It’s nearly that time of year where many head down to the seaside town in Devonshire known as Torquay for Burn It Down, with its line-up mixing in hardcore, alternative rock, metal and many other genres, giving it a unique offering than many festivals of its side. With much choice across three stages on two stages, we have a nosey at some bands you should be sure not to miss.
Love Rarely
Even after its release in early March this year, Love Rarely‘s debut EP Lonely People still stands up as one of the strongest releases from the UK’s shores this year. A powerful offering lead by Levitt’s potent and melodic vocal, with noodly math-rock riffs that hang on the ear. It’s the sort of masterfully done sound, that sooner or later, will see Love Rarely become a staple on festival line-ups and more. Those looking to get ahead of that should make an effort to get down to the Apple + Parrot at 2pm on Saturday, despite how hungover they might be. Those who make the effort to attend might even be treated to some new material from the unit.
False Reality
This year False Reality have been putting in the miles off the back of their debut release, Path of Self Destruct. Playing shows in Reading, London, Leeds, Southampton, Middlesbrough and more, the South East unit now look set to conquer Torquay at this year’s Burn It Down. With the teasing of “To One Far Away” being added to their setlist, along with other corker’s “Pay The Reaper” and “Pressure” that have become staples of it, those looking for tracks to shout back to, thrown down to and two step two, will have more than a grand time during False Reality‘s set this year.
Splitknuckle
With it being just over seven months since Splitknuckle dropped Breathing Through The Wound, there’s still a strong argument that the Essex unit have yet to be knocked off their throne when it comes to strongest full-length the UK’s seen this year. Deservedly headlining The Attic on Saturday, tracks such as “Lingchi“, “Sharpening Teeth” and “Fuck Your Whole Life” will make for the best headliner of the weekend, Burn It Down may even be lucky enough to see “We Share Blood (Not Love)” performed with a live feature from False Reality‘s vocalist Riley, as happened during the album release show earlier this year.
Grief Ritual
While working away on their upcoming album, Grief Ritual have been maintaining steady a stream of live performances, ones that will see them travel down to Torquay before heading over to Ireland later this year. The metallic hardcore unit have found ways to make their sound beefier and heavier live. It will satisfy those looking for a hard and heavy start to their Burn It Down weekend.
Downpour
The task of opening up The Attic on Friday will be given to Downpour, with their old-school melodic tones that the likes of No Home and Hell Can Wait have also recently invoked, will be an early treat for those descending upon Torquay this year. The classic juxtaposition of cleans against harsher vocals with melodic and atmospheric riffs filling the soundscape, will make for a special listen in more intimate venue such as The Attic.
Not Without Punishment
Southampton hardcore upstarts Not Without Punishment have been part of a scene that seems to be expanding down in Hampshire, with the band including current and former members of Sanctuary, Dandelion and .threefiftyseven. Their debut EP NWP dropped earlier this year that will make anyone want to mosh, and the brutality of Not Without Punishment live is something to behold.
Boneflower
Boneflower embrace the post-hardcore sound that the likes of Pianos Become The Teeth made an art, with their own, with the Madrid unit adding their own post-rock twist to it that makes ever so difficult to confine down, that has even seen them touching on Japanese rock influences this side of the decade. Handpicked to open for SeeYouSpaceCowboy across the UK, this Spanish screamo band boast a melodic and frantic sound, possibly the most heart wrenching on the line-up.
My Only Solution
Hot off the release of recent record The Saints That Haunt Us, My Only Solution are set to bring their bend of hard rock, shoegaze, and metal to the Apple + Parrot on Friday. Dropping some of their best material in the form of “Towards The End” and “Bite“, the expansive sound of My Only Solution will make for a memorable early set, and encourage plenty of dives into their discography.
Calva Louise
Those looking for an alternative kick to mix up their weekend will have to look no further than Calva Louise. A bite to that sound that is a mean cocktail of post-hardcore, alternative come dance rock, with an exotic twang added to it. The stage presence of Jess Allanic along with a dynamic live performance will capture the imagination of many this upcoming weekend, and hopefully this summer of festivals will see Calva Louise garner some much more deserved attention.
Tempers Fray
Tempers Fray will be heading down to Torquay to deliver some of the nastiest sounding hardcore that see will a more than a few brain cells knocked loose in the pit to their hardcore beatdown sound. Hailing from the BN1 scene, that is packed with gems such as Dandelion, Rough Hands and Imposter. Tempers Fray will show Burn It Down why the Brighton scene is such a revered UKHC location with their brutal sound that will more than leave a mark one way or another.
For a full gallery and write-up of Burn it Down 2024, keep an eye on BoolinTunes in the coming weeks.