“Heartbreak, suspended in motion“
Photography by Dory Valentine on the 29th August – contact Dory prior to any use.
Since its inception many years ago, Burn It Down has consistently been able to gather a group of like-minded, music-loving individuals to the seaside town of Torquay. On the surface, it’s a strange setting for such a festival. It’s perhaps this juxtaposition that helps it become all the more alluring. This year, armed with a plethora of the UK’s finest bands, Burn It Down was easily one of the most anticipated festivals of 2025 for us in the Boolin camp.
This year, introducing a third day to the festivities, there was plenty on offer for festival goers. Those who were local or had made the effort to travel down early had an additional day of bands to be excited for. Quite a late announcement in the lead up to the event, Thursday promised a slightly more alternative lineup compared to Friday and Saturday’s more hardcore-leaning bills. Headed up by Bob Vylan, it was a statement, a kick in the teeth to those larger festivals that had shunned the band, and it was a clear political statement, marking out the festival’s viewpoint from the outset. Sadly, due to prior commitments, we were unable to attend Thursday’s installation. Hopefully next year we’ll make it down for it, if it runs again!
The Throwaway Scene (12:30, The Apple and Parrot)
Kicking off the weekend for us, emo revivalists The Throwaway Scene took to the stage, bringing their infectious blend of old-school emo and modern post-hardcore to the sunny shores of Torquay. Though they weren’t the official opener for the stage, to us, they certainly filled this role. Taking the opportunity to play through a sizeable portion of their discography, with a focus on their latest EP On Death & Dying and the material which followed it, they quickly won over onlookers, many of whom had likely never heard of the project. For myself, having followed this band since their debut single and having seen their debut live performance, this set felt like a culmination of all of their hard work starting to pay off. They sounded incredibly tight, and vocalist Olly Hame deserves recognition in his own right for his stellar vocal performance. It’s not often that a vocalist can sound as good live as they do in a studio setting, but Olly came damn near close, and it was truly something special. As if the performance alone wasn’t already enough, a guest spot from As Everything Unfolds vocalist Charlie Rolfe took things to a whole new level partway through the set, transforming their sound into a whole other beast. The Throwaway Scene are a band that, for many, were likely a new experience. If this set is anything to go by, they’ve absolutely won over a whole new group of people. What a way to start the day.
So Far So Good (13:30, The Attic)
Changing the pace entirely, we then moved over to The Attic across the street to catch our good friends in So Far So Good. Having spoken to vocalist Dan Fisher ahead of the set, one thing was clear: the band were nervous, but determined to make their set one to remember. Kicking things off with an unreleased demo track, nobody knew what to expect. One thing was clear, though; there was about to be carnage in The Attic. Progressing through a mixture of established and new material, So Far So Good were a quick hit amongst hardcore fans in attendance, their mixture of breakcore, hardcore, and nu-metal being something that’s not quite hit the UK yet. It was when the band pulled out a cover of Counterparts’ Monument that things truly dialled up to 11, with onlookers forcing their way into the mosh and mic-grab. Easily one of the most fun and fulfilling sets of the event for us, it was truly something special getting to see So Far So Good achieve the level of love that they did. A band that we’ve been keeping our eyes on for some time already, if this set is anything to go by, the only way is up for this project.
Graywave (14:00, The Foundry)
Another stage opener, this time opening the main stage in The Foundry, Birmingham shoegaze outfit Graywave took over just next door. Entering the room, there were swathes of fans already waiting patiently for the band to kick things off. One of the lineup’s more low-key acts, Graywave seemed like a bold choice to open the stage. In reality, it made complete sense, their slower, more relaxing sound easing people in for what was otherwise looking to be a frantic, energy-filled day. The first band of the day for many, this approach made complete sense, but for those of us moving over from The Attic, the stark contrast in pace was a tad strange. With that said, the band itself sounded incredible, and they absolutely warmed festival-goers up for the day to come.
