Ash // Ad Astra // Album Review

Northern Ireland’s favourite Indie rockers Ash are back, not two short years since their last offering, “Race The Night”, with “Ad Astra”, twelve tracks that are sure to expand and explode your mind as only Ash can.

Opening with “Zarathrusta”, a cool version of the “2001: A Space Odyssey” theme before running headlong into the first real track “Which One Do You Want?”, to be honest I had to check what I was listening to as it sounds very Morrissey, which can go one of two ways and thankfully this goes the later and far more sonically aesthetic, soft strummed guitars and similarly styled drumming allows Wheeler to croon away with a real mellow vibe, a cracking track.

“Fun People” shatters any illusions that this album is going to be an easy listening affair as the electro Talking Heads style intro and riffs that follow will make sure you sit up and take notice, Graham Coxon of Blur fame adds his talents to this one, with crunching riffs and a relentless pace this is not for the faint hearted, its only three tracks in but already you have a sense that this is going to be one of their finest albums to date. “Give Me Back My World” is a real earworm; the pop-rock catchiness of it is insane. From the verse to the chorus, you will be humming along in no time. It’s the melody that is the real hook, a genuinely brilliant track. Kicking it up a notch is “Hallion”, a rocker that, while melodic, has a nice punch to it thanks to McMurray’s fantastic drumming and Hamilton’s bass. Wheeler’s magical vocals are, as always, top-notch and are only getting better with age. “Deadly Love” is a slower, more melancholy track, with Wheeler sounding a little forlorn against a lovely backdrop of rock and electronica, offering a nice change of pace and featuring some excellent fret work at the end of the track. This is one of the album’s best tracks. “My Favourite Ghost” is a poignant ballad that has Wheeler at his most vulnerable. The soft instrumental arrangement is fantastic; it feels like it reaches out and embraces you in a big hug, a brilliant track showing the band’s versatility.

The band’s cracking cover of Harry Belafonte’s “Jump in Line” is a nice addition that will surely go down a treat live, pogo city. “Keep Dreaming” has a Weezer vibe to it, an all out fun rocker with a seriously catchy rhythm, the keyboard works well and the solo is straight out of a hair metal 80s track, the Summery vibes will have you longing for sunny days to blast out this cracking number. “Dehumanised” after it’s subdued opening this turns into a kick ass rocker; distorted guitars, crunching riffs and crashing drums with a massive bass line, this is one that will get the blood pumping and body moving, oh and a tasty soaring solo, this is classic Ash with a new twist. “Ghosting” has that pop rock feel with airy vocals and a catchy melodic rhythm, Wheeler once again sounds a little Morrissey but that by the by, this is another track that sees the band push their boundaries with a slightly different style, a hint of Americana as well on another brilliant track. The album closes with the title track, “Ad Astra”, and the second collab with Graham Coxon, a real toe tapper that you will find hard to resist the urge to not be moved by this one, the verse’ and chorus’ blend seamlessly in a melodic explosion of joy while the numerous solos will have your head spinning in euphoric delight, if this doesn’t ignite something inside you, you may well be dead, a banger to finish the album.

Ash never disappoint and this is no different, there is not a bad track on the album, another classic to add to their collection

Review: Conor

Pre-order new album Ad Astra HERE.

Ash – Ad Astra album artwork

Ash – Ad Astra album tracklisting

1. Zarathustra
2. Which One Do You Want?
3. Fun People (feat Graham Coxon)
4. Give Me Back My World
5. Hallion
6. Deadly Love
7. My Favourite Ghost
8. Jump In The Line
9. Keep Dreaming
10. Dehumanised
11. Ghosting
12. Ad Astra (feat Graham Coxon)

Ash – Upcoming live dates 2025

Tickets are available here

26th September – Visor Festival, Valencia, Spain
14th October – Zepp, Fukuoka, Japan
16th October – Zepp, Osaka, Japan
17th October – Zepp, Nagoya, Japan
20th October – Gigs, Sendai, Japan
21st October – KT Zepp, Yokohama, Japan
14th November – Shiiine On Weekender, Minehead, UK
16th November – Sin City, Swansea, UK
18th November – Boiler Shop, Newcastle, UK
19th November – New Century Hall, Manchester, UK
20th November – SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow, UK
22nd November – Bootleg Social, Blackpool, UK
23rd November – The Foundry, Sheffield, UK
25th November – O2 Academy, Oxford, UK
5th December – Mike The Pies, Listowel, Ireland
6th December – Spirit Store, Dundalk, Ireland
7th December – Róisín Dubh, Galway, Ireland
9th December – Cyprus Avenue, Cork, Ireland
10th December – Dolans Warehouse, Limerick, Ireland
11th December – The Academy, Dublin, Ireland
13th December – Ulster Hall, Belfast, UK