The last time that we featured ReeToxA was when they transformed a chance encounter into an uplifting anthem with The Lisa Song, so when we heard that the band was back with the poignantly titled War Killer, we couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.
War Killer opens with a fierce and dramatic rock soundscape featuring descending chords and high-octane drums. Atmospheric vocals convey the lyrics, “One phone call and it’s over, one phone call it’s done…”, leading us to the hook, “he’s a war killer, no troops down the street, he’s a war killer…”
In essence, War Killer is a punk song about wanting peace instead of constant fighting and division. The message is highly zeitgeist and feels super important, at a time when we need it the most as a collective.
We learn that Jason Mckee wrote it after being shocked to see Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un meeting peacefully during the COVID lockdowns. He tells us that during his years in the navy he had always been taught that North Korea was a major enemy. The song is not really about supporting one political side, it is an observational track about how strange and powerful it felt to see two enemies getting along, and how people today spend too much time attacking each other over politics instead of celebrating peace.
The track builds into a psychedelic guitar rendition of the national anthem, which is frankly genius. This is followed by the lyrics, “Smarter, I’m smarter, they’re smarter than you…” before an epic final reprise. We could totally imagine this being featured in a movie like the Oscar-winning, One Battle After Another.
War Killer was recorded at The Avenue Studio in suburban Cheltenham. Jason tells us how the track came alive during the band’s first take following a beer and tequila break, with producer Simon Moro and Jason immediately recognizing they had something special, and potentially controversial.
We love the result, and have added War Killer to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TRIPPY playlist, whilst we rock out to the karaoke version and continue to stream ReeToxA‘s wider discography, including The Lisa Song, and SOLILOQUY.