Militarie Gun are back with their highly anticipated sophomore album God Save The Gun, set for release on 17th October. Alongside the announcement, the band has unveiled the lead single B A D I D E A, which made its debut on Apple Music’s New Music Daily Radio with Zane Lowe, featuring an on-air interview with frontman Ian Shelton.
Accompanying the single is a striking music video directed by Shelton himself. Reflecting on the clip, Shelton says: “I wanted to make a video that was a celebration of vices, a new iteration of yourself looking back at a moment you made a mistake while never truly reflecting. This was the most technically challenging video we’ve ever done, and it only fits a song spelling out the words ‘bad idea.’”
God Save The Gun dives deep into themes of vulnerability, self-destruction, and resilience. Shelton describes the album as “a very human document of being at your worst when you should be on top of the world – an absurdist guide to the intersection of self-destruction and self-belief.” He openly confronts his own struggles, adding, “I’m well aware that being this vulnerable turns my personal trauma into a marketing hook for this album, but I’m fine with it, if not provoking it. Over the past couple years, as I spoke about addiction from the perspective of someone affected by it, I became the one struggling with it.”
The record builds on the foundation of Militarie Gun’s 2023 debut Life Under The Gun, which explored cycles of hurt through the lens of Shelton’s family history with addiction. However, this time, Shelton steps from observer to protagonist, sharing his own battles and raw emotions. It was only when the band was set to enter the studio in early 2025 that Shelton realised he was the one who needed to hear the album’s message most.
Despite the personal turmoil behind God Save The Gun, Militarie Gun have emerged stronger than ever. The lineup, featuring Shelton alongside guitarists William Acuña and Kevin Kiley, bassist Waylon Trim, and drummer David Stalsworth, has solidified following member changes during the debut album’s extensive touring cycle. This stable lineup, coupled with fresh collaborations, has pushed the band’s sound into powerful new territory.
Shelton continued his songwriting partnership with Phillip Odom, worked again with longtime collaborator James Goodson of Dazy, and added fresh creative input from Nick Panella of MSPAINT. Producer and engineer Riley MacIntyre, known for his work with Arlo Parks and The Kills, was brought in to give the album both its sonic heft and emotional resonance.
Militarie Gun’s debut album was one of 2023’s most critically acclaimed releases, garnering praise across major outlets and building a fervent fanbase. Last year’s Life Under The Sun EP offered innovative reimaginations of tracks from the debut, featuring collaborators like Bully, Manchester Orchestra, and Mannequin Pussy, alongside a mini-documentary capturing the creative process behind those reinterpretations.
In addition, Militarie Gun contributed Gun Under The Gun (MFG) as the entrance theme for Post Malone’s wrestling persona in the WWE 2K24 video game, with Post Malone also curating the game’s soundtrack featuring Militarie Gun’s track Do It Faster.
With God Save The Gun, Militarie Gun are ready to confront the chaos of human frailty head-on — a bold, raw, and necessary follow-up that pushes the band’s sound and storytelling further than ever before.
School’s Out But The Priest Are In Session! Alice Cooper And Judas Priest Live At The O2 Arena
Share Thing