RAUSCH SOPHOMORE ALBUM “BOOK II” OUT TODAY

Linita Masters

7 years ago

RAUSCH, adventurous piano-driven rock outfit from Philadelphia, PA, finally release long-awaited sophomore studio effort “Book II” today. The record – mixed by Rich Mouser (Chris Cornell, Dream Theater,Weezer), with additional production by David Ivory (The Roots, Halestorm) – comprises 9 diverse-yet-cohesive tracks, ranging from emotionally charged anthems (“Greener Grass,” “Swansong”) to deeper works of more epic proportions (“Drain,” “The End”).

Signed copies of “Book II” can be purchased directly from RAUSCH at https://rausch.bandcamp.com/, or find “Book II” on iTunes, Amazon & everywhere else digital music is sold.

Heavy-hitting guest contributors include Mark Zonder (Fates Warning), Ryo Okumoto (Spock‘s Beard) and guitarist Brendt Allman (Shadow Gallery).

RAUSCH is comprised of vocalist/pianist Doug Rausch, bassist Joe Fine, guitarist Gary Wehrkamp and drummer Chris Ruffini.

After devoting the better part of his early years to the piano, namesake frontman Doug Rausch earned his Ithaca College music degree & plunged straight into self-imposed exile. Disillusioned by how mainstream music had all but completely plateaued by the early 2000’s – culminating in an eye-opening stint at Sony Music Studios – he found himself in a decade-long campaign chasing a long-held musical vision of his own. Aside from select live engagements – including an invitation from Dream Theater‘s Jordan Rudess to perform at the first KEYFEST – all else was sacrificed.

In late 2009, the adventurous-yet-song-driven self-titled debut album was released. Leadoff single “No Fair” hit the top 10 on New Music Weekly’s small-market radio charts, & the haunting “Ode to Pain” earned an honorable-mention nod from the 2010 International Songwriting Competition (ISC). Then, from as early as 2012, at the time having just broken ground on the debut’s follow-up (and still optimistic about eluding “[GN’R’s] Chinese Democracy Syndrome”), the band found themselves collectively hurled onto the battlefield against a seemingly unprecedented barrage of relentless set-backs; by the time they finally emerged victorious with completed album-in-hand, RAUSCH had time-traveled all the way to the doorstep of 2018.

“Book II” track listing:

1. Greener Grass

2. Swansong

3. Drain

4. Irked

5. Good Day

6. The End

7. Time Out

8. Speechless

9. Slow Suite: II. Isolation

For more information, check out the band’s web properties:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rauschofficial