UK heavy-groove rock band 1968, whose output fits nicely alongside everything from earlyOrange Goblin to the latest riffscapes from Sergeant Thunderhoof, is not a band to lie down when things get tough.

Having released two EP in 2015 and ’17 via Black Bow Records, the Sabbathian trio was gearing up to drop their latest full-length last year when the unexpected collapse of their new lable left them with vinyl at the pressing plant and no imprint to shepherd the record to the world.

The result?

Onward and upward to bigger and better things, of course.

The band wasted no time and plowed ahead with a well-organized self-release of the album, Ballads of the Godless, a record Ripple Music is excited to help present.

“The album is amazing,” says Ripple CEO Todd Severin, who stepped in to offer assistance to a number of bands in the wake of the aforementioned label shuttering.

Ripple is pleased to offer up Ballads of the Godless to the world via its webstore here, with copies also available via the band’s own Bandcamp store.

Keep an eye and ear out for more developments along these lines, as additional cooperation between Ripple and more casualties of this label closing will be revealed in 2019.

Accolades for 1968 Ballads of the Godless:

“Psychedelic rock mushed in with a thick Wo Fat sort of sound… 1968‘s style runs a wide mile between the most high of stoner/doom metal and fairly typical neo-psych infused modern stoner rock.” – Grizzly Butts

“If your recipe for music includes bass driven riffs, exquisitely volatile guitars seasoned with a hint of psychedelia? Then you might be hard pressed to find a better album this year.” –Devils Gate Media

“Taking you across lands of meth labs and moonshine, tailgates and tanlines Ballads Of The Godless is a sort of very English take on the stoner rock movement. It’s thoughtful and exotic, weird and over the top but still steeped in tradition.” – Two Guys Metal Reviews