The Reaper years
Reaper started as five guys who couldn't afford a real rehearsal space, playing whatever all-ages venue in the East Bay would have us. We built a following the old way — photocopied flyers stapled to telephone poles, a demo tape that got passed around tape-to-tape before anyone had heard of us properly, and a live show that got meaner every year.
By the mid-2000s we were headlining our own regional runs and opening festival slots across the US and Europe. The horror-comic cover art became as much a part of the band's identity as the riffs — the tin-sign originals are on the studio wall, and the discography below is cut from them.
We broke up in 2015 on good terms. Everyone's still on speaking terms, a couple of us still trade riffs over text, and every so often one of the old guys shows up on a session for old times' sake.
1998
Reaper forms in San Jose; first show at a VFW hall to eleven people, four of whom were related to the bassist.
2001
The self-released demo sells out of its first pressing at local record stores within a month.
2004
First European tour, supporting a much bigger thrash act. My amp gets impounded at customs for a week.
2007
Skeleton Dance becomes the band's first record to chart on independent metal radio — and, eighteen years later, goes gold.
2011
Headline slot at Bay Area Thrash Fest; the largest crowd the band ever played to.
2015
A final, announced-in-advance farewell show at the Regency Ballroom. On good terms, all round.
“Reaper walked off on good terms with the room, with each other, and — rare thing — with their own catalogue.”
Six-String Dispatch