Militarie Gun: God Save The Gun
In a music landscape where punk and alternative rock often blur together, Militarie Gun continue to carve out their own distinct space. The Los Angeles band has built a reputation for turning frustration and vulnerability into anthems that sound explosive, but also deeply personal. Their latest album, ‘God Save The Gun’, feels like the culmination of that approach: a record that takes everything chaotic about being human and turns it into something powerful and strangely uplifting.
Militarie Gun’s ‘God Save The Gun’ kicks off with an admission of failure. “I’ve been slipping up”, frontman Ian Shelton yells in the opening track ‘B A D I D E A’ setting the tone for a record that turns personal chaos into raw catharsis. From the very first note, it’s clear this isn’t just another loud, confident rock album, but a messy, emotional snapshot of self-destruction and survival.
If their 2023 debut ‘Life Under the Gun’ looked at family history, addiction and pain from a distance, this new record turns inward. Shelton is no longer observing the fallout of others; he’s in the middle of his own. The songs capture a mind spinning out of control while trying to regain its ground, a kind of self-therapy disguised as a punk album.
Much of ‘God Save The Gun’ was written during a period of personal crisis, but the turmoil only seems to have sharpened the band’s focus. Militarie Gun, now with solidified lineup consisting of Ian Shelton plus guitarists William Acuña and Kevin Kiley, bassist Waylon Trim and drummer David Stalsworth, sound more confident than ever. The music is urgent and full-bodied, the kind of rock that fills a room without relying on studio trickery. Every instrument feels alive, driving Shelton’s words with emotion. The production, handled by Riley MacIntyre, adds a grand, cinematic weight to the record without losing its grit. It’s a sound that balances scale and sincerity: big, distorted guitars and pounding drums wrapped around lyrics that feel painfully intimate. This blend gives ‘God Save The Gun’ its power. The album is loud enough to rattle your chest, but honest enough to cut deep.
Lyrically, the album traces a descent and slow climb back out. The songs move from denial to clarity, from the thrill of bad habits to the sobering aftermath. ‘Fill Me With Paint’ and ‘Throw Me Away’ burst with reckless energy, capturing the rush of self-sabotage. ‘God Owes Me Money’, one of the standout moments, ties anger and humour together. It’s a sarcastic anthem about trying to make life’s pain pay dividends. Then comes ‘Daydream’, a softer, more reflective track where cracks start to show — an early sign of self-awareness buried in melody.
As the record progresses, the chaos builds. ‘Maybe I’ll Burn My Life Down’ and ‘Kick’ spin with manic energy, while ‘Laugh at Me’ mirrors an emotional rollercoaster. Shelton describes it as moments of manic confidence giving way to regret, loneliness and fleeting glimpses of understanding.
One of the record’s darkest moments, ‘I Won’t Murder Your Friend’, deals directly with suicidal thoughts, stripped of any romanticism. It’s uncomfortable and brutally honest, the kind of song that refuses to dress pain up as poetry. But that unflinching honesty is what makes ‘God Save The Gun’ so gripping — it stares straight at the worst parts of the human condition and refuses to look away.
The album closes with its title track, a desperate, hopeful plea to break the cycle. Over crashing guitars and trembling bass, Shelton sings to others but is clearly speaking to himself. “If you want to keep your life, you gotta let it go”, he concludes, his voice steadier than it’s been all record long. It’s not a neat resolution, but it’s the closest thing to redemption ‘God Save The Gun’ offers.
In the end, ‘God Save The Gun’ is both a confession and a confrontation. Militarie Gun have made a record that feels alive in every sense — furious, funny, bleak and strangely hopeful. It’s a testament to the idea that music has the power to capture real, complicated human experiences. And for a band that’s been through as much change and chaos as Militarie Gun, it’s proof that sometimes, falling apart is just the start of getting it right.