Comprised of Tony Esposito (vocals, guitar), Ryan Hater (keyboards), Sam Wilkerson (bass) and Nick Wilkerson (drums), the Louisville, KY-based quartet White Reaper first caught the attention of the blogosphere with the release of a blistering and urgent six track self-titled EP that clocked in at about 15 minutes. And after building a national profile with reportedly high-intensity sets touring with Deerhoof, Young Widows, Priests and others, the band went into the studio to write and record the material that would wind up becoming their forthcoming full-length debut, White Reaper Does It Again, slated for a July 17 release through Polyvinyl Records. 

Album opener, “Make Me Wanna Die” is also the album’s first single and it begins with thundering drums and a countdown before an explosive start comprised of furiously buzzing guitar chords, snarled vocals and ethereal keyboard chords which create an infectious hook, just beneath the noisy tumult – and interestingly enough because of it, the song manages to evoke power pop, punk rock and new wave simultaneously but with an equally playful sweetness and forceful insistence. 

You can catch the Louisville-based quartet on a lengthy national tour to support their debut effort, which will include a May 2 stop at Music Hall of Williamsburg and stops in Kansas City, MO; Sacramento, CA; Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; Boise, ID; Salt Lake City, UT; Omaha, NE; and a venue near you.