Add to playlist: Ominous forecasts for metallers Burner and the best new tracks of the week | music

from South London
Recommended if you like They converged, their trap, an indicator of misery
the next Nobody’s Coming to Save Us was released on 25 September, and toured the UK from 26 September

Burners are the extreme musicians we need. They observe the world around them, are angry at what they see and do not feel much hope for the future. Like many of us.

Formed in 2021, the four-piece band released their debut single Ingsoc later that year, combining hardcore punk drums with death metal beats and suitably Orwellian lyrics. It was produced by Lewis Jones (Rollo Tomasi, Svalbard, Ithaca) and released on Church Road, the label founded by Justin Jones and Sammy Orwin of metalcore band Bruts Employed to Service: all the UK underground darlings. Their 2023 album Everything Comes Back to Nothing expanded into post-metal, black metal and grindcore, but kept the band’s angry heart beating in overdrive.

Now gearing up to release the follow-up Nobody’s Coming to Save Us, Burner has collected even more impressive endorsements. They played the 20,000 capacity Midlands Festival at Bloodstock Open Air and supported death metal veterans Deicide. It’s even more impressive when you consider the intensity of their words. Singer Harry Nott predicts a nuclear holocaust in his latest single Sunrise, Parabellum, which features guest screams from Matt Heafy of US arena-filler Trivium. The River of Blood condemns humanity’s violent ways, and roars, “In this endless war for Earth, everyone bleeds!”

In a time of anger over the climate crisis, global conflicts, and the upper classes hoarding increasing amounts of wealth, Burner is a welcome blast of catharsis. They won’t save the world, but they make a fitting soundtrack when the world descends into chaos. Matt Mills

The best new songs of the week

Brennan Weddle – Sweet Little Fantasy
Your New Alternative Rock Obsession: Meeting at the raucous midpoint between Courtney Love and Lucinda Williams, the Minnesota native rails against gender norms on this grunge classic (co-produced by Waxahachie and featuring guitar from Snail Mail). L.S

Raven Lena – Saturday Night
In the sweetest place between Italo disco and Rhythm Nation-era Janet Jackson, this is pop that rolls around with your eyes closed, and deserves to be even bigger than her hit Love Me Not. BPT

Desire – summer skin
It’s illegal to listen to the comeback of Johnny Jewel and Megan Louise without a cigarette, a Vogue cigarette, or an infinity pool. House piano and bongo breakdown raise a toast to seasonal excitement—and demise. L.S

Beybadoobee – The sun has set
Following the success of her 2024 dreampop album This Is How Tomorrow Moves, the British singer-songwriter hired the cream of alternative rock for the follow-up (Hayley Williams, Turnstile, Deftones, Basement and others) — and she really goes with the raucous groove here. BPT

deBasement – ​​Cut the Line (with Nikki Nair and DJ ADHD)
A forbiddingly cold woman reciting club messages melting into a rigid, material-filled rasp while blasting bass shakes the walls? Sign me up! From the ketamine victims to the cut lines, the narrative is actually surprisingly engaging. L.S

Cold light – riot
This is a collective that spans Portland, Bristol, London and Hungary, with a similarly broad stylistic range: dub-minded ambient hip-hop that revolves around interesting rap monologues about wayward youth. BPT

Basins – Who will love you now?
Frontman Owen Williams gives himself an endearingly tough talk, veering between commitment and endless new beginnings – ready for the swooping pop, all that, the diving guitars, the shimmering celebrations. L.S

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