Prom (14:30, The Attic)
A short trip back to The Attic next to catch Brighton emo-core three-piece Prom, whose set promised to steadily increase the energy once more following Graywave’s more chilled vibe. The room was absolutely packed, with pits ensuing from the very first seconds of the set’s opener. Putting on a very fun, unserious set, Prom’s combination of emo and pop-punk led to a lot of dancing, push-pits, and, somehow, crowd surfing in the tiny room. Admittedly, we went into this set knowing very little about the band, but following their performance, which sounded incredibly well-rehearsed, we couldn’t help but smile. Prom might have been one of the softer bands to grace The Attic, but their energy and crowd interaction made them feel perfectly at home in the small space. We’ll certainly be keeping an eye on them for future releases!
Buds. (14:30, The Apple and Parrot)
A traversement back into The Apple and Parrot took place. As the prime location for those in need of a break from the drab Madri served up in The Foundary, Buds hopped onto the stage to begin their joyous act. A fusion between the likes of Unpeople and Slackrr, with a hint of IDLES post-punk influence, The Apple and Parrot seemed like an ideal backdrop for them. The low ceiling and narrow walls trapped in their rampant and buzzing post-punk sound. Big riffs and chanted lyrics made for a performance that kept the energy up in a venue that had a long day ahead.
Knives (15:00, The Foundry)
There’s something to be said for a band that brings the fun, and Bristolian post-punk sextet Knives certainly brought it in spades. Their mid-afternoon slot in The Foundry had the room quite literally bouncing, waking the crowd up from a euphoric post-shoegaze daze courtesy of Graywave. Playing the majority of their explosive debut album, GLITTER, Knives‘ blend of hardcore and post-punk, combined with their on-stage antics and a healthy dose of inflatables being tossed about the whole time, made for one of the most entertaining sets of the day, without even necessarily having to be a fan of the music.
Songs like “Headcase“, with its tongue-in-cheek brashness (“I’m an arrogant asshole and I do as I please“), filled a certain Pintglass-sized hole in my heart, and were screamed by the crowd with a volume and fervour befitting a much later billing, while smatterings of rumbling bass and the biting delivery of vocalist Jay Schottlander lent an aggressive edge more in keeping with Burn It Down‘s hardcore pedigree. The group’s showmanship was on full display, with the saxophone ringing out amid the chaos and guitarists Dan Farren and Josh Cook climbing atop the stage’s speaker towers. It’s clear that both the band and the crowd had a blast, and even easier to see why their live shows have amassed such acclaim.
Not Without Punishment (15:30, The Attic)
Continuing our back-to-back streak, we swiftly moved over to catch Not Without Punishment in The Attic. Another one of our ones-to-watch picks for us, we were very excited to see how their set played out. It seems that a lot of people had the same idea, as by the time we made it to The Attic, the room was absolutely packed, leaving very little space to squeeze in, and with the crowd spilling out onto the landing just outside of the main entry. It became instantly clear why the turnout was so good, with the band sounding absolutely massive. Whilst our own experience was less complete due to being stuck towards the back, we can say with complete confidence that Not Without Punishment absolutely blew us away. There’s an argument to be made that perhaps they’d have benefitted from a larger stage, a theme which we’ll see repeating for plenty of the day’s hardcore bands, but there was a certain charm to seeing them play a small, packed-out room. Yet another fantastic display of UK hardcore, Burn It Down was certainly on a hot streak for great, small bands.
Still In Love (16:30, The Attic)
Next up, we caught fast-climbers in Still In Love, whose crossover sound is every bit as nostalgic as it is refreshing. Performing ahead of the release of their debut album Recovery Language (which we covered here), it’s safe to say that hopes were high for this set. A supergroup of sorts, comprising of members (and ex-members) of Bring Me The Horizon, Brutality Will Prevail, and Dead Swans, it should come as no surprise that their performance was nothing short of stellar. Equal parts hardcore and metalcore, with flourishes reminiscent of Ruin-era Architects, there’s a lot to love about this band, and in a live setting, this is only further emphasised. It’s hard to pinpoint specifically what it is about this band’s formula that makes them click in the way that they do, but it’s undeniable that they’re already on their way to being something big. It’s only a matter of time before we see Still In Love headlining larger venues like The Foundry, and when that time comes, you don’t want to be late to the party.
