Burned As Witches
Burned As Witches
Self-Release
It’s no secret that pop-punk band Ash have their roots in heavy metal (two founding members cut their teeth in an Iron Maiden tribute act). However, what might come as a surprise is how deep those roots reach, and in the case of drummer Rick McMurray they descend very deep indeed. Burned As Witches is McMurray’s side project and finds him the main creative force and as such the eponymously-titled debut album has a strong sense of purpose and drive. Zeppelin and Sabbath are the main influences, but things tend to veer towards the latter (which is undoubtedly a good thing) and come armed with riffs that could crush a mere mortal and a rhythm section that stomps like the proverbial Iron Man. Aesthetically, the eight tracks comprising this albumhark back to the 1970’s, an age when metal was supremely satanic and it feels a little dangerous playing Burned As Witches, as if the very act of spinning songs such as ‘Pay The Ferry’ could summon the Devil himself. McMurray’s musical lineage ensures the likes of ‘To The Sky’ have an air of authenticity, and means Burned As Witches is the sound of an artist cooking with gas.
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Review by Peter Dennis.