Gun

Queens, New York City, USA

Active since 2021

Genre: nu-metal; rap-rock

They are known for a high-energy, punk-spirited approach that doesn't take itself too seriously, often blending humor with heavy instrumentation. They describe themselves as "the most dangerous band in NYC."

While their earlier works leaned heavily into pop-punk and industrial noise, their recent album "Neo Notown" has fully embraced a cinematic, heavy nu-metal groove, a modern revival of late '90s or early 2000s nu-metal and rap rock, but with a dystopian twist. You can expect aggressive, thrashing guitars mixed with funk-slap basslines and rap vocals.

Frontman Stavros Lari often writes from the perspective of a lovable loser or a villain. He also uses violence as a metaphor for navigating life in the city - bad roommates, cramped apartments, and the general aggression of urban life. The lyrics celebrate being messy, broke, and chaotic. They don't try to look cool or perfect, instead they embrace the "slacker" aesthetic.

Songs that stood out to me:

Evermore - it's heavy, yet there's a shimmering, shoegaze-adjacent melancholy buried in the bridge that lifts the song.

Mark of the Beast Mode - drop-tuned guitars, punchy bass, energetic drums, and vocals that switch between rapping, screaming, and singing.

Cockroach Mentality - characterized by funky and fast-paced bass lines, thrashing electric guitars, aggressive drums, and even more aggressive vocals.

They draw inspiration from bands like Limp Bizkit, Deftones, Rage Against the Machine, and Primus.