Louisville, Kentucky, alt-rockers White Reaper have returned to the spotlight and the stage. Having been shut down midway through their last album tour cycle due to the COVID pandemic, the guys used the time off to return faster and stronger in their music.
Their newest album, “Asking for a Ride,” out on Elektra Records, is an electric, snarling sound that embraces the band’s love for live performance and rock from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.
The opening track, titled the same as the album, kicks the listener into a driving chug-a-long guitar riff sure to make you want to turn it up while driving down the highway. Tracks “Bozo” and “Fog Machine” continue the raw electric sound to round out one vicious first impression of the album.
With songs “Getting into Trouble w/ the Boss” and “Pink Slip,” the group channels its best pop-punk anthems with an edgy sound and relatable messages. On “Pink Slip,” guitarist and lead vocalist Tony Esposito sings, “Hard to believe us when we grow up so slow.”
Clocking in at just under 30 minutes, White Reaper continues to follow a formula that it can excel at, making this album an enjoyable listen that is very consumable and easy to process for even the most distracted listeners.
While this time around the boys in White Reaper seem to create a little filler with songs “Heaven or Not” and “Crawlspace,” the songs still have enjoyable, catchy things about them in their respective ways that adds to the overall effect of the album.
Arguably the best song on the album has to be “Pages,” with its larger-than-life entrance and a message bound for everyone to rock along with.
Starting out as a punk band with songs no longer than a minute and a half, White Reaper has progressed along in enjoyable fashion, something they accredit to simply getting better at their instruments individually. This progression has garnered more fans and more success, as well as a sound that captures modern nostalgia.
Overall, I give this album 8 out of 10 stars, and recommend anyone to give this band a listen or see them live.
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to New Mexico State University, the NMSU Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Kokopelli, or any other organization, committee, group or individual.
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