This song sets up the album with the urgency I feel to show appreciation for the one who's kept me grounded and feeling loved throughout all the tragedies I've faced. You dwell on what to lead with - what's the opening line going to be? I imagine it's this way for a novelist or a screenwriter, so I'm aware I'm not unique with this. Often this makes writing the lyrics to these bookends hyper difficult. Taking that inspiration and applying it to the lyrical content is important. The first and last tracks always stand out. I've had this gut instinct for each one of our records. That said, when the music to a song is written, you sometimes get that lucky feeling of knowing a song is going to be the first track or the last track. Never have I had lyrics or any idea of direction for mind until I have a canvas to work on. Fortunately it’s more paranoia than prophecy: All Roads Lead to the Gun (Deluxe) is both a personal space for Shelton to unpack his self-doubt and an opportunity for the rest of us to revel in melodic post-hardcore done right.For the sake of this track-by-track, it's important to note that the music always comes first. “When it ceases being fun, run,” he sings on the title track. It’s a primordial feeling that any music fan with a favorite karaoke spot knows firsthand.Īs he stared down his 30th birthday, Shelton penned lyrics that occasionally sound like unsolicited advice from a hardcore veteran: “Don’t pick up the phone when you’re on drugs” “They say be grateful for what they give to you” “This punk shit needs to pay, man.” These aren’t reprimands, though, but a pact with himself: After logging more than a decade in a scene outwardly defined by fortitude, masculinity, and punk ideologies, Shelton is level-headed enough to recognize it’s not the sturdiest career ladder. When Shelton lets loose another “oof oof” during “Can’t Get None” or the bridge in “Ain’t No Flowers,” you can imagine his cheeks turning red from trying to hold it in. It’s an idiosyncrasy akin to a rapper’s favorite ad-lib, like Cardi B’s “okurrr” or RZA’s “bong bong,” and once you notice it, you start to hear it everywhere. During moments without lyrics, Shelton sings along by uttering a husky grunt, an “oof oof” that sounds like a dog warning off a passing stranger.

Not even Militarie Gun can escape the lure of their own hooks. The trip from Militarie Gun’s typically heavy sound to these lighter ventures produces mild whiplash, but the new songs speak to the band’s skill at integrating a worthwhile hook to the vehicle best suited to carry it, like the wistful chord progression that makes “Don’t Pick Up the Phone” a tender affair.

The remaining tracks are unexpected collaborations: “Can’t Get None” is a spacious noise-pop number featuring vocalist DeeDee from Mississippi punks MSPAINT “I Can’t Stand Busy People” and “Pull It Out” are comparatively mellow indie rock jaunts, with acoustic guitar strums and sweet vocal harmonies from Giles Roy and Heather Black of Vancouver band Woolworm. “Let Me Be Normal” is a burst of distorted power-pop about embracing adulthood, college-radio bait fit for the 1990s or its Gen-Z revival. The four new songs tacked onto the deluxe release further demonstrate Militarie Gun’s emotional range. It’s what allows him to improvise lyrics about spite, relationship missteps, and newfound empathy for his parents, unleashing passionate real-time confessions while the band streamlines his emotion into concentrated, memorable hooks. No matter how scratchy Shelton’s scream, Militarie Gun always lead with emotive melodies. Rounding out the lineup are guitarist William Acuña, bassist Max Epstein, and drummer Vince Nguyen, who indulge in playful alt-rock licks (“Fell on My Head”), pogo-worthy drumming (“Big Disappointment”), and blistering post-punk attacks (“Disposable Plastic Trash”). Militarie Gun guitarist Nick Cogan splits his time in Drug Church, the invigorating post-hardcore band with an unapologetic approach to controversial topics. Regional Justice Center delivered tireless, aggressive testimony to the need for prison reform: Shelton handled vocals and drums while his incarcerated brother, Max, penned lyrics from behind bars. Militarie Gun alternate between ruthless hardcore punk and the alt-rock undercurrent of post-hardcore, a logical outcome of the members’ previous bands.

Touche amore rym