From absence comes attitude -- White Reaper roars through the void.
With Only Slightly Empty, White Reaper doesn't just release a new album -- they reclaim their identity. Following the 2024 departure of founding members Nick and Sam Wilkerson (drums and bass), many wondered if Louisville's reigning garage rock heroes could recover their spark. But with their 2025 release -- their first on new label Blue Grape Music -- the answer is loud, lean and clear: yes, and then some.
Clocking in at just around 30 minutes, Only Slightly Empty balances emotional weight with razor-sharp energy. It opens with "Coma," a 90-second jolt of distortion and urgency that wastes no time establishing the album's stripped-back aesthetic. From there, White Reaper weaves between punchy pop-punk and moody alt-rock, navigating both personal loss and artistic rebirth.
The lead single, "Honestly," stands as the album's emotional centerpiece. Vocalist Tony Esposito has described it as a reflection on conflict -- how we act tough behind closed doors but shrink in confrontation. Musically, it's a power-pop anthem: huge chorus, shimmering synths and an undercurrent of vulnerability. It's classic White Reaper, but with more self-awareness than ever.
"Blink" brings a brighter, more melodic tone but still grapples with disconnection. Its standout chorus -- "Stop blinking, just close your eyes and stop thinking" -- is both catchy and haunting. The lyrics reflect regret, isolation and emotional inertia, all wrapped in shimmering guitar lines and blown-out vocals.
Then comes "Blue 42," one of the band's heaviest efforts to date. Its drop-D tuning, brooding tone and lines like "Throw me in the fire if I made you feel so small" suggest self-recrimination and raw introspection. It's divisive -- less immediately hooky -- but adds depth and darkness that reward repeated listens.
Elsewhere, the band experiments with new textures: "Pocket" is dreamier and more ambient, while the closer "Touch" dials things down for a reflective, emotionally open finale. It's not a grand climax, but rather a gentle acknowledgment of change -- a quiet exit rather than a defiant roar.
What makes Only Slightly Empty compelling isn't just the songs, but the context. The band has clearly used internal turmoil as fuel, tightening their sound rather than unraveling. There's a restraint here -- fewer frills, fewer theatrics -- that makes each track feel deliberate and necessary.
Only Slightly Empty proves White Reaper still knows how to write hooks, build momentum and stay emotionally grounded -- even without their original rhythm section. It's a reset, yes, but not a retreat. If anything, the band sounds more focused than ever. Still loud. Still kicking. Just a little more honest this time.