Militarie Gun are unstoppable. In just two short years since their formation, the group from Los Angeles has made waves with their menacing (yet always melodic) sound that is hard to ignore, and a creative drive that borders on obsession. On October 21, 2022, Militarie Gun released the album "All Roads Lead To The Gun" (Deluxe) in collaboration with Loma Vista Recordings: a collection of songs that combines their two 2021 EPs "All Roads Lead To The Gun" and "All Roads Lead To The Gun II" with four brand new tracks, reflecting the first chapter of one of the most unique and productive new bands.
The new single “Let me be normal“ was released on October 21, 2022. The video for it can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZQSMXJic48
Militarie Gun was founded in 2020 and is characterized by the musical restlessness of singer and mastermind Ian Shelton. "I have always been a person who feels very compelled to do things," he explains. "Everything suddenly becomes urgent, and that’s how I feel about songwriting - it’s just something I have to do when inspiration strikes." The band, whose lineup has expanded to include guitarists Nick Cogan and William Acuña, drummer Vince Nguyen, and bassist Max Epstein, draws from a wide range of influences to create something that is combative yet accessible and undeniably sounds like themselves. There’s the angular guitar work of Born Against, the driving cadence of hip-hop, the prominent bass of Fugazi - and, most importantly, the hooks. The songs of Militarie Gun are instantly memorable and possess a melodic sensibility influenced as much by the work of Robert Pollard and Paul McCartney as by Black Flag.
"All Roads Lead To The Gun" (Deluxe) offers the perfect entry point for anyone who hasn’t yet dived into the band’s world, but in Shelton’s hyper-productive manner, it also provides a good amount of new material. The four additional tracks expand Militarie Gun's sonic toolbox and hint at the limitless potential of their songwriting. The first of the new songs, "Let Me Be Normal", is a true fireworks display of kinetic energy. "Can't Get None" and "I Can't Stand Busy People" highlight the band’s ability to organically utilize completely different sounds; the former consists of pounding rhythms and uncorked frustration, while the latter is an acoustically driven, multi-part work that barely exceeds two minutes. "Pull It Out" unites the band’s various styles in a anthemic song with an original lyric that perfectly captures the lightning in a bottle of Shelton’s songwriting approach. "I’m not a perfectionist," he explains. "I tend to like first drafts, it just fits my personality. Every person is imperfect, and if a song is too, it reflects life even more."
Although Shelton is a songwriter who is clearly guided by his personal vision, he often feels drawn to collaborate with other artists, which is atypical for the world of rock music. In March 2022, Militarie Gun teamed up with Dazy for the critically acclaimed joint single "Pressure Cooker". Now he has recruited guest vocalists for three of the four new songs on "All Roads Lead To The Gun" (Deluxe). "I Can't Stand Busy People" and "Pull It Out" both feature Woolworm singers Giles Roy and Heather Black, while MSPAINT singer Deedee contributes a rapid-fire verse to "Can't Get None". "I always want to expand the band’s sound and try everything I can," Shelton explains, "but sometimes an idea just doesn’t fit my voice - or maybe it could, but because I’m a fan of someone else’s voice, I want to hear it in the song instead."
"All Roads Lead To The Gun" (Deluxe) represents the pinnacle of the group’s first two years, but the 12 songs make it clear that the biting yet catchy sound of Militarie Gun cannot simply be confined to hardcore or pop songwriting. This band is constantly evolving and can go in any direction - and Militarie Gun are just getting started.
