Emerging from Melbourne’s fiercely independent music scene, Reetoxa is the project of songwriter and former Royal Australian Navy sailor Jason McKee, a musician whose experiences seem to fuel every note he writes.
Drawn from his ambitious 26-track album Soliloquy, “War Killer” finds McKee stepping into political territory for the first time, after being awed by Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un settling peace in North Korea. As someone who’s always heard threats of North Korean invasion in the Navy, this was huge. Naturally, the settlement of peace would come with a huge reaction in the form of a song.
The song reflects on the unlikely sight of diplomacy emerging where tension had long been expected, starting with just a phone call. “War Killer” examines the strange contradictions of modern discourse, where people can become fiercely divided over events that might otherwise be celebrated as victories for peace.
Musically, Reetoxa comes out swinging. Thumping drums crash forward with relentless momentum while sharp, gritty guitars tear through the mix like sparks flying from concrete. The performance carries the scrappy confidence of classic punk, but there is enough melody woven into the chaos to keep things memorable. McKee delivers his vocals with a swaggering energy, sounding equally defiant and amused as he barrels through the song.
What makes “War Killer” particularly engaging is its refusal to pick sides in a simplistic way. Instead, it focuses on the idea of unity itself, echoing the punk tradition of challenging divisions rather than reinforcing them. Recorded at The Avenue Studio in Cheltenham and reportedly becoming an early fan favourite almost by accident, the track feels spontaneous, spirited, and refreshingly unfiltered.
At a time when conversations often become battlegrounds, “War Killer” reminds listeners that sometimes the most rebellious act is believing people can still find common ground, in the fact that it was a pretty impressive feat from Donald Trump.
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Review by: Naomi Joan