{"id":9588,"date":"2023-09-14T19:24:22","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T18:24:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=9588"},"modified":"2023-09-14T19:24:24","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T18:24:24","slug":"ash-hark-back-to-their-glory-days-with-new-album-race-the-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=9588","title":{"rendered":"Ash hark back to their glory days with new album Race The Night"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ALBUM REVIEW: Ash – Race The Night (Fierce Panda)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Irish trio Ash have been peddling their infectious brand of punk-tinged indie-rock for more than 30 years now, and Race The Night<\/em> is their eighth studio album.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s their first since 2018’s slightly underwhelming Islands<\/em>, which I thought found them scrambling around a bit, unsure which direction they wanted to head in, with the exception of the wonderful Buzzkill <\/em>single.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news is that Ash are back with a bang, as this is their best collection of songs since 2004’s excellent Meltdown <\/em>album – yes, it’s that good.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Ash. Pic by Steve Gullick.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Tim Wheeler (guitar\/vocals), Mark Hamilton (bass) and Rick McMurray (drums) say Race The Night <\/em>was inspired by getting back in a room together after two years apart during the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wheeler has always had the knack of penning songs packed with catchy melodies, and the band showed on Meltdown <\/em>that they can rock out a bit too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, they show both facets of their appeal; title track Race The Night<\/em>, about chance encounters and grasping opportunities with both hands, is a classic Ash single, opening the album in upbeat fashion, and setting the tone for what follows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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