Reetoxa takes another turn with the politically charged single, “War Killer.” It is Jason’s first venture into that realm after penning a large pool of songs for the album. This one was almost left off the final list of around 1,800 songs, only adding to its potency. And so, the song was inspired by a strange and memorable moment in Melbourne’s lockdown, when Jason watched Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un meet in peace, and felt the full weight of how political reality can clash with personal history.
That moment was all the more meaningful for Jason, who is military. North Korea had been presented as an unstoppable threat for so long, and so the shock of seeing two much-discussed figures meet in peace had stayed with him. It is that emotional disparity that makes “War Killer” sharp. Reetoxa doesn’t travel far to politics but makes it immediate, personal and unsettling, in the best way. The result is straightforward and grounded, with a palpable sense of conviction behind every line.
The song was recorded in one take at The Avenue Studio in suburban Cheltenham after a beer and tequila break. That split second was the turning point. From the start, Jason and producer Simon Moro knew they had something special, even if it was the kind of tension that could start a debate. It's that feeling of danger that really gives the release character. It doesn’t play it safe, and it doesn’t try to make the message more comfortable.
"War Killer" also has the advantage of already building buzz with fans with zero promotion attached. Which tells you a lot about the appeal of the song. It has that self-propelling energy to it, driven by urgency, not marketing. The single has a raw, in-your-face feel to it, with a punk rock spirit running through it, while the message underneath points towards unity in a divided world. It's aggressive but not directionless.
“War Killer” also has a clear legacy to the spirit of Sham 69’s “If The Kids Are United”, especially in the way the song pushes against division and calls for something more collective. Reetoxa injects that energy into a contemporary setting where political tension always seems to be there and peace can seem fragile. The song embraces that fact, using punk not as nostalgia but as a vehicle for protest, urgency and interconnection.
“War Killer” is a bold and timely single from Reetoxa that does not shy away from the uncomfortable questions. Jason’s desire to tackle political songwriting only adds to the weight of the release, while the instinctual performance of the band keeps it alive and immediate. It's the sort of song that sticks, saying something cutting but clinging to its human core, and that balance gives Reetoxa a strong moment to build on.
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