“Your fucking hope dies, piece by piece.”
Photography by Dory Valentine on the 29th August – contact Dory prior to any use.
Now onto Saturday, and after a day packed full of fantastic bands, a slightly lighter day was just what we needed. Boasting a lineup seemingly tailored much more around the smaller acts, Saturday was looking suitably packed, but with a little more room to breathe than the day prior. We still had very high hopes for Burn It Down Saturday, and with another round of some of the UK’s finest up-and-coming bands, it looked like Burn It Down was set to deliver.
Heaven Unknown (12:00, The Apple and Parrot)
Opening up the proceedings, newcomers to the scene, Heaven Unknown took to The Apple and Parrot to showcase their modern post-hardcore stylings. Having recently released a new single, “nothing left to mourn“, we’d caught wind of them and wanted to see if their performance was every bit as fun as their studio work. Thankfully, we can confirm that, yes, Heaven Unknown absolutely do deliver on that front, putting on a set which was every bit as playful as it was emotionally charged. Making the occasional shoutout to his aunt, who was standing to one side in the audience, vocalist Will James oozed energy and put his all into the performance. Though we, and seemingly many others, were somewhat unfamiliar with most of the band’s material, that certainly didn’t stop them from making an impact, and they were an absolutely fantastic way to kick off the day.
Slung (12:30, The Apple and Parrot)
Quite a peculiar pick for this year’s lineup, Slung were up next, bringing their unique sound to the people of Torquay. A bit of a strange booking, there wasn’t really any other bands on the lineup quite like Slung, but that didn’t stop them from putting on a set to remember. Playing through a slew of tracks from their debut album, In Ways, the band quickly won over many a passerby who’d popped in early to take shelter from the rain. One thing which did strike us as quite strange was the decision to play what was arguably their heaviest and most Burn-It-Down-core track, Laughter, so early on in their set. Perhaps an attempt to draw people in, it was a remarkably bold decision, yet it absolutely seemed to pay off for them. Progressing through softer tracks, and even a ballad, Slung showed that they had something special, and that they were every bit as worth seeing as so many other bands on the lineup. Closing out their set with a mention that they’d also be playing a Limp Bizkit cover set as part of the after show, one thing was clear: Slung are entirely unique in their approach, a quality which is sadly lacking more and more in today’s landscape.
Hell Hotel (13:30, The Apple and Parrot)
Following things up directly afterwards, site favourites in Hell Hotel put on a performance worthy of a much grander stage. The pop-punk/emo blend they’ve captured with their sound is every bit as nostalgic as it is refreshing. With infectiously catchy choruses, they drew in an impressive crowd, especially for so early in the day. Essentially playing through their entire discography, fans were along for the ride, singing along to every word along with co-vocalists Demi and Tom. Having followed this band since their debut single, our hopes were high, and now that we have finally seen them live, we can absolutely confirm that this band is onto something truly special. As if that’s not enough to convince you, a cheeky outro closing out their set with an interpolation of Paramore’s Monster sealed the deal for us. With their influences worn clearly on their sleeves, Hell Hotel have created an homage to all who came before, whilst sounding entirely refreshing at the same time; a feat which very few others could hope to achieve.
Apathy UK (13:30, The Attic)
Those who attended last year’s Burn It Down will remember how Brighton Hardcore showed up any BN1 bands performing on the weekend’s line-up. On Saturday, this was very much true of Bristol City Hardcore. For the first act up in The Attic, Apathy UK absolutely packed it out. Their metalcore sound with huge 2000s riffs and gnarly breakdowns had the room headbanging along and moving time after time. What is evident is that there is a gem here with Apathy UK, and given more time, there’s no limit to what they can achieve.
Shooting Daggers (14:00, The Foundry)
Moving over into The Foundry for our first main stage set of the day, Shooting Daggers were given the opportunity to kick things off for those who’d had a bit of a lie-in. The self-proclaimed London queer core trio took to the stage, tasked with bringing out the moshers from the day prior. Performing to a remarkably busy room given the time, their set was everything you’d expect: heavy, loud, fun. Whilst they didn’t quite get the same response in terms of crowd involvement that other bands did, they certainly did a good job at keeping people hooked, with eyes transfixed on the performance for the duration. Whilst there’s little to fault about the performance, it was hard not to feel like perhaps they’d have made more sense playing later in the day in The Attic, making the most of the intimate space. A small gripe in what was otherwise a solid main stage set, Shooting Daggers are on the up, and given a bit more time, we’ve no doubt we’ll see them return to an even warmer reception.
BIND. (14:30, The Attic)
BIND. next, our first set in The Attic for the day, and one we’d been looking forward to ever since we caught them at Stormfest the month prior. Chaotic hardcore done right, BIND. put the crowd to work, demanding moshers from the very first note. Rattling through a mixture of old and new to-be-released material, they unleashed carnage upon the tiny room before them. New material from the upcoming War In Heaven EP landed incredibly well, but it was the older, fan-favourites that brought out the true dancers. Two-steppers and hardcore dancers alike soaked up every second, showcasing their style and putting on a true display of hardcore spirit. One of our favourite underground acts for some time now, this set made one thing clear: they’re on the precipice of something huge, and you don’t want to miss it.
Bodyweb (15:00, The Foundry)
Bodyweb’s turn next, and given the remarkable traction they’ve had since their debut, it was no wonder that The Foundry was packed early on, with people pushing through to try and get a good spot in the crowd. Having recently released their sophomore EP