Introducing HEAVY RIPPLES DISTRIBUTION!

Noting that the burgeoning underworld of stoner, doom, and heavy rock bands were under-served by the current distribution system, Racer and Pope--the head honchos of the hard-rocking Label, Ripple Music-- decided that something had to be done.  So, they put together a distribution service benefiting from their years of experience with Ripple Music. And Heavy Ripples Distro was born.

Ever since the dawn of the music industry, and especially since the recent boom in vinyl popularity, fans of physical merchandise all over the world have had one major setback: shipping costs.

Ripples Distribution is a revolutionary idea: an entirely not-for-profit, web-based store that aims to do one thing: centralize merchandise like vinyl records, tshirts, CDs, 7”s, magazines and more in one place so that fans all over the world can order them directly and avoid high shipping fees. More importantly, Heavy Ripples aims to uphold the long-standing DIY ethic that makes the new genre of heavy rock music so great.

HOW IT WORKS: Heavy Ripples teams up with labels and individual bands to bring in a handful of each individual merch item into the store, which is powered by Bigcartel. Every time an item is purchased, Heavy Ripples immediately sends ALL of the money to the band or label, and only keeps a couple of dollars to pay for shipping and website fees.

We invite labels, bands, magazines, and anyone interested in supporting underground heavy music from all over the world to join in making positive waves in the world of Heavy Ripples!

Heavy Ripples Links:

www.heavyripples.bigcartel.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heavy-Ripples-Distribution/521859817852067

http://twitter.com/heavyripples

Ripple Music Links:

http://www.ripple-music.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ripple-Music/369610860064

http://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com

https://twitter.com/RippleMusic

What's the Hot New Place to Get The Best Music From the Heavy Underground? Ripple Music Unveils HeavyRipples Distribution - Psych, Stoner, Doom and More.

North America's Exclusive Distributor for Vincerebus Eruptum - the voice of the underground. Five years in the making, Ripple Music is proud to announce the creation of Heavy Ripples Distro (heavyripples.bigcartel.com), the best new source to find LP's, CD's, 7"'s, Tee's, Magazines, and more from some of the most esteemed bands in the heavy underground. Noting that the burgeoning underworld of bands pumping out stoner, doom, heavy psych and metal mania were horribly under-served by today's current distribution system, Racer and Pope--the head honchos of the hard-rocking Label, Ripple Music-- decided that something had to be done.  Knowing that there were tons of excellent heavy bands that couldn't get widespread distribution because they weren't "hot enough" for some of the current heavy distributors, or not signed to a big enough label, Racer and Pope decided to put together a Distro that could benefit from the years of experience and channels they'd gained with Ripple Music. And Heavy Ripples Distro was born. Featuring heavy bands from North America, Europe, Australia, South America and beyond, HeavyRipples doesn't discriminate against bands who may not move 100 copies or are self-produced and totally D.I.Y.  The only criteria for HeavyRipples is that the bands rock- pure, unadulterated riff-mad heaviness.  Utilizing a "bare minimum" fee strategy, Heavy Ripples Distro offers bands the opportunity to have their music distributed world-wide with the lowest possible fees, allowing the bands to recoup the greatest return on their music while getting maximum exposure and the opportunity to offer thei music to heavy rock fans at the best prices on the web. It's an entirely new model for heavy music distribution and one HeavyRipples Distro hopes can maximize the viral spread of the heavy rock.  Recognizing the dedication Heavy Ripples Distro has to the underground scene, some of the leading Labels in heavy rock jumped at the chance to join in, with Labels like Cosmic Artifactz, Buried by Time and Dust, PsychDoomelic, and Ozium Records all offering the best of their heaviness. And there's more.  HeavyRipples Distro is now the exclusive North American Distributor of Vincerebus Eruptum (www.vincebuseruptum.it), the world's leading magazine devoted to the stoner, doom, and heavy psych rock scene.  Produced in Italy, Vincerebus Eruptum brings interviews, features, news, and reviews of such heavy legends as Colour Haze, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats Orchid, Kadavar, Witchraft, and more.  All in a slick, full-color format and for only $7 per issue. Check out Heavy Ripples Distro, the web's leading site for the sounds of the true heavy rock underground - www.heavyripples.bigcartel.com.

