Cork’s post-punk stalwarts reveal a new chapter with raw, brooding release that teases debut album.

Cork-based trio Ash Red have unleashed their latest effort, the ‘STUPID EP’, via Blowtorch Records — a radiant, rough-edged collection that captures the band at a pivotal creative moment. Known for their intoxicating mix of indie, alt-rock, and post-punk, Ash Red are evolving, and ‘STUPID EP’ stands as a bold bridge between the urgency of their earlier material and the darker, more expansive textures of their forthcoming debut album.

Recorded with a deliberate emphasis on rawness and immediacy, the EP channels the intensity of their live performances into a studio setting. It’s a tastefully unpolished work, brimming with jagged guitars, swirling effects, and a driving rhythm section that puts feeling first and polish second.

Lead track ‘The Stupid Song’ sets the tone — a scathing, energetic outburst with serrated guitar riffs, boxy, propulsive drums, and a hypnotic bass groove. The band’s urgent vocal delivery and biting instrumentation call back to punk luminaries like Joy Division and The Buzzcocks, but with a looser, slacker-rock edge rooted in ’90s alt-rock grit. Reverb-drenched flourishes lend the track a dreamlike haze, layering in a shoegaze sensibility that suggests deeper sonic ambition.

In contrast, ‘Before’ pulls back the curtain to reveal a more vulnerable Ash Red. Beginning with a subdued acoustic rhythm, the track patiently builds into a beautifully restrained crescendo, with expressive guitar lines weaving around a more reflective vocal tone. It’s a subtle but striking shift, revealing new emotional depth without sacrificing the band’s trademark tension.

“The EP captures a raw and direct snapshot of a band in transition—bridging the gap between our earlier sound and what’s to come on the full-length album,” the band explain.

Formed in 2019, Ash Red — Arthur Murray (guitar/vocals), Tadhg O’Keeffe (bass/backing vocals), and Isaac Walsh (drums) — have steadily built a loyal following across Ireland. Known for their shadowy basslines, moody atmospheres, and sharp songwriting, they wear their influences proudly — from the post-punk pioneers of the late ‘70s to the bleak romanticism of The Cure — while injecting a distinctly Irish perspective into their music.

With over 70 shows in Cork alone, and notable gigs in Dublin, Galway, Limerick, and Belfast — including headline performances at The Workman’s Club and Voodoo — Ash Red have become a cornerstone of Ireland’s thriving underground scene. National tastemakers like RTÉ and Hot Press have already taken note, signaling the band’s growing reach beyond the live circuit.

Now, with the ‘STUPID EP’, Ash Red sharpen their focus while refusing to smooth over the edges.