Burned As Witches // Burned As Witches (Self-Titled) // Album Review

Ash drummer Rick McMurray’s solo project Burned As Witches will release his self-titled debut album on the 17th of April, and it is not what you would expect; far removed from anything Ash has ever done, this one caters for the connoisseurs of beautiful, doom-laden heavy metal. One major thing of note is that McMurray does it all himself, from the drums to the vocals; it is all him, and it is unreal.

The album opens with “Scapegoats” with its atmospheric intro that quickly drops into a crushing riff driven heavy track that has a killer groove, the booming low end really accentuates the heaviness, throw in a nice solo and distorted guitars, who knew McMurray could play play, you have a monster opener not to mention his killer vocals that suit this style to the ground. “Hold Your Nerve” is has a melodic bluesy vibe to it, the guitar work on this is fantastic as McMurray shows his chops with great riffs and a nice little solo at the backend, the drum and bass combination help push this one along as McMurray croons away with a blues lilt to his vocals. “Pay The Ferry” is doom personified, with its buzzing bass line and slow, deliberate drumbeat driving the track. The guitar work is a little more restrained here, allowing for the heaviness to be felt to the full effect, with the exception of the killer solo; McMurray’s vocals are immense. “Truth Comes Crawling” has a grittier feel to it with its crunching guitars and booming bass, McMurray’s vocals are class with his darker tone ringing through like a bell tolling while his fretwork for the solo is brilliant, this is an amazing track that just gets better with each listen. “It Comes Before The Fall” is heavy as hell, with a thumping low end that drives the track and a chugging riff that puts even more emphasis on the heaviness.

Vocally, McMurray is quite melodic, which is in contrast to the heaviness, but it only makes the track more appealing, a little proggy at times, but we’ll allow it. “Right In Front Of You” is a slower more mournful track, with a siren like guitar ditty that runs throughout, it builds over the course of the track where upon it explodes with a monster riff with McMurray’s crooning drawing you in, the solo is excellent and showcases his undeniable ability as a guitarist, this track is a beast, probably the best one on the album. “A Spartan Mass” is a stripped-back track that allows McMurray to let all and sundry both hear and feel his wonderful talent, a mellow number that washes over you, leaving a sense of calm. The album closes with the colossal “To The Sky”; distorted riffs and a buzzing bass line, paired with a slow drum beat, give it a real Sabbath feel. McMurray’s vocals are amazing once again, more melodic than previous tracks, but that is what makes this track standout even more, an excellent finale to a brilliant album.

“Burned As Witches” is out on the 17th April, a brilliant solo debut from Ash’s Rick McMurray, a genius multi-instrumentalist, and about as far removed from Ash as you can get. This is essential listening

Review: Conor

Pre-order the Burned As Witches album here