God Is an Astronaut

God Is an Astronaut is an Irish post-rock band from the Glen of the Downs, County Wicklow, formed in 2002.

History

The band was formed in 2002 by twin brothers Niels and Torsten Kinsella, who took the inspiration for its name from a quote in the movie Nightbreed.^[1] God Is an Astronaut's debut album The End of the Beginning was released in (2002) on the Revive Records label which is independently owned by the band. The album was intended to be a farewell to the industry.^[2] Two music videos for "The End of the Beginning" and "From Dust to the Beyond" produced by the band received airplay on MTV UK and on other MTV Europe networks.

GIAA consider each of their albums to be a sonic "photograph or snapshot of who we are in that moment of time". In mid 2006 a licensing deal with U.K. label Rocket Girl^[3] saw both an EP, called A Moment of Stillness, and their second album "All Is Violent, All Is Bright" being re-released.^[4] The single "Fragile" from the album received plays on MTV2 UK's 120 minute show and MTV's show The Comedown.

Their third album, Far from Refuge, was released in April 2007 on Revive Records and as a download via their website. Their fourth, self-titled album God Is an Astronaut was released 7 November 2008 on Revive Records. On 12 February 2010, a single was released on their website titled In The Distance Fading, the second song from their fifth album, called Age of the Fifth Sun, released on 17 May 2010.

Also in 2010 the band went from a 3 piece to a 4 piece with keyboardist/Guitarist Jamie Dean joining the band. The band received rave reviews and the best ever reactions to their concerts due to the explosive energy of the new lineup.

God Is an Astronaut's sixth full-length album, Origins was released in 2013. They then went on tour performing in places such as China, Russia, Brazil and Europe.

In June 2015, God Is an Astronaut released Helios/Erebus.

Live performance

God Is an Astronaut performed at the Eurosonic Festival in 2012 when Ireland was the "Spotlight Country".^[5] The band's live performances often make use of projected, self-edited footage along with lighting arrangements to form what the band calls a "full audio visual show". Each song is accompanied by its own video.

Thematic visual accompaniment for the song "Route 666" during the band's US tour

First U.S. tour

In early 2008, the band embarked on their first tour of the United States. On the day they were set to return home, $20,000 worth of equipment was stolen from their van in New Jersey. Their equipment was not insured and a tour that had reportedly already cost the band $20,000 to organize had suddenly doubled in cost.^[6] However, they have since returned to the United States selling out shows in both New York and Los Angeles.

Members

Current

• Torsten Kinsella – vocals, guitars, keyboards (2002–present)
• Niels Kinsella – bass, guitars, visuals (2002–present)
• Lloyd Hanney – drums (2003–present)
• Jamie Dean – keyboards, synthesiser, guitar (2010–present)

Former

• Michael Fenton – drums (2011)
• Gazz Carr – guitar (2012–2013)
• Stephen Whelan – drums (2012–2015)

Discography

• The End of the Beginning (2002)
• All Is Violent, All Is Bright (2005)
• Far from Refuge (2007)
• God Is an Astronaut (2008)
• Age of the Fifth Sun (2010)
• Origins (2013)
• Helios | Erebus (2015)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to God Is an Astronaut.

• Official web site
• God Is an Astronaut at AllMusic
• The 10 Best Instrumental Bands (Maxim)