Brand new single from ReeToxA

Coming out of Melbourne’s rock scene, ReeToxA marks the latest creative endeavour of Jason McKee, an artist whose musical story traces almost thirty years of sound, sweat and self-discovery.This project is a reconnection with the initial spark that first ignited his love for music back in the mid-1990s, when the likes of Nirvana, Pixies and the golden age of grunge reshaped the music world. That period’s blend of rebellion, emotion and distortion made a profound impression on him and now, under the ReeToxA banner, he channels that same spirit with the added context of experience.

ReeToxA brings together the grit of 90s alternative rock and the reflective storytelling of modern indie, creating a sound that feels nostalgic yet entirely its own. It’s the sound of an artist looking back, but never standing still, a contemplation on the past, refracted through the lens of a life fully lived. His goal here is to reconnect with his origins, his emotions and the uncompromising honesty that music once gave him.

The project’s arrival was signalled by the emotional charge of debut single “Bobbie,” which was quickly followed by the debut album Pines Salad, created alongside acclaimed producer Simon Moro. Backed by a lineup featuring bassist Kit Riley, guitarist James Ryan and drummer Peter Marin, ReeToxA became more than a solo revival, it flourished into a band capable of shifting from storming grunge energy to quiet moments while still maintaining their sonic intensity.

Now, ReeToxA returns with their brand new single titled “HMAS CERBERUS,” an adventurous and highly personal take on alcohol abuse, mental health and the scars of military life. Based in Jason’s own experience serving a decade in the navy, the song turns memory and trauma into music that’s as cathartic as it is compelling. Named after the naval base where his journey began, “HMAS CERBERUS” recounts the rale of a man sitting in a Melbourne beer garden, watching all four seasons pass in a single day, a metaphor for the chaos within.

Beneath its driving 90s Aussie rock aesthetic lies a powerful story that revisits the years when duty, displacement and survival intertwined, confronting how those experiences shaped his relationship with alcohol and his sense of self. Despite its heavy subject matter, the song brings infectious energy and rhythm to make it a track you can still move to, even as it makes you think.

Propelled by stomping drums and crunchy guitars, the track glides through moments of delicate, jangly guitar notes and laid back energy, forming a melodic rock anthem that’s at once anthemic and poignant. “HMAS CERBERUS” distils ReeToxA’s incredible ability to blend pain with power, reflection with release; it’s poetic, human storytelling wrapped in roaring guitars and melodic flair. With his highly anticipated sophomore full-length record on the way, we can’t wait to see what follows ReeToxA’s thrilling breakout year.

Listen to HMAS CERBERUS below

More from Music

---

Editor Picks

---