“It’s a punch to the face, the way I’m left in my disdain.”
A new player in the punk scene, Los Angeles band Militarie Gun present their debut album, Life Under The Gun. The mastermind of the band, frontman Ian Shelton, initially formed the project in 2020 while his other band, Regional Justice Center, has their activities halted by the pandemic. Initially a solo effort, the band has since expanded to a full band lineup. With parallels with other notable bands such as Drug Church and Basement, the band’s sound is an interesting mix of hardcore punk, pop punk, and emo.
Right from the opening track, it is clear what sound Militarie Gun is going for. Vocally, Shelton’s styleis reminiscent of many classic punk bands, with cadences that are sure to be familiar to fans of that genre. The gritty, yell-singing adds to the punk attitude of the album. Instrumentally, the band is energetic while also managing to be mellow, this quality being more present on tracks such as “Will Logic” and “Big Disappointment”. The guitar work of Nick Cogan and William Acuña is definitely given space to shine here. Though nothing groundbreaking, the momentum of their chord progressions and riffs are catchy and infectious. The syncopated rhythms lend to the hooks of the album. Bassist Max Epstein is also given space in the spotlight, in moments where the other instruments strip away to allow for the bass to be heard. Drummer Vince Nguyen drives the tracks effectively, with strong patterns and fills that keep the record flowing.
The mix of the album is definitely something worth praising, with every aspect of the sound being clear and bright. Each element sits satisfying in place without overpowering each other, creating a very balanced sound.
Emotionally, the album spans many different moods. Angrier tracks like “Think Less” and “Return Policy” bring out Shelton’s talk-yell style, while slower, more melancholic tracks such as “My Friends Are Having A Hard Time” and “Very High” leaning in on the melody. All in all, the tracks are straightforward in execution. The album’s lyrical content are far from complex, with a very direct approach to each track’s agenda, whether talking about mental health or something more political.
Life Under The Gun mostly succeeds in its objective of creating something nostalgic and feel-good, being accessibly relatable. I don’t see this appealing much to outsiders of this scene, and I doubt the album is trying to do that. It knows its audience and sells itself to it effectively. Its direct, no-frills method towards their sound is something that can be appreciated. With its catchy instrumentation and easy-to-digest track lengths, fans of this sound can be satisfied with what Militarie Gun offers here.
7/10
Life Under The Gun releases June 23rd via Loma Vista Recordings. Find the pre-order links here.