Astronoid in Chicago

About Astronoid

Astronoid is a progressive metal band from Massachusetts that sounds like they're processing the universe through a wall of pristine guitar textures. They landed with their 2016 self-titled debut, which married the technical heaviness of modern metal with the dreamy, reverb-soaked atmosphere of shoegaze—basically what happens when you let metal musicians listen to too much My Bloody Valentine. Songs like 'Radiolarian' showcase their thing: intricate riffing and disciplined percussion paired with synth layers that create this weightless, almost transcendent feeling. By their second album 'Air,' the band had refined this formula further, leaning into the ethereal side while keeping the structural complexity intact. Their music doesn't really fit neatly anywhere, which is kind of the point. They're heavy without being aggressive, experimental without being difficult. If you've found yourself wanting metal that sounds beautiful and uncluttered, this is where that impulse leads.

Astronoid's shows are surprisingly subdued for a metal band. The crowd mostly stands and absorbs the dense, shimmering wall of sound they create. It's less fist-pumping and more glazed-over reverence. The interplay between instruments is tight enough that most of the energy is implied rather than displayed.

Known for Radiolarian, Breathe, Dial, Cascade, The Mechanics of Reload

Astronoid + Chicago

Astronoid touched down at Beat Kitchen in August 2022 for a set that felt like a journey through their catalog's more introspective corners. They opened with the tense minimalism of 'Admin' before hitting 'Sleep Whisper' and 'Sedative'—songs that showcase their gift for building atmosphere from sparse, hypnotic elements. The band moved through deeper album cuts like 'I've Forgotten Your Face' and 'I Dream in Lines,' songs that reward the kind of patient listening their fanbase specializes in. 'A New Color' landed somewhere in the middle of the set, a moment where their production-heavy approach crystallized. Closing with 'Up and Atom' felt right—a track with enough propulsion to send people out into Chicago's night with something to chew on.

Astronoid in Chicago News

• Eidola (Dance Gavin Dance Members) Announce 2026 North American Tour with Nerv and Astronoid Consequence of Sound · Nov 18, 2025
• EIDOLA (Dance Gavin Dance) announce spring U.S. tour with NERV and ASTRONOID Lambgoat · Nov 18, 2025
• EIDOLA, ASTRONOID & NERV Announce U.S. Tour Metal Injection · Jan 17, 2025
• Show Review: TesseracT, Plini & Astronoid At Summit Music Hall In Denver, CO New Noise Magazine · Jun 26, 2022
• LIVE REVIEW: Tesseract with Plini and Astronoid at Metro Chicago, May 19th, 2018 Heavy Blog is Heavy · May 25, 2018

Live Music in Chicago

Chicago has always had room for the strange and experimental, from its industrial roots to its current crop of avant-garde and experimental metal acts. Astronoid fits into that lineage—shoegaze-influenced metal that's more concerned with texture and mood than riffing. The city's venues like Beat Kitchen have become reliable stops for bands doing intricate, atmospheric work that demands actual attention.

Chicago road trip to see Astronoid?

Stay in Lincoln Park or Wicker Park depending on your vibe—both neighborhoods have real character and plenty of late-night options. Book dinner at Alinea if you're feeling ambitious, or hit RPM Italian for something excellent and less impossible to get into. Spend an afternoon at the Art Institute, then walk along the Lakefront. The city's got enough to fill a weekend without feeling like you're checking boxes. Catch the show, eat well, and remember why you liked this band in the first place.