded in a single day in Windmill Lane, Dublin in late 2021, it has brought two decades of musical evolution, both in ability and technology, to bear as the band breathe new life into these set staples.
The new artwork for the album consists of a piano sitting amongst the ruins of a war-torn building guarded by soldiers which blends well with the sounds within. The music could easily soundtrack a dystopian Sci-Fi epic, at times bleak and eerie but with moments of bright optimism too. Masters at building pulsating, hypnotic rhythms the Kinsella brothers, alongside Lloyd Hanney and Jamie Dean, create sonic soundscapes that you can immerse yourself in.
Getting down to the nuts and bolts for those already well acquainted with the album, the tracks ‘From Dust To The Beyond’, now expanded to a 7 minute epic, and ‘Route 666’, with its relentless driving tempo, are still the standouts and give a great representation of what the band are like as a live entity today. ‘Remembrance’, although extended in length, has been melodically pared back leaving more space within and leading to a cleaner, more enjoyable listening experience while the live drum sound on ‘Coda’ provides a much more dynamic feel compared to the original.
The new live versions compliment the original album and stand as a testament to how good their debut was even with the limited musical equipment available initially. Any scepticism towards albums of this nature should be immediately dispelled as there is definitely something here for everyone whether they be seasoned fans of the band or are being introduced to them for the first time.
Written by: Brendan O’Mahony
Ratings: 8/10
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