Hailing from the city of Bjelovar in Croatia, Them Moose Rush are a progressive rock band unlike any other. Working in a genre often fuelled by pomp and circumstance the Eastern European trio have always done things for themselves, and in doing so, done it all inimitably. From directing their own music videos to producing their own photographs, the band even has a penchant for hiding cyphers in songs via Morse codes on keyboards and palindrome/semordnilap messages. And away from the devil in the detail, they simply rock harder and faster than anyone else.

Combining vintage vibes which play dutifully with the blues and heavy rock, their approach to song writing and production bursts with innovation. Much like 2013’s To Future Miss Sunshine, their second full-length album Don’t Pick Your Noise pushes riff after chaotic riff in an attempt to challenge listeners’ perceptions of what a rock and roll trio is truly capable of. Following their debut the band released two EPs that quickly helped establish them as live fixtures on the European festival and tour circuit, performing at Europavox (France), Eurosonic (Holland), INmusic (Croatia) and Krach Am Bach (Germany), alongside international bands such as The Black Keys, Arcade Fire, Pixies, Colour Haze, The Vintage Caravan and Mars Red Sky.

From lead singer Nikola Runjavec’s devastating vocal range, spanning a sonic spectrum that takes in Geddy Lee, Robert Plant and Jack White, to bass player Branimir Kuruc and drummer Vedran Marinko Komlen’s tight ship of a rhythm section, Don’t Pick Your Noise is a progressive, space-fuelled majesty of electric alt-rock and Machina melody.

Don’t Pick Your Noise by Them Moose Rush is released worldwide on 9th March 2018 on TMR Records with a vinyl version released through Dostava Zvuka. Stream and share the video for new track ‘Radio Violence’ below:

Ripple Music is thrilled to announce the worldwide release of Cry Witch, the debut album from Austin, TX-based four piece and old school doom metal band, Witchcryer.

As indebted to the heavy rock muscle of Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, and Blue Oyster Cult as their doom descendants Witchfinder General, Trouble, and St. Vitus, Witchcryer’s mix of influences puts emphasis on strong riffs, memorable hooks and dynamic strong structures.

Created by guitarist Jason Muxlow during his time with Chicago doom band Earthen Grave (also signed to Ripple Music), the band became his priority when he moved to Austin in early 2015 and began co-writing songs with drummer Javi Moctezuma. ‘The Preying Kind’ demo was recorded and released shortly after the arrival of vocalist/lyricist Suzy Bravo, who joined the band later that same year. With the final addition of San Antonio bassist Marilyn Monroe (Pillcrusher, ex-Las Cruces), the band played its first show in April 2016 and have since been described as “an onslaught” and “revelatory” with Bravo singled out as, “a powerful and amazing stage presence” Negalithic

Having recently completed their first ever US tour with Italian doom band Messa, Witchcryer’s debut album Cry Witch – which had originally been self-released earlier in year on CD – features nine songs of classic doom, produced by the band and Brant Sankey.

The album has already been described as one of the year’s best kept-secrets and as such has been heralded as one of 2018’s most exciting new discoveries. Cry Witch by Witchcryer is released worldwide on 19th January 2018 on Ripple Music but you can stream the title track ‘Cry Witch’, below:

For Alex Petralia, what started out as a home recording project quickly turned into an acerbic and almost pious assault when STUNTED – his sometime sonic-side line, recorded in between vocal obligations for Bay Area punks Nopes – finally landed on a theme for his first solo release.

“I always wanted to make music at my own pace and involve various friends to contribute instrumentation,” says Petralia of his new album Fault. “The project became more focused with the inclusion of the overall theme of the seven cardinal sins for the seven tracks. That was always a big thing that stuck with me growing up as a kid. Having Catholicism and all its fun narratives shoved down my throat.”

Stereo-fed on the sweaty decibels of early Californian proto-punk and hardcore provocateurs such as The Germs, Black Flag, and The Dead Kennedys, Petralia plied his trade by night in DIY spaces, house parties and garages as erratic front man for Nopes. (“The Bay Area’s well of great scuzzy garage rock never seems to run dry. Add to the list of Thee Oh Sees, Mikal Cronin, Ty Segall, et al, young Oaklanders Nopes” – Consequence of Sound.)

“What really pushed the theme even further was the constant reminder of how prevalent the filth of it all is in San Francisco. The city has experienced quite a shift beyond the tech industry boom, and the uber-rich have created such a bubble of existence in which they let their pride, greed, gluttony and envy dictate their lives. Writing songs and lyrics for STUNTED came pretty easily. Just take a bus for an hour in the city these days and you can write an album like this too.”

Driven by an appreciation for the Beastie Boys, Beck and Steve Albini, Fault is for all intents and purposes a darker affair than Nopes’ typical output. Despite it still provoking a burning heart and championing that unmistakable fury of being young, gifted and ultimately unaccountable, it’s further fuelled by wanton sugar intake, corner store liqueur and well-worn copies of Negative FX and Bad Brains records.

“All seven songs were recorded at either a shitty SF apartment, or an even shittier practice space in the Tenderloin,” explains Petralia. “I just wanted to do some dark industrial shit but without getting too into spiders and click tracks. It was a challenge getting the album recorded in a complex where the walls are so thin. The track ‘Wrath’ in particular invoked the anger from my neighbours and cops who kept showing up that night.”

With Petralia handling vocals, song writing duties, guitar, drum machine beats and bass guitar for STUNTED, he’s joined on a number of tracks by fellow Nopes Eagret Hansen on guitar, Gabe Simmons on drums and close friend and SF musician Marisela Guizar on saxophone.

Fault is the first official release on new record label Drwg Music* which was formed earlier this year by Bristol-based publicist and founder of Sheltered Life PR, Richard S Jones.

Fault by STUNTED is released on 23rd February 2018.

*Pronounced ‘droog/druːɡ’, Welsh for ‘Bad’Stream and share new song ‘Displays [Pride]’ below:

Following a recent confession given under duress, Artificial Head Records is hereby legally obliged to inform you that this February will see the official release of First Offense, the debut album from Houston-based protectors of punk rock and inhuman decency, The COPS.

Formed in the Fall of 2016 by members of bands from Houston’s thriving punk rock scene, straight off the night stick it’s worth observing that not only do The COPS dress like police officers when performing live, they actually sing about the system. As tracks like ‘Homicide’ channel the speed freak punk guitar play of The Briefs and Electric Frankenstein and ‘Life On The Beat’ proving to be a mean municipal anthem in-waiting, that sits perversely amidst a throng of Minor Threat, Hot Snakes and Pissed Jeans-loving reprobates.

Freeing their tongues from their collective cheeks to knock out some of the catchiest and most infectious jams you’re likely to hear from anyone/anywhere, having opened shows for the likes of JFA, NOBUNNY and Reagan Youth it seemed only logical that they would eventually team up with local legends Artificial Head Records. Having served the Houston music community loyally over the years the label has released albums from the likes of Funeral Horse, Jody Seabody & The Whirls and Cursus, not to mention some releases from further afield by bands such as Mountain God and Terminal Cheesecake.

“I’m glad that Artificial Head saw us for what we are,” explains front man and singer Tony Fulco. “I’ve been in bands and have recorded plenty of songs, put our own CDs and all that. But we’ve never done vinyl. The COPS is the best, hardest working, and funnest band I’ve ever been in. So, for them to come along and say ‘Hey, we gotta press some records!’ just makes it that much funner.”

First Offense by The COPS is released worldwide on 16th February 2018 on Artificial Head Records

Stream and share ‘Repeat Offender’ by The COPS right here: