Militarie Gun

About Militarie Gun

Militarie Gun emerged from Los Angeles in 2020 when Ian Shelton, already known for his work in hardcore band Regional Justice Center, decided he wanted to make something that didn't just pummel you into submission. The project started as a way to channel his melodic impulses and general restlessness with genre boundaries, pulling from post-hardcore, power pop, and whatever else felt right in the moment.

Their early releases showed a band figuring out how to be aggressive without being predictable. The 2021 demo tapes and singles like "Do It Faster" made it clear this wasn't going to be straightforward hardcore. Shelton's vocals had this strained, almost nasally quality that worked perfectly with the angular guitar work and start-stop rhythms. They were playing with math rock's complexity but keeping punk's urgency, which is harder to pull off than it sounds.

"All Roads Lead to the Gun," their 2023 debut album, landed somewhere between Jawbox and early Jets to Brazil. Songs like "Do It Faster" and "Very High" showcased their ability to write hooks that stuck without sacrificing the jagged edges. The record felt deliberately unstable, shifting tempos and moods mid-song in ways that kept you off balance. It wasn't trying to be difficult, but it also wasn't interested in making things easy.

By the time "Life Under the Gun" came out in 2024, they'd refined the approach. Tracks like "Cheyenne" and "WYAS" leaned harder into melody while maintaining the rhythmic complexity that made their earlier work interesting. "Lemon Scent" became something of a signature song, combining their math rock inclinations with an almost pop-punk sensibility. "Apathy" showed they could write something more subdued without losing intensity.

The whole Bread and Circuses aesthetic—both the song and the broader concept—captured what makes them work. There's a knowingness to their music, a self-awareness about making capital-A Art in a scene that sometimes treats introspection as weakness. They're clearly influenced by '90s post-hardcore but they're not cosplaying it. The production stays raw enough to feel immediate but clean enough that you can hear what's actually happening when the guitars lock into those interlocking patterns.

Shelton's side projects and production work for other bands means Militarie Gun sometimes feels like one piece of a larger creative output rather than his entire focus. That's probably why the music never feels forced. When they tour, the live shows translate the recorded complexity into something more visceral without dumbing it down.

Right now they're in that sweet spot where they've built a dedicated following without the pressure of mainstream expectations. They're writing music that challenges without alienating, staying weird enough to be interesting but accessible enough that people actually want to listen. It's a balance most bands never figure out.

Militarie Gun shows are tightly wound, focused affairs. Crowds stand rapt watching the band execute intricate arrangements with visible concentration. There's minimal crowd interaction but genuine intensity — the kind of show where people actually listen instead of just existing in the room.

Known for Bread and Circuses, Cheyenne, WYAS, Lemon Scent, Apathy

See Militarie Gun Live