(Report Update) 

Written by: Jake Beach  

White Reaper’s fifth studio album, Only Slightly Empty, arrived on September 26, 2025, through Blue Grape Music, marking another chapter from the Louisville, Kentucky, garage/alt-rock mainstays.
What’s different this time? White Reaper now operates as a trio, having said goodbye to their longtime rhythm section. This personnel shakeup, paired with a step back from major-label life, sets the stage for a record that’s all about recalibration and reinvention.

Only Slightly Empty delivers ten tracks in a compact, 33-minute punch, short, sharp, and unpretentious.
Sonically, the album leans into what White Reaper does best: punchy riffs, infectious choruses, and raw garage-rock energy. The opener, “Coma,” wastes no time, blasting out of the gate with attitude and grit.
But there are hints of growth, too—think subtle keyboard textures, a few slower moments, and flashes of experimentation on tracks like “Honestly,” which stretches beyond the band’s usual guitar-driven attack.
With most songs landing around the three-minute mark, there’s little room for filler each track hits with a sense of urgency.

Lyrically, the album sits in a space of transition and reflection. The lineup changes and departure from a major label spark questions of what comes next, rather than the usual rock swagger. There’s a sense that the band channels recent upheaval into sharper, more honest songwriting.
Even the title, Only Slightly Empty, hints at a wry self-awareness: things have changed, there’s a sense of loss, but it’s not all doom and gloom. The songs toe the line between emptiness and resilience, never tipping too far into despair.
The result? A band that sounds re-energized, working leaner and sharper, intent on honing their identity.

Kicking off the album, “Coma” is a shot of adrenaline: tight, urgent, and unmistakably White Reaper. It sets the bar high, channeling the band’s signature vitality from the very first note.

“Honestly” stands out for its melodic punch, subtly stretching the band’s sonic boundaries without losing their core identity.

Operating as a trio, White Reaper have never sounded tighter. The stripped-down lineup results in fewer frills and a more concentrated punch.

Still, Only Slightly Empty doesn’t reinvent the wheel. White Reaper sticks to their tried-and-true formula, delivering what longtime fans have come to expect.

Not every track lands with the same impact. Mid-album cuts such as “Enemy John” fade into the background when compared to the album’s more memorable moments.

With most songs wrapping up just past the three-minute mark, the album’s brevity may leave listeners craving a few more rounds.

Tracing White Reaper’s journey from their scrappy garage-punk origins, through the major-label era of You Deserve Love (2019) and Asking for a Ride (2023), this record feels like a consolidation. Instead of chasing stadium-ready production, they’re doubling down on what makes them click: melodic riffs, big hooks, relentless energy, and a bit of soul.
It might not be their boldest record, but Only Slightly Empty delivers clarity and focus in the wake of change.

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