For inquiries and band submissions, contact Racer at heavyripples@gmail.com.

And find all the heaviness and daily deals at:

www.heavyripples.bigcartel.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heavy-Ripples-Distribution/521859817852067

@heavyripples /twitter

Grifter Preparing To Pummel World With 1st Full Length Albu

 

Ripple Music is proud to announce the new Grifter self-titled CD is in the final throes of post-production and set for release on Tuesday, October 4^th in the U.S. Originally formed in 2003, Grifter has spent the better part of the last decade spreading their blues-based, riff heavy rock n’ roll message across the UK via live shows and a ton of physical and digital EP’s. Now, they’re ready to unleash their rip roarin’ good time on a world-wide level!

"Life ain't a bowl of cherries...you work for "the man", pay taxes to "the man", obey "the man"...but when the working day is done, the rock and roll is all yours. Grifter play rock and roll!!!” states guitarist/vocalist Ollie Stygall on the mindset behind the new album and the bands musical intent, “We want you to buy our album. We want you to drink beer while listening to our album (or whiskey if you prefer). We want you to enjoy our album as much as we enjoyed creating it. Then we want to come to your town and play for you, play with you, drink with you and rock out with you...wherever you are and whoever you are. It's all about the rock!!!”

This gritty eleven track album is the bands first full-length effort with indie rock label Ripple Music, however, Grifter’s unique biker rock sound first appeared on the Ripple roster with their dual contribution to the Heavy Ripples, Vol. 1 compilation released earlier this year. To fill out the year, Grifter are performing numerous shows throughout the south of England, as well as preparing for a tour of UK and parts of Europe.

Pre-orders for the album will begin in September through the Ripple Music Store.

RIPPLE MUSIC STORE


 

Charity Auction of Rare Test Pressing of Heavy Ripples Double 7": Proceeds to Benefit Joplin Tornado Vicitms

 

Continuing with the company tradition of giving back to the community, Ripple Music will auction an extremely rare original test pressing of Heavy Ripples: vol 1, featuring Stone Axe, Sun Gods in Exile, Grifter and Mighty High, with proceeds going to benefit Joplin Tornado Victims.  The auction will take place on eBay at the Ripple store, starting Tuesday, May 31st, and run for 7 days only.

Only 5 of these test pressings exist, and this is the only one made available to the public.  You can jump into the auction, win a cool heavy rock collectible and benefit disaster relief at the Ripple Music Ebay Store.

The Heavy Ripples test press auction is the latest in a growing line of charity auctions that Ripple Music has created.  Previously, rare JPT Scare Band and Stone Axe test pressings were auctioned with proceeds going to Gulf Disaster and Japan Tsunami disaster relief agencies.  With the tragedy that recently unfolded in Joplin, Mo., Ripple founders John Rancik and Todd Severin thought the time was right to release another rare test pressing from their vault and raise money for a worthwhile effort.


Press raves about Heavy Ripples, vol. I:

"Ripple Music is back with a vinyl-only compilation and, as expected, keeps delivering quality products, not only in respect of their musical taste but also concerning the layout and packaging of the double 7" vinyl set. 'Heavy Ripples' is an excellent compilation which offers the possibility to discover some great unknown bands. The packaging is also high-quality because both records are hidden in a tasteful gatefold sleeve which includes a sweet inside illustration painted by Wayne "Braino" Bjerke." - Cosmic Lava

Stone Axe's “Nightwolf” is one of the bad ass of all bad ass songs, reminds me a bit of ZZ Top’s “Tush” mixed with early Judas Priest. Sun Gods in Exile’s  “Over My Broken Bones” and continues the great sound from their 2009 debut. Grifter gets two songs on this release, and both are punchy, upbeat, catchy and Grifter seems to be having a lot of fun.  Mighty High's “Hempophobic” is fast punchy and the guitars are tight with hints of a blues tune in between the bong hitting.This delicious slab of wax  first pressing is limited to 500 copies so don’t hesitate on ordering yours." -- the Soda Shop

"For fans of heavy classic rock and fans in general of unpretentious riffery, it’s a must-have!  Increasingly, Ripple are becoming a force to be reckoned with when it comes to purveying quality (and varied) rock and roll. A cool listen for converted heads and one that might even win over a few new recruits to the cause." -- The Obelisk

www.ripple-music.com

Ripple Music Update! Lots of Killer Stuff Coming!

