Doggett fires on all cylinders with relentless Pop Punk anthem, "Shoot to Kill"

​​There’s a certain electricity when an artist taps into the sounds that first lit a fire under them, and on his latest single, Shoot to Kill, Doggett — the sharp-tongued, guitar-wielding alter ego of Simon Whitworth — channels that youthful defiance with thrilling precision. It’s a track that feels both retro and refreshingly current, a pop-punk adrenaline rush stitched together with the spirit of early new wave rebellion and the battle-worn honesty of a life lived on the fringes of heartbreak.

Doggett wastes no time setting the tone. The song bursts from the gates with snarling, overdriven guitars and a pounding beat that harks back to the heyday of late-’70s punk clubs, yet the production is modern, clean, and massive — the kind of polished grit that makes it fit as easily on a streaming playlist as it would have on a scratched cassette deck. There’s a swagger to the arrangement that feels unmistakably personal, the work of a veteran who’s not imitating the past but owning it.

Whitworth’s vocals are front and center, delivering each line with a weary, knowing feel that betrays just enough vulnerability to make the defiance sting that much deeper. His voice carries the track like a war-torn narrator recounting battles lost and won in the minefield of modern relationships. It's a masterclass in balance — rage tempered by wisdom, heartbreak shot through with dark humor.

The guitar work is equally noteworthy. Chugging strums collide with soaring lead lines, creating a wall of sound that’s relentless but never muddled. The interplay of classic punk grit with contemporary pop-punk sheen makes for a dynamic listen, especially when the song slows just enough to let a melody shine through before plunging back into its bruising chorus. It’s a sound that bridges generations without pandering to nostalgia.

There’s no posturing here — no sense of chasing trends. Instead, this is an artist seasoned by decades in the trenches, crafting music on his own terms, injecting it with the kind of raw, unfiltered humanity that too often gets lost in algorithm-chasing pop landscapes.

For fans of high-octane rock with a pulse, Shoot to Kill is a knockout. It’s fierce, fun, and endlessly replayable — a reminder that heartbreak may be universal, but the way you soundtrack it should always carry your own signature. Doggett’s certainly does.

Even better, it’s part of a bigger EP called Razor that we recommend you check out as well. Go ahead and click those links below to listen up and follow along for more.

Listen to “Shoot to Kill”

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Austin SherComment