Add to playlist: the doomy predictions of incendiary metallers Burner and the week’s best new tracks
For anyone furious about the state of the world, the London band offer a welcome – and unsparing – blast of catharsis
From South London
Recommended if you like Converge, Trap Them, Misery Index
Up next No One Is Coming to Save Us released 25 September, touring the UK from 26 September
Burner are the extreme musicians we need. They’re observing the world around them, they’re furious about what they see and they don’t feel much hope for the future. Much like the rest of us.
Formed in 2021, the four-piece released their debut single Ingsoc later that year, combining scrambling hardcore punk drums, face-scrunching death metal riffs and aptly Orwellian lyrics. It was produced by Lewis Johns (Rolo Tomassi, Svalbard, Ithaca) and released on Church Road, the label founded by Justine Jones and Sammy Urwin of metalcore brutes Employed to Serve: all beloveds in the UK underground. Their 2023 album It All Returns to Nothing expanded into post-metal, black metal and grindcore, but kept the band’s incensed heart beating in overdrive.
Now preparing to put out follow-up No One Is Coming to Save Us, Burner have collected more impressive endorsements. They have played 20,000-capacity Midlands festival Bloodstock Open Air and supported death metal veterans Deicide. It’s even more impressive when you consider the intensity of their lyrics. Singer Harry Nott predicts a nuclear holocaust on recent single Sunrise, Parabellum, which features guest screams from Matt Heafy of US arena-fillers Trivium. And Blood River condemns humanity’s violent ways, snarling, “In this endless war for territory, everybody bleeds!”
In a time of fury over the climate crisis, global conflicts and the upper classes hoarding increasing amounts of wealth, Burner are a welcome blast of catharsis. They won’t save the world, but they’re an apt soundtrack as it descends into chaos. Matt Mills
This week’s best new tracks
Brennan Wedl – Pretty Little Fantasy
Your new alt-rock obsession: meeting at the snarling midpoint of Courtney Love and Lucinda Williams, the Minnesota native seethes at gender norms on this instant-classic grunge ripper (co-produced by Waxahatchee and featuring guitar from Snail Mail). LS
Ravyn Lenae – Saturday Night
In the sweetest of spots between Italo disco and Rhythm Nation-era Janet Jackson, this is pop for spinning around to with your eyes closed, and deserves to be even bigger than her breakout hit Love Me Not. BBT
Desire – Summer Skin
It feels illegal to listen to Johnny Jewel and Megan Louise’s return without a spritz, a Vogue cigarette and an infinity pool. House piano and a bongo breakdown raise a toast to seasonal sensuality – and ephemerality. LS
Beabadoobee – Sun Has Set
Following the No 1 success of 2024 dreampop album This Is How Tomorrow Moves, the British singer-songwriter has hired the cream of alt-rock for the follow-up (Hayley Williams, Turnstile, Deftones, Basement et al) – and she really chimes with the squalling groove-emo here. BBT
deBasement – Cut the Line (ft Nikki Nair and DJ ADHD)
Forbiddingly cool woman recites withering club dispatches in a deadpan, substance-addled rasp as blown-out bass rattles the walls? Sign me up! From ketamine casualties to line-cutters, the narrative is actually surprisingly gripping. LS
Cold Light – Riot
This is a collective spanning Portland, Bristol, London and Hungary, with a similarly broad stylistic range: dub-minded ambient hip-hop thrumming around riveting rapped soliloquies about wayward youth. BBT
The Tubs – Who’s Gonna Love You Now?
Frontman Owen Williams gives himself a lovingly stern talking-to, floundering between commitment and endless fresh starts – set to hurtling powerpop, all ducking, diving guitars and twinkling festivity. LS
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