Astra - Has anyone heard of these guys?

[Sketchy]

So yeah, I was wondering if anyone else has heard of Astra around here. I seem to remember seeing that they toured a few dates in Italy with either Porcupine Tree or Spock's Beard last year (I think it was Spock's Beard). Basically, they're really spacey 70s style prog (kinda King Crimson/Pink Floydy) so I was slightly surprised nothing came up in search.

But yeah, their album The Wierding is really good, and apparently they're releasing a second one soon, but information on that seems to be annoyingly lacking. (Hence why I searched, I wanted to know if anyone here had any idea about that.)

[ytserush]

I keep meaning to pick this up.

I'm guessing the second album is already out by now, but I really don't know.

[Sketchy]

Update: Discovered it's not out yet, but it's been mastered, so it shouldn't be long (I hope).

[obscure]

Discovered them recently.... Good stuff....

[skydivingninja]

I checked 'em out last year.  I'm not a big fan of bands that try and emulate the 70s to the letter.  70s influence can have very good results, like with Crack the Skye and Grace for Drowning, but Astra doesn't interest me.   

[wasteland]

I bought their latest album, The Black Chord, during my last trip to London. Some influences are very evident (King Crimson was a pivotal inspiration for the title track, I believe), but still the material is very very good.

You should check this album out if you haven't already! 

[kirksnosehair]

There are TWO bands with this name.  One is an old school progrock band - they're the ones who made the album "The Black Chord" and yeah, it's OK....I find it quite ponderous in some spots, but still not bad.


However, there is another band out there with the name Astra that has an album called "From Within" that kicks major ass in the progmetal category.


Samples here


I'm pretty sure Lonestar would dig these guys, and probably Obscure too.

[wasteland]

Are you sure those record come from two different bands? If so, then the store where I bought the record got confused and meshed all together. :/

[kirksnosehair]

Listen to the samples of the "From Within" album that I posted above and tell me that's the same band that released "The Black Chord"


I doubt it.

[wasteland]

Listen to the samples of the "From Within" album that I posted above and tell me that's the same band that released "The Black Chord"


I doubt it.

The first chord of one random selected song tells me you're right. 

[kirksnosehair]

    I actually bought "The Black Chord" thinking it would be like "From Within" and was, frankly, pretty disappointed.

[wasteland]

I actually like "The Black Chorder Astra" way more than the "Withiner Astra". At lest judging from those samples you linked.

They feel somewhat aggressive.

[kirksnosehair]

Yeah, it's prog-metal, but no harsh vocals.


It's a great album if you're into that kind of thing

[Sketchy]

I like my The Black Chord, to be honest. I may check out (From Within) Astra, but then that causes the labeling problems.

[ColdFireYYZ]

I love The Black Chord. The Weirding was good too but too long. They could have trimmed off 20 minutes or so.
Haven't heard the other band (From Within).

[pain of occupation]

kinda discovered the 70's sounding Astra this past week just thru youtube suggestions when i was checking out something else (cant even remember what)...enjoyed the couple tracks i spun. it had me thinknig of Yes at times.

[Nel]

All I know is that when I used to read PROG magazine, one of these Astra's was spam-advertised all the time. 

[ytserush]

All I know is that when I used to read PROG magazine, one of these Astra's was spam-advertised all the time. 

It's The Weirding and The Black Chord Astra and I STILL need to pick both of these up.