Headlining an explosive showcase at the Monarch Tavern in Toronto, the hot young punk band Militarie Gun was dripping their visceral energy all over the crowd in this exclusive engagement to launch their new album . Formed in 2020 in Los Angeles, Militarie Gun is re-defining the punk and hardcore world. Vocalist Ian Shelton instantly took command of the stage with a massive amount of swagger, encouring the crowd to match his angst filled rage. The band–whose lineup has expanded to include guitarists Nick Cogan and William Acuña, drummer Vince Nguyen, and bassist Max Epstein–draw on a wide range of influences to make something that sounds combative yet accessible, they dare you not to like them. They get right in your face with a “I dare you not to get sucked in” attitude, and there I was, getting sucked in. There is no easy box to try to fit these guys into. Their 12 Track deluxe edition of All Roads Lead to the Gun just dropped last week. It’s impossible to pin down the era, from track to track it vacillates from early Beastie Boys or Black Flag to almost channeling The Pixies on the title track “All Roads Lead to the Gun”. By the time the album gets to “I Can’t Stand Busy People”, it feels like a the Beatles vibe with a underlying rage. The aggressive guitar-work has hooks for days.
The setlist was a full showcase of the album, and included a few other tracks as well. Militarie Gun’s songs are instantly memorable, and familiar, there is a blending of familiar styles that makes you feel like you have heard all of their songs before but now they are filtered through a new lens giving them a different feeling. The new release features 4 additional songs not found on the EP. Both the set and the album were highlighted by the first song on the Album “Ain’t No Flowers” which they have also released a video for. “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” is another grinding track that has serious hooks and showcases Shelton’s vocal range. My only gripe about the album was that there wasn’t more of it. The longest song, “Disposable Plastic Trash”, tops out at 2:49 with “Background Kids” coming in at just 1:46, just as I was getting into the riff, the song was over. But that is the thing, the flame that burns twice as bright, burns half as long. And these guys are burning bright.
Full Setlist:
All Roads Lead to the Gun: Track List
Photojournalist - Toronto
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