Los Angeles - As relative newcomers to the ever-crowding garage revival scene, White Reaper proudly wear their influences on their sleeves. From “Make Me Wanna Die” to “B.T.K.”, the Louisville, KY quartet dissects punk rock history. They own both the punchy ’77 pop influence of The Buzzcocks and the organ-heavy lo-fidelity influence of Lost Sounds. White Reaper signed with Polyvinyl Records in 2014 and released a lightning-quick self-titled EP. They spent the rest of the year touring alongside well-respected artists like Young Widows and Priests.
Without first listening, White Reaper Does It Again may sound like a bizarre title for a band’s debut album; in fact, it is quite fitting. The sounds produced by guitarist/vocalist Tony Esposito, keyboardist Ryan Hater, bassist Sam Wilkerson, and drummer Nick Wilkerson are perfectly faithful renditions of the myriad of garage rock styles spanning the last 40 years. White Reaper “do it again” to great success.
Masterfully calibrated production is a huge element of what sets White Reaper Does It Again apart from the literally thousands of bands hawking a similar style. Producer Kevin Ratterman is best known for his work on albums by Louisville-based dissonant experimental hardcore groups like Coliseum and the aforementioned Young Widows. Ratterman hits this album out of the park. The perfectly calibrated fuzz rock heard on White Reaper Does It Again would fit in masterfully in the lineage of Memphis’ legendary Goner Records.
The opening track, “Make Me Want to Die” is an up-tempo ripper with shout-along refrains. It bursts from the gates with an aggressive, hook-laden tone that resonates throughout the rest of the 11 songs on the record. It takes about 1:15 (exactly half of the song) for Hater’s elastic and defiantly upbeat keyboard lines to make an appearance. These keyboards give it added depth with sugary layers piled onto the driving, anthemic chorus. “Make Me Wanna Die” heads up a dynamic one-two punch alongside the second track “I Don’t Think She Cares”, and it’s hard to imagine a better introduction to White Reaper.
Luckily, this eye-opening one-two punch is not an ephemeral illusion. “Alone Tonight” sounds like vintage Marked Men. “Candy” is custom-built for punk rock pogo-enthusiasts.“Wolf Trap Hotel” reintroduces those Goner Records-style keyboards which were heard at the album’s intro.
The second half of White Reaper Does It Again is a little less memorable than the first half. “Friday the 13th” and “Don’t You Think I Know” are two examples of decent tracks that do not do much to merit repeat listens. However, the album closes on a high note on “B.T.K.” with its rolling tom drum intro and crunchy toned power chord riffing.
White Reaper Does It Again is an excellent recorded debut for a band that has made exuberant and exhilarating live shows their calling card. Many garage rock bands like White Reaper struggle to fill out an entire album of memorable songs, and the Louisville foursome largely succeed at that task. Perhaps a few of these songs could have been left on the cutting room floor for compilation or EP consideration, but it is hard to fault an album full of gems just because there are a few duds sprinkled in.
There are several opportunities to catch White Reaper’s well-regarded live performance this summer. The band has a July 30th appearance at The Earl in Atlanta, as well as appearances at Birmingham, AL’s Secret Stages 2015 and The Pygmalion Festival 2015 in Champaign, IL. Check the band’s website for more information.
Matt Matasci
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