Emerging Irish Post Punk Trio Ash Red set to unveil highly anticipated new album 'The Foreign Game'
FFO: Fontaines DC, Joy Division, The Cure, The Murder Capital
Lead vocalist and guitarist Arthur Murray put on a performance to impress, with exceptional guitar solos that sent the crowd going wild… Their blaring drums, and the driving bass of Tadhg O’ Keeffe that tied up the bands sound together perfectly. - Hot Press
Nothing feels overdone and every element gets its chance to shine. This band plays with real passion, and it comes through in every second of this. It’s a standout debut and proof this band is going places.. - Cheers To The Vikings
Throughout, the trio — Arthur Murray, Tadhg O’Keeffe, and Isaac Walsh — maintain a chemistry that feels lived-in, road-tested, and refreshingly unfiltered. It’s no surprise, given their relentless presence on the Irish live circuit, with over 70 shows in Cork and key slots across the country. That sense of grit and grind bleeds into the music in the best way possible. - Mystic Sons
Cork-based post-punk trio Ash Red release their debut album “The Foreign Game” via Blowtorch Records on November 14th . Available on vinyl & streaming.
Following the success of their STUPID EP, which charted on the UK Alternative Albums Charts, Ash Red continue to evolve their signature dark, bass-heavy post-punk sound with this full-length debut.
Singles such as ‘DB Cooper’ and ‘Friends?’ have garnered significant traction on Spotify and other streaming platforms, signalling the arrival of a bold, confident full-length statement. The Foreign Game captures Ash Red at a peak of creative evolution, blending jagged post- punk riffs, brooding atmospherics, and expansive sonic textures. The album features “Albini-esque” production, emphasising raw, live energy while allowing dynamic variation between heavy and light moments—seen on tracks like the intense ‘Island’s Edge’ and the more delicate ‘Alone Again’.
The albums closer and title track exemplifies the band’s central approach, exploring themain themes of the album: what it means to be an outsider: the exile, isolated and lost.
Using football as its frame, the album title draws on the history of ‘Rule 27’, whichGAA used to forbid its members from playing so-called ‘foreign games’ until 1971.
The band themselves use this as an analogy for the ‘Importance of being yourself’ Since forming in 2019, Arthur Murray (guitar/vocals), Tadhg O’Keeffe (bass/backing vocals), and Isaac Walsh (drums) have built a devoted following through relentless live performances across Ireland, including headline shows at The Workman’s Club (Dublin), as well as supporting major acts such as Public Image Limited.
Ash Red will embark on an Irish Tour in support of the album, with tickets available via their website. www.ashredmusic.com
With The Foreign Game, Ash Red solidify themselves as one of Ireland’s most compelling new acts, merging raw post-punk intensity with introspective atmospherics, marking the next chapter in their musical journey.
BUY THE FOREIGN GAME ON VINYL
Friends? - Focus Track
Like all the tracks on Ash Red's debut album The Foreign Game, "Friends?" deals with issues of identity and belonging in a world that often prizes conformity over individuality. More specifically it explores conflict, fragile relationships and touches on God and faith. It takes a dark, cynical turn as the lyrics declare "It’s a means to an end, who you call your friends" although there is hope as the chorus goes "And I'll see you again, and we can be friends, just don't talk about it..."
Opening with a reverb soaked jangle worthy of The Smiths or The Cure, Murray's impassioned, plaintive vocals suit the words perfectly. The heavy bass and drum backing provide the ideal framework as they are unrelentingly dark and powerful yet leave space for the lushness of the guitar to shine through in the verses. The chorus is presaged by the track kicking into distorted overdrive reflecting the dynamics showcased on previous single DB COOPER.
The production by Tris Dalton at Youghal's Claycastle Studios is exemplary, allowing the rawness of Ash Red's live performance to come through while balancing the extreme dynamics this trio can produce. The sound is reflected best on the 12" vinyl version of the album which is available via Galway's Blowtorch Records in a very limited edition of 100. It's the closest thing to experiencing Ash Red's power other than seeing them live.
On hearing the album, legendary Irish punk Deko (Paranoid Visions) commented "This absolute banger of a debut album from Cork three piece post punk, alternative indie rockers Ash Red is absolutely crammed full of brilliant songs with The Cure being a major influence along with Buzzcocks, The Teardrop Explodes, Wire and Supergrass. Definitely in my top ten albums of 2025, possibly best Irish album of 2025."
CONNECT WITH ASH RED VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