God Complex (17:00, The Foundry)
God Complex. They really are that band. When they announced their return along with He Watches In Silence, it’s safe to say that we, along with the majority of the UK scene, were incredibly excited. Having already done the rounds, touring tirelessly since that announcement, many of us have already witnessed the band in their full glory, but now, on the main stage in The Foundry, their sound turmoil was all the more elevated. Performing to a packed-out room, God Complex’s gargantuan heaviness was imposed upon the entirety of the festival, and it was truly remarkable. Moshers, two-steppers, and headbangers congregated in the main hall, along with Elmo, the Cookie Monster, and some bloke dressed in a Stella Artois tracksuit, all looking to show off their style. Playing a set consisting of anthem after anthem, there was no room for reprieve. This alone would have been impressive, but vocalist Harry Rule took the opportunity to flex his vocal prowess, putting on a jaw-dropping display and catching many off guard. An expectedly great performance, it’s clear to see just why there was so much hype around God Complex’s return, and having now honed their craft further, it seems that we can expect nothing but greatness for the foreseeable future from them.
Xile (17:30, The Attic)
Running over quickly from The Foundry to The Attic, we then managed to catch Xile, yet another one of our ones-to-watch picks for this year’s instalment of the festival. It quickly became clear that we weren’t alone in thinking that Xile’s set would be exciting, with The Attic being cramped from front to back. Bringing their unique flavour of beatdown/death metal to Torquay, Xile showed right away what it is that keeps drawing people in, and just why they’ve been appearing on more and more lineups across the UK and Europe. Commanding vocals met an oppressive instrumental, leading to all-out chaos in The Attic, the likes of which very few bands could ever wish to achieve. Due to the sheer volume of fans in attendance, we did struggle to move far enough up in the room to get a complete picture of what was going on, but what we can say is that, towards the back of the room at least, they sounded absolutely ginormous, and they’d captured the attention of all in attendance. Keeping up the pattern of great sets in The Attic, Xile’s set showed that they’re more than deserving of the attention they’ve been receiving, and we can only look forward to seeing them grow more and more as time goes on.
False Reality (19:30, The Attic)
Another band we’ve covered a handful of times on the site already, False Reality, were up next. Hot off the announcement of their debut album Faded Intentions, the band were set on showcasing some new material, along with a selection of older hits. Just like at 2000Trees just a month prior, False Reality put on a masterclass in modern hardcore, offering plenty of opportunities for dancing and for crowd participation. Another set where perhaps the band could have done with a larger room, The Attic was completely packed. As a common theme throughout the day, it was another fantastic performance, but one that was hard to see unless you’d shown up remarkably early. No slight on False Reality for this, the turnout was something they’ve earned, and was a true testament to their growth as a band. Having made their mark upon Burn It Down, there’s no doubt that plenty in attendance will be waiting patiently for the album’s release, knowing full well to expect great things.
Glare (20:00, The Foundry)
A peculiar booking up next, Texan shoegaze outfit Glare took to the main stage as direct support for the festival’s headliners. Perhaps scheduled to provide a moment to catch your breath, their positioning did feel slightly strange given some of the other acts that had appeared before them. With that said, the band’s slower, less frantic sound allowed for a fantastic re-charge opportunity, all soundtracked by a remarkably solid shoegaze performance. Playing to a relatively full room, Glare put on an impressive performance, sounding close to their on-record sound, and the change in pace was absolutely welcomed. It’s tough to comment on Glare in all honesty. They’re just a cool, consistent shoegaze act, and whilst that may sound a bit plain, given the over-saturation of the genre in the last few years, we’d argue that this puts them well ahead of many of their peers.
Last Wishes (21:00, The Attic)
It has felt like a long while since Last Wishes were a regular fixture within the UK, with excursions across the Atlantic and all, and it now seems a rare delight to see a Last Wishes show. With much of Burn It Down making a similar observation, The Attic was at capacity, if not above. Thankfully, a cooler temperature stopped it from becoming the warmest place in Torquat as in previous years. As expected, from the get-go, Last Wishes ripped apart The Attic. Corin calling the crowd to move in was a brief lull before the limbs swung and mic grabs began. Moving through the likes of “Loyalty” and “Headcount“, a responsive crowd lapped up the performance from Last Wishes. With it now a good three years since their previous full-length, there can ony be hope that they soon drop some material and go on a run of dates. As Last Wishes showed despite their brevity in live shows as of recent, they still very much have it.
