Astral Rocks’ latest single, “Why War,” is an emotional reckoning disguised as music. Written and performed by Milli Schweizer, the British-Swiss artist whose life story is itself marked by survival and resilience, the song taps into wounds that are personal and universal. Having endured a life-threatening illness and a devastating car accident in 2017, Schweizer brings a depth of sincerity to her work that few can emulate. That lived experience translates into every line, every note, and every swell of instrumentation in “Why War.” At its core, this song is a lament—cinematic in scope, rooted in rock, but soaring with orchestral richness that paints the picture of devastation and the stubborn search for hope.
The track begins with an atmospheric build, weaving together cinematic textures that’s like a fog rolling across a battlefield. Soon, Milli’s voice enters with haunting clarity—tender, almost fragile at first, but carrying the unmistakable weight of grief and conviction. Her delivery is not theatrical for the sake of drama; instead, it is lived-in, grounded, the voice of someone who knows what it means to lose and fight for survival. The narrative centres around a mother broken by war, robbed of everything familiar, her grief sharpened into the central question: why must humanity keep repeating the same cycles of violence? The strength of the song lies in its refusal to romanticise the pain—it shows the cost, and it asks us to listen.
Musically, “Why War” fuses the urgency of cinematic rock with sweeping orchestral layers that give it a grandeur fitting of its subject matter. Strings surge like waves of emotion, guitars cut through the mix with jagged immediacy, and the rhythm section anchors the track with a pulse that’s human and relentless. It is this balance—between rock’s rawness and orchestral grace—that makes the song feel timeless. There are moments when the arrangement swells so dramatically that it feels like a soundtrack to history itself, echoing through ruins and protests alike. Each crescendo mirrors the breaking point of a heart that can no longer bear the weight of senseless destruction.
Lyrically, the song is unflinching yet deeply empathetic. The recurring question, “Why war?” is not shouted with fury but posed with sorrow, making it all the more powerful. It’s the cry of a mother, but also the collective plea of those who have lost families, homes, and futures to conflict. The words invite us to confront the absurdity of our world—where peace is always within reach, yet consistently overshadowed by greed, pride, or power. This is protest music in its purest form, not by waving slogans, but by breaking open the human heart and asking why we keep accepting tragedy as inevitable. In a time when news cycles desensitise us to headlines of destruction, “Why War” pierces through with its raw humanity.
Ultimately, Astral Rocks’ “Why War” succeeds because it transcends being just another release in the crowded music landscape. It is art that refuses to be relegated to background noise. It demands attention, not for its polish alone, but for its message. Milli Schweizer reminds us that music can be more than entertainment, but witness, protest, and prayer all at once. This is not a song that will leave you once the final notes fade. It lingers, pressing into your conscience, asking you to carry its plea with you: if peace is possible, why do we keep choosing war? In that way, Astral Rocks has given us a timeless reminder of the responsibility we share as listeners, as humans, and as voices that can still choose compassion over conflict.
For more information, follow Astral Rocks:
Website – Facebook – Soundcloud – Instagram – YouTube
