Cork Rockers Ash Red have started the rollout of their forthcoming album with a wild statement in their new single "DB COOPER." Fractured through textures inspired by alternative rock, post-punk, and grunge, the track burns with an intensity and a raw, unforgiving edge, marking Ash Red out as a band that isn't afraid to pair their heaviness with a bit of narrative storytelling. "DB COOPER" reels you in with an indie groove before erupting at the 45-second mark with searing guitars that propel the song into full-throttle territory. And it's this careful balance between repression and explosion that makes the single such a captivating listen, one that leaves you waiting for what's to come.
The track is based on the infamous character DB Cooper, the man who in 1971 hijacked a plane and disappeared, never to be caught. But Ash Red cunningly spins the story inward, creating a modern picture of recklessness. Here, Cooper is a stand-in for one who lives recklessly, submerged in drugs, alcohol, and one-night stands, but manages to sidestep responsibility. And it's a theme that resonates with sharp relevance, dealing with excess, consequence, and the question of how some people manage to slip through the cracks unscathed. The power of "DB COOPER" is in the way the band translates this chaos into sound. Arthur Murray's vocals and guitars add the grit and urgency, while Tadhg O'Keeffe's basslines form the dark undercurrent that propels the song along. Keeping everyone in check is Isaac Walsh on drums, crashing out beats that pound in not so much a rhythm as an uncontrolled heartbeat, a percussive expression of the danger and unpredictability of the song's theme.
With "DB COOPER", Ash Red is giving us a vibe, and it's the kind of song that a dark club would swallow whole, the sweat on the ceiling forming a moist condensation, and the room pulsating with its raw beat. As a first taste of their forthcoming album, it's an auspicious one, pointing towards a collection of songs that's as heavy-hitting as it is thought-provoking. While they might have their roots in Cork, Ireland, on "DB COOPER," Ash Red is talking to the allure of the outlaw, the chaos of indulgence, and the thrill of eluding repercussions. This single makes you feel the story, all the way down to your bones.
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