Static Dress (22:00, The Foundry)
Closing out the day, Static Dress took over The Foundry, which was entirely packed out, with not an inch of space to be seen all around through the swarms of incoming fans. Of course, this should come as no surprise by now, with the band being one of the UK’s most exciting exports in recent memory. With the prospect of hearing their debut album Rouge Carpet Disaster in its entirety for the second and final time, there was a palpable sense of anticipation in the air. With the album meaning so much to so many, the prospect of hearing it from front to back was something truly unmissable. Having spoken to several familiar faces, it was instantly clear that this was the main attraction.
Opening the set with “Face”, leading directly into “Clean.”, all bets were off for what to expect from this performance. Playing both their latest single and most frequent set closer to kick things off was a real curveball, but one that truly paid off with the crowd singing along from the first lyric, and crowd surfers coming out in full force along with it. In fact, things got so hectic so fast that the photo pit was cleared early to make space for additional security to help usher over the waves of surfers that were steadily progressing over the front barrier. Before the album playthrough had begun, the tone was clear; this was about to be something truly special.
Then came the main attraction, Rouge Carpet Disaster, played start to finish. On its own, something truly special, but further enhanced by the visuals playing on the giant screen backing the band, which consisted of music video extracts, promotional footage, and new, never-before-seen visuals to accompany the band’s lore. Having briefly chatted to the band ahead of the set, there was a level of anxiety surrounding how the set would be received, with Olli (Appleyard – vocals) and George (Holding – bass) both noting that this would be the first time the album had been played in full without any abridged renditions. Safe to say, it was something truly remarkable. A consistently energy-packed set with constant crowd-surfing and fans singing every single track word-for-word back to the band. As if this wasn’t already enough, additional flourishes, such as a snow machine during “Marisol”, made the occasion all the more special.
Closing the set with a new track, stylised as “Entry 578 Dear Meave” on the setlist, followed by smash-hit single “crying“, the band cemented themselves as one of Burn It Down’s premier acts. Debuting new material at the end of a set was a bold move, but following the emotional rollercoaster that was RCD in full, there seemed to be no better time. Then, of course, the anthemic “crying” allowed for one final crowd sing-along to close out the night. Huge choruses, a final bout of crowd-surfers, and one last dance, this was all anybody could have asked for.
Static Dress is a band that showcases just what sheer effort and determination can achieve for you. From starting out playing tiny shows, recording music videos in a garage, and tracking demos in bedrooms over lockdown, to now, headlining one of the most exciting festivals in the UK alternative scene, one thing is clear: hard work pays off. Still embodying the hardcore spirit, they’re a band that will undoubtedly go down in Burn It Down history as one of the festival’s greatest headliners, and rightfully so. Whether you were already a fan of the band or happened to catch them on a whim, their set at Burn It Down 2025 is certainly not one you’ll ever forget.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it’s hard to argue that Burn It Down Friday was anything less than a resounding success, with some incredible performances and plenty of memorable moments, all topped off by a headliner whose set will be hard to beat for the foreseeable future. That’s not to say that everything was perfect. For example, we’ve alluded to The Attic being remarkably cramped at times, something which we believe was purely down to the scheduling, leading to many in attendance rotating between The Foundry and The Attic consistently throughout the day. In reality, it’s a good problem to have, and a stage being over-filled shows a fantastic booking of bands, but perhaps for flow, it would have made more sense to clash some of these acts, even if it did lead to some tough decisions. In the grand scheme of things, this is a remarkably minor gripe to have, and it’s hard to say that you hadn’t gotten your money’s worth out of the bands that you’d been able to see throughout the day. In fact, it may be beneficial for 2026’s instalment to utilise the skate stage more, potentially treating it as a larger hardcore stage, akin to The Attic, allowing for larger bands to play in a bigger space, whilst retaining that DIY style we’ve all come to know and love. Credit where credit is due, everything else in terms of Friday was utterly fantastic, and we couldn’t wait to see what Saturday had in store for us.