An Irish instrumental rock band with an active antiwar stance and a reputation for fierce live performances, God Is an Astronaut emerged in 2002 with a sound that combines the epic melodies of post-rock, the precision of electronic-fueled Krautrock à la Tangerine Dream, and elements of space rock. Over time, their albums, which include the acclaimed All Is Violent, All Is Bright (2005), have incorporated horn arrangements and unobtrusive vocals, but their music has remained heavily atmospheric, melodic, and urgent. In 2021 the quartet released their turbulent ninth full-length effort, Ghost Tapes #10.

Brothers Torsten and Niels Kinsella (guitar/keyboards and bass/guitars, respectively), the group's driving force, came from Glen of the Downs in Wicklow. They played in a number of local bands before teaming up with drummer Lloyd Hanney, the disciple of the famous jazzman Johnny Wadham, to form God Is an Astronaut. Their electro-tinged album The End of the Beginning came out on their own label, Revive Records, in 2002. The two singles off the CD, "The End of the Beginning" and "From Dust to the Beyond," got airplay on several European MTV channels. Their second album, All Is Violent, All Is Bright, followed in 2005, and included the single "Fragile."

Avoiding the sophomore slump -- the record gathered a lot of rave reviews -- God Is an Astronaut settled on a steady record schedule, releasing the EP A Moment of Stillness in 2006 and their third album, Far from Refuge, in 2007. Far from Refuge was promoted by a sold-out European tour that reached as far as Moscow and Istanbul, where they played a festival crowd of 25,000. Their debut U.S. tour in early 2008, however, ended badly when the band had all of its equipment stolen in New Jersey. Returning to their home turf, God Is an Astronaut hit the studio again, releasing their fourth album, God Is an Astronaut, in 2008.

Following 2010's Age of the Fifth Sun, keyboardist/guitarist Jamie Dean joined the group. He contributed to 2013's Origins (on the Rocket Girl label) and 2015's Helios before departing in 2017. Robert Murphy then began performing keyboards and guitars during the group's concerts. After signing with Napalm Records, God Is an Astronaut released their eighth full-length, the heavy-hearted Epitaph, in 2018. Three years later they returned with the dynamic Ghost Tapes #10, which explored movement and intensity. ~ Alexey Eremenko, Rovi