Lay the red carpet and prepare the stage because here comes Reetoxa, an artist born through the sheer determination of frontman Jason McKee. It took the singer nearly three decades to keep nurturing and cultivating the flame of his creativity through songwriting before he came across producer Simon Moro. The culmination of these years of persistence and hidden emotions has led to the birth of this powerful musical project, releasing their first-ever song, “War Killer.” The piece will be available from May 15th, and there is no denying that this is not just a song but the embodiment of a dream fulfilled after so many years. Let us take a closer look at this track to find out what happens.

Even before reaching the one-second mark, the music track opens its doors in an unbridled melodic frenzy driven by explosive sounds of electric guitars and heavy drums. It is a huge sound wall entrance, daring, electrifying, and totally engaging. Rather than easing into the pool, the Reetoxa plunges straight in, presenting the listener with a stunning sneak preview of what is to come.

The origins of “War Killer” come from a surreal instance of irony caught on camera while Melbourne was under lockdown. Coming from a military background himself and being a part of an ex-Royal Australian Navy crew, Jason McKee has always been raised to see North Korea as the epitome of fear—an unstoppable force etched into his psyche for his whole life. But, in the middle of a global pandemic, he witnessed a change of geopolitics take place through nothing more than the ringing of the telephone between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, leading to a surreal form of peace between two nations who had always been at each other’s throats. For someone who understands the weight of war like no one else, the thought that everything they ever learned about war could just be reduced to one phone call came as a shock to him and to the world.

Under the hood, however, the magic of “War Killer” had been conjured inside The Avenue Studio, a cozy recording facility located in the suburbs of Cheltenham. This track, as well as the entire album, reached its peak of awesomeness when the band was blessed by an act of good old-fashioned rock-and-roll luck. After a swift beer and tequila break, they managed to record the first take that was so electrifying, it was immediately clear to both Jason and producer Simon Moro that they’d struck gold with their music – or, rather, with a track so awesome it could easily cause a controversy. Even without spending a dime promoting it, the song has already developed a strong reputation among fans who recognize true talent wherever they hear it. Musically and lyrically, it provides an uncompromising punk rock autopsy of peace and political schism. Its sound is reminiscent of Sham 69’s timeless anthem “If The Kids Are United,” and serves as a perfect reminder that even at times of total division, our weapon of choice remains unity.

In order to make sure that the impact of the song hits its target precisely, Reetoxa uses not only the chaotic sound effects and the beauty of the lyrics, but also includes an amazing album cover to bring out the essence of their song. Their album cover displays a sarcastic picture of Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, with Trump clutching an oversized coin in his hand, while the latter has something resembling a bomb detonator in his hand. The unsettling, even banal, casualness that comes from seeing these figures seated together makes for a startling image that perfectly encapsulates the horrifying absurdity of modern politics. It shows just how easy it is for those in power to view the catastrophic effects of warfare as no more than a simple game of luck. The contrast created by placing this striking image alongside the one individual creates a powerful sense of intention behind the song’s release.

It goes without saying, then, that with such a bold song, Reetoxa knows what it’s doing. They aren’t there merely to amuse the audience but to educate and to rile them up enough so that they will hear the message that really needs to be heard. The combination of politics and music is always a delicate line to walk, one that too easily veers into sounding preachy or academic, but these musicians walk it with flair. With their ability to intertwine their passion for social change with the sharpness of their lyrics, the loudness of their music, and the razor-sharp wit of their images, they give lessons in artistic unity. This is a remarkable and very satisfying introduction to one of the bravest bands out there.

Stream “War Killer” on Spotify 

Follow ReeToxA here and his socials: X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube