Body Futures - Do Not Befriend The Reaper

Milwaukee has given the world many fine cultural contributions over the years.
Among the more significant are Harley-Davidson, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer, Bob Uecker, Laverne & Shirley, The Crusher, The Fonz, The Unicorn (rock club), The Vanguard (restaurant), Milwaukee County Zoo Superstar Samson (anyone besides me get a plastic mold of Samson from the machine by his exhibit?), Summerfest and the Train at Capitol Court.

Milwaukee has also given us many great bands over the years — heavyweights such as Die Kreuzen, Couch Flambeau, Oil Tasters, Einstein’s Riceboys, Violent Femmes and The Mighty Deerlick.

It’s not everyday I see and hear a Milwaukee band that impresses me enough to consider adding them to this list of Milwaukee musical icons, but those days do happen.

In the case of Milwaukee Math Power Pop Superstars Body Futures I felt it was time to have this conversation.

Why did I feel it was the time? I’ll start with the last two times I saw them live, last summer at the GBUFO Invasion Fest 2024 and the beginning of this past January at the Green Bay UFO Museum Gift Shop & Records.

Both performances made me go, “Oh yeah, I forgot how great they are live.”

When Body Futures played the GBUFO’s first live show of 2025, they also dropped off their brand new EP Do Not Befriend The Reaper.

I’m a big fan of a band killing it live and then listening to the new recordings and having the same enthusiasm for the studio product as the live show.

I’m not a fan of seeing a band killing it live and then being disappointed listening to their new release.

Do Not Befriend The Reaper, I’m happy to report, is all column A.
The words I’d first use to describe this album are fun, powerful, catchy, loud and non-stop action.

Bands I would compare Body Futures to are the Pixies, Faith No More, ZuZu’s Petals, Buck Pets, Breeders and maybe even a little Smashing Pumpkins.
I love an album that starts off with a killer song — that usually works for James Bond movies so why not an album or EP?

“Private Enemy” starts off this EP with a sonic stomp that is a photon torpedo across the bow that this album is as serious as a Mike Ditka heart attack.

Throughout the history of bands releasing albums or EPS, we have seen countless times the first track is clearly the best and when first listening to Do Not Befriend The Reaper, I was so smitten with the first track that I was worried that the bar started off too high.

I soon discovered this ep is all killer and no filler.

All six tracks are all armed to the teeth like The Mandalorian.

I also love an album that closes with a total barnburner of an epic ending.

“True Monsters Of History” that ends this EP is such a track and my favorite song on this release.

This EP is so infectious and powerful (lots of crunch in the guitar) I listened to it seven times in a row on my first sitting.

The EP is still available at the Green Bay UFO Museum Gift Shop & Records.
Live long and prosper.