Lots of great stuff to tell you about.

Heavy Ripples, the double 7" gatefold release with Stone Axe, Sun Gods in Exile, Grifter, and Mighty High is out and getting killer reviews.  We're in the planning stages for Heavy Ripples vol. 2, so you may expect Mos Generator and Gideon Smith and the Dixie Damned, and a couple more to be named.  Any suggestions?

The new Iron Claw album, first major release by the 70's underground doom/raw blues legends, is in the final mixing/mastering stages by none other than Tony Reed, as is the brand spanking new Grifter full-length.  Expect both those out this summer!

Mighty High is rounding up their stuff also for a summer release of frenzied stoner punk.

Songs are coming in for Stone Axe III and we're planning a Deluxe Collectors Edition of Stone Axe II just like we did with Stone Axe I, which (hopefully) will feature an entire live disc recorded on their most recent tour.   That Stone Axe I reissue is buzzing out the doors, so if you're interested, you may want to stop by Ripple and pick one up.

10 year anniversary issue of the first Mos Generator coming out on vinyl soon and hopefully some new stuff to follow.

And we got a total redesign, remaster, with new songs of the latest Poobah album, Peace Farmers in the works.  Our vinyl/CD reissue of Poobah's second album, US Rock is slated for 2012, which will be another 2xLP freakout of Poobah rock.  First pressing of Poobah's Let Me In already sold out so we've gone back to press to keep up with the demand.

Finally, for prog fans, Fen is opening up for Blackfield at the end of this month, and we're planning on following that up with a vinyl edition of their critically acclaimed, "rails out of Gloom.


Working overtime here at Ripple Central to bring you guys some killer music.  And folks, we really appreciate all your support.

Peace

Chat with Stone Axe Live on Ripple Radio Before they Storm the Shores of Europe and the UK with New Tour and Deluxe CD/DVD Package

Classic rock preservationists Stone Axe have officially announced that they’re hitting the road through the UK, parts of Europe, and wrapping up the tour with a night at the illustrious Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Holland! And before they hit the road, this is your chance to chat live on the air and in the Ripple chatroom with Stone Axe mainman, Tony Reed.

Tune into Ripple Radio (Live with Tony Reed), sign into the chatroom and chat directly with Tony Reed.  He'll join us on air Wednesday, March 23rd at 8:30pm (PST) and is welcoming the fans to fire off those nagging questions. Hit him with your queries about Stone Axe, Mos Generator, Wino, or any aspect of obscure '70's rock.  Type 'em in the chatroom and have 'em answered on the air. Doesn't get much better than that!

Then, starting on April 8th in Oxford, England and running through April 16th, Stone Axe will embark on their third tour to foreign soil with the aim of converting new ears to their sonic-brand of classic rock.  Better yet, this time they’ll be doing it in support of their first CD/DVD package. Scheduled for release on April 5th and in time for the tour, Stone Axe has put together a Deluxe Edition of their self-titled debut album. The CD portion of the package features eight bonus live tracks, while the DVD portion features more than 70 minutes of videos, interviews, and live footage! Released through Ripple Music, Stone Axe – Expanded Edition CD/DVD pre-order's are now available on the label's web site. www.ripple-music.com

Tour Dates:

8th April -The Wheatsheaf, Oxford (with Stubb, Trippy Wicked, Desert Storm)
9th April- The Unicorn, Camden, London, UK (with Stubb, Trippy Wicked, Grifter)
10th April- The Earl, Sheffield, UK (with Stubb, Trippy Wicked, Groan)
11th April- The Captains Rest, Glasgow (with Stubb, Trippy Wicked, Low Sonic Drift)
12th April- Asylum 2, Birmingham (with Stubb, Trippy Wicked, Alunah)
14th April- The Vortex, Siegen, Germany (with Stubb)
15th April- MTC, Cologne, Germany (with Stubb+more)
16th April- Roadburn Festival, Tilburg, Holland

Stone Axe has also contributed a song to the Heavy Ripples double vinyl 7” compilation that will also feature three other acts that have put their own unique spin on the sounds from a by-gone 70’s era, showing that rock n’ roll hasn’t died, but simply has gotten better! The compilation record will include tracks from the UK blues-based bike rockers Grifter, Brooklyn-based stoner-fied punks Mighty High, and New England’s southern-rock-tinged Sun Gods In Exile (on loan from incomparable Small Stone Records). The record will be officially released on April 19th to a world-wide audience!

Ripple Music: 2011 Releases

Ripple Music: 2011 Releases

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In light of the success that we’ve seen here at Ripple Music over the last year, we wanted to look into our crystal balls and take a stab at what we see for the coming year, and then pass these findings on to you . . . the ever vigilant fan of heavy music! 2010 saw the label release seven titles, and 2011 is promising an even greater growth. Since the first release in June, Ripple Music has welcomed two additional acts to the family and has plotted out these follow up releases:

Scheduled for release in early April, we’re looking at a deluxe CD re-issue of the Stone Axe debut album with bonus live material, and a companion DVD featuring promotional videos and tons of live footage highlighting the bands epic performances. This re-issue will be released in conjunction with the bands trek across the Atlantic to tour the UK and parts of Europe that will culminate with their appearance at 2011’s Roadburn Festival in Holland.

While we’re on the topic of Stone Axe, word has come down from Tony Reed that the band is hammering away at material for a new album. No date has been set on the release, though initial discussions have us looking at a late summer street date.

Also featuring Stone Axe, we’ll be releasing the Heavy Ripples compilation double 7”, which will include the return of Brooklyn-based stoner-fied punks Mighty High, the introduction of blues-based retro rockers from the UK, Grifter, and on loan from the incomparable Small Stone Records, Sun Gods In Exile. The 7” will be packaged in a double gatefold jacket featuring the glorious artistic touch of Wayne Braino Bjerke. Expect to see this monstrous beast of sonic debauchery in April.

Speaking of Grifter, the band is partnering up with Ripple Music to release their upcoming album! The band is currently putting the wraps on the recording of new material and both parties are shooting to have the CD (vinyl?) released in May. A UK tour and potential U.S. tour are in the works in support of the as of yet unnamed album, though odds are, it will probably be self-titled.

Being that we talk with Tony Reed on a near daily basis, we have some information pertaining to another Reed project that has us rejoicing in our sleep. We’re looking at re-releasing the first Mos Generator album as a deluxe 10 year anniversary edition. The details are still being worked out in regards to time frame and content, but much like the deluxe Stone Axe CD, expect there to be some great bonus material to be included in this package.

On the doom metal front, is arm locked with Venomin James to re-issue their debut album, Left Hand Man, on vinyl! The album will be specifically mastered for the vinyl format and will include unreleased/live bonus material. Left Hand Man will be available in the first half of the year.

Poobah will be returning in 2011 with a brand new studio album entitled Peace Farmers. Originally self released by Jim Gustafson to a limited run of less than 500 copies, Peace Farmers acts as a great follow up to the re-issue of Let Me In and features a couple of updated renditions of some Poobah classics. Initially, Peace Farmers will be released on CD only, but as the case always seems to be, the door is open to press limited runs of vinyl to accompany the CD edition.

Santa Barbara’s melodic hard rockers Tripdavon are currently working on additional bonus tracks for the deluxe re-release of their latest album Sketches From Silence. As with many of the releases for the year, the time table isn’t set in stone, though we suspect that the album will be ready for mass consumption towards the end of summer.

Finally, Ripple Music will release the latest offering from Scotland’s Iron Claw. The as of yet titled full length album is comprised of all brand new material and includes the vocal talents of new member Gordon Brown. This will initially be a CD only release, but much like the Poobah release, there’s a great chance that it will also see a vinyl edition. Tony Reed is scheduled to master the album once it’s complete and should be available sometime mid-year.

That’s it for all of the major releases for the time being, though as things go around here, that could all change in a moment’s notice and the releases may double in quantity. Also, keep in mind, this doesn’t take into consideration any of the 7” single projects that are in the works . . . so keep an ear out for that news as it becomes available.

Cheers!