Ad Astra (album)
| Ad Astra | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 3 October 2025 | |||
| Length | 43:33 | |||
| Label | Fierce Panda | |||
| Producer | Tim Wheeler | |||
| Ash chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Ad Astra | ||||
| ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 79/100[1] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Clash | 8/10[2] |
| Classic Rock |   [3] |
| Kerrang! | 4/5[4] |
| God Is in the TV | 9/10[5] |
| Louder Than War |  [6] |
| Record Collector | [7] |
| Uncut | 7/10[8] |
Ad Astra is the ninth studio album by Northern Irish rock band Ash, released on 3 October 2025[9] through Fierce Panda Records.
Track listing
All songs written by Tim Wheeler, except where noted.[10]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Zarathustra" | Richard Strauss | 1:33 |
| 2. | "Which One Do You Want?" | 3:31 | |
| 3. | "Fun People" (featuring Graham Coxon) | 3:49 | |
| 4. | "Give Me Back My World" | 2:43 | |
| 5. | "Hallion" | Wheeler, Ilan Eshkeri | 3:34 |
| 6. | "Deadly Love" | 6:06 | |
| 7. | "My Favourite Ghost" | 3:13 | |
| 8. | "Jump in the Line" | Lord Kitchener | 3:27 |
| 9. | "Keep Dreaming" | 3:29 | |
| 10. | "Dehumanised" | 4:20 | |
| 11. | "Ghosting" | 2:33 | |
| 12. | "Ad Astra" (featuring Graham Coxon) | 5:15 | |
| Total length: | 43:33 | ||
Personnel
Personnel per booklet.[10]
Ash
- Tim Wheeler – vocals, guitars, keyboards, programming, percussion
- Mark Hamilton – bass
- Rick McMurray – drums, percussion
Additional musicians
- Graham Coxon - guitar, vocals (tracks 3 and 12)
- Julia Restoin Roitfeld - shouts (track 3)
- Romy Konjic Restoin - shouts (track 3)
- Ilan Eshkeri - string arrangement (tracks 5 and 7), programming (track 1)
- Angie McCrisken - spoken intro (track 5)
- Jo Dudderidge - backing vocals (track 5), additional piano (track 7)
- Pat Dam Smyth - backing vocals (track 5)
- Tim Wheeler, Graeme Young & Rick McMurray - claps & stomps on (tracks 3, 8 and 9)
- Pat Wheeler & Mark Arigho - additional handclaps (track 8)
- Mark Hamilton - scream (track 8)
- Strings (tracks 5 and 7) performed by the LMO:
- John Mils - violin
- Matthew Ward - violin
- Bob Smissen - viola
- Nick Cooper - cello
Production
- Tim Wheeler – producer
- Claudius Mittendorfer – mixing
- John Webber – mastering
Charts
| Chart (2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Irish Independent Albums (IRMA)[11] | 19 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] | 4 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[13] | 15 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[14] | 2 |
References
- ^ "Reviews for Ad Astra by Ash". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ Harrison, Emma (2 October 2025). "Ash – Ad Astra". Clash. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ Beaumont, Mark (3 October 2025). "Review: Still mixing futuristic rock brilliance with Brit-Weezer ballast, Ash venture into space on Ad Astra". Classic Rock. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ Sutherland, Mark (3 October 2025). "Album review: Ash – Ad Astra". Kerrang!. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ Doherty, Steven (7 October 2025). "Ash – Ad Astra (Fierce Panda)". God Is in the TV. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ Plummer, Robert (28 September 2025). "Ash: Ad Astra – Review – ALBUM OF THE WEEK!". Louder Than War. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ Ash balance the experimental and traditional like the seasoned pros they are. Ad Astra is a delight. [Nov 2025, p.102]
- ^ Tim Wheeler's flair for crashing power-chord melodies and happy-sad lyrics remain undimmed. .... Graham Coxon makes two slight but likable cameo appearances. [Nov 2025, p.28]
- ^ "Ash Official Store Ad Astra - CD". Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ^ a b Ad Astra (booklet). Ash. Fierce Panda. 2025.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Irish Independent Chart – Week 41 2025 – Week Ending 17 Oct 2025". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 11 October 2025. Note: Select 10-Oct-25 on the date selector.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 10/10/2025 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart on 10/10/2025 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 10/10/2025 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 October 2025.