Reetoxa – “War Killer”

“War Killer” by Melbourne’s Reetoxa is exactly what you need today. Jason Mckee, a former Royal Australian Navy sailor who spent a decade in uniform, wrote this after watching Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un walk side by side during Melbourne’s pandemic lockdown. For someone who had drilled his entire naval career on North Korea being an unstoppable threat, that image was genuinely shocking, and that raw confusion, mixed with unexpected hope, is what powers the track. This is a song that has meaning.

The song carries the spirit of Sham 69’s “If The Kids Are United”, which is a bold benchmark, but Reetoxa earns the comparison. It’s straight-ahead punk rock asking a simple question: why can’t people put aside their divisions and celebrate when something good actually happens? Reetoxa admits he knows almost nothing about politics, and honestly, that’s probably why the song makes you think deeply. When you finish listening to “War Killer”, check out “If The Kids Are United” here.

The recording story is almost as good as the song. Laid down in one take at The Avenue Studio in Cheltenham after a beer and tequila break, the band knew immediately they had something. Producer Simon Moro and Reetoxa walked out of the session half-joking they’d both get canceled. Already a fan favorite with zero promotion behind it, that reaction says plenty.

This is the kind of track that sticks not because of a clever hook but because the feeling behind it is genuine. Worth your time. Do yourself a favor and dig through Reetoxa’s debut album Soliloquy, while you’re at it. Twenty-six tracks, entirely self-funded, and full of range. Follow Reetoxa to keep up with everything coming, including a potential UK and European tour later this year.