Burned As Witches (side project by Ash drummer Rick McMurray) self-titled debut album out now in digital format; vinyls arrive on May 8th!

Edinburgh, UK baased stoner/doom/hard rock act Burned As Witches has just released self-titled debut album on April 17th, 2026 via Fierce Panda and Earblind Records. Formed in response to the loss of a dear friend in 2021, Burned As Witches is a side project by Ash drummer Rick McMurray.

Listen to »Burned As Witches« on all major streaming services!

Tracklist:
01. Scapegoats
02. Hold Your Nerve
03. Pay The Ferry
04. Truth Comes Crawling
05. It Comes Before The Fall
06. Right In Front Of You
07. A Spartan Mass
08. To The Sky

»Hold Your Nerve« is the first single from Burned As Witches, the brainchild of one Rick McMurray, prime time Ash drummer. Taken from the album, also called »Burned As Witches« and out on April 17th, »Hold Your Nerve« is kinda stoner rock, but not really stoned, altogether more meaty and beaty and melodic.

“This was one of the last songs written for the album, it just tumbled out of my subconscious and I only figured out what it’s about as we were making the video.” McMurray explains. “It’s about innocence in the face of a corrupt and venal world. Is it better to take the red pill and see the world as it is, when you feel so helpless to change it, or the blue pill and remain blissfully unaware of a world that exploits you? Musically, it’s the bastard child of Iommi and Page, bringing some Led Zep swagger to Sabbath’s doom, which somehow manages to conjure an undercurrent of glam.”

Photo credits: Ron Mickson

Burned As Witches lands in the briefest of interludes from that day job in Ash, who’ve basically been working non-stop since the releases of »Race The Night« in 2023 and the current »Ad Astra« album. As Rick says, “if you’re expecting some slices of powerpunkpop then think again” as Burned As Witches positively drips with riffing heaviosity, big-boned solos and beefy chord crunchings. This is intense, on all levels. McMurray also plays every note on every track. This is NOT like the day job!

Burned As Witches started as a way to deal with the untimely passing of Ash’s long term live agent, friend and rock’n’roll hellraiser Steve Strange in 2021. Inspired by The Strange One’s love of metal – this record was conceived in mourning and is all about the doom, full of chunky riffs and weighty themes. Rest very much unassured, Burned As Witches is an out and out rock album.

“It started with me just writing some pretty dark riffs after we’d played The Roundhouse on our much postponed anniversary tour. We thought that gig would put the Covid years to bed but it turned into a wake for Strangey. By the time I started putting the music down in demo form, I realised I was writing a tribute record to him.”

McMurray adds, “That was too much to take and the demos went on the hard drive where solo projects go to die. But it kept tugging away at me. After a few months and a few tours I had another listen, which brought an epiphany in which I heard the words, ‘It doesn’t have to be about me’. Now, I’m not saying that Strangey spoke to me from beyond the veil or anything – it was probably my subconscious – but, whatever, I realised how proud he would be to have been the inspiration for me. Steve, I miss you and love you, you mad bastard. We all do.”

»Burned As Witches« vinyl out May 8th, 2026 from the official store HERE.

Line-up:
Rick McMurray – Drums, Bass, Guitar & Vocals

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well