Ad Astra

Everything Ash does is *big*: big hooks, big guitars, and choruses so huge that they’re practically their own planetary systems. So it only makes sense that the Northern Irish power-pop veterans’ ninth album *Ad Astra* opens with their own supercharged take on Richard Strauss’ iconic tone poem “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” complete with ringing guitars and world-swallowing grandiosity that’s also faintly reminiscent of prog-rock titan Rush’s “Tom Sawyer.” But fear not: Ash hasn’t gone full-prog on their devoted fanbase, as *Ad Astra* is the latest collection of winsome and toothy tunes following 2023’s neon-streaked *Race the Night*. Blur guitarist Graham Coxon joins the trio for the punchy “Fun People” and the title track’s six-string theatrics, while the spacey rock of “Deadly Love” rubs elbows with a sprightly and surprising cover of the calypso standard “Jump in the Line”—the latter serving as a reminder of Ash’s try-anything-once versatility, which remains endearing as ever.

Deep space nine! Legendary pop-punkers Ash take their comeback to infinity and beyond on eclectic ninth album…

It’s 100% ‘Mission Possible’ for Northern Ireland’s indie-power pop legends, Ash. Their ninth studio album, ‘Ad Astra’, blasts off in turbocharged style,