"Talented dude, interesting music…!" tweeted Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, the former guitarist of Guns N' Roses, after listening to RAUSCH's self-titled debut album. Unknown to him, the journey to this point was anything but straightforward.
Frontman Doug Rausch dedicated much of his early life to mastering the piano before earning his music degree from Ithaca College. Following his graduation, he entered a self-imposed exile, disillusioned by the stagnation he perceived in mainstream music during the early 2000s. This period was marked by a transformative experience at Sony Music Studios, which propelled him into a decade-long pursuit of his own musical vision. Besides a few select performances, including an invitation from Dream Theater's Jordan Rudess to appear at the inaugural KEYFEST, Rausch focused solely on his artistic ambitions.
The initial member to join Rausch was Philadelphia bassist Joe Fine, whom he met at his family’s sandwich shop. A generous offering of hot peppers from Fine made a lasting impression on Rausch, leading to Fine's enduring involvement with the band. Subsequently, Rausch encountered guitarist Gary Wehrkamp (of Shadow Gallery and Outside the Wall) in New York City. Their shared passion for music, particularly their admiration for Queen, solidified their connection.
In late 2009, RAUSCH released their debut album, aptly titled RAUSCH, which was mixed by renowned engineer Rich Mouser (notable for his work with Chris Cornell and Neal Morse/Spock's Beard). The lead single, "No Fair," reached the top 10 on New Music Weekly’s small-market radio charts, while the poignant track "Ode to Pain" garnered an honorable mention in the 2010 International Songwriting Competition (ISC). The band caught the attention of Grammy-nominated producer David Ivory (known for his work with The Roots and Halestorm), opening new opportunities for them.
Ivory praised the band's ambition, noting that "‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ wasn’t until Queen’s fourth album," offering both a compliment and a caution. This collaboration with Ivory helped RAUSCH develop a more commercially viable sound without compromising their artistic integrity. In pursuit of this balance, Rausch temporarily set aside the piano, and the first track produced by Ivory, "Good Day," was created using his guitar. Released as a standalone single in 2014, accompanied by a video directed by fellow musicians from New York City’s Jolly, this track provided the band with additional time to finalize their next album.
However, the quest for musical perfection was not the only challenge facing the band. From as early as 2012, RAUSCH struggled to make progress on their follow-up album, determined to avoid experiencing "[GN'R's] Chinese Democracy Syndrome" again. They faced numerous obstacles, including required surgeries, personal sacrifices, and, in a twist reminiscent of Spinal Tap, a few musicians unexpectedly departed. Eventually, the band regrouped and welcomed drummer Chris Ruffini, managing to resurface by 2018.
Finally, RAUSCH unveiled their second full-length album, BOOK II. The album features contributions from notable artists, including Mark Zonder (Fates Warning), Ryo Okumoto (Spock's Beard), and Brendt Allman, another guitarist from Shadow Gallery. Continuing where their debut left off, BOOK II reflects the band's vulnerabilities and experiences. Returning engineer Rich Mouser noted that this album is "even more deep and dark," and both he and Bumblefoot commended the "Queen-on-steroids" diversity throughout the work. The lead single, "Greener Grass," showcases adventurous and catchy elements, while "Irked" incorporates jazz influences. "The End," a nearly 10-minute atmospheric piece, evokes the spirit of Pink Floyd, and the intense track "Speechless" confronts Metallica-sized challenges. Joining "Good Day" is the second track produced by Ivory, "Swansong," which surprisingly introduces a theme of optimism previously unexplored by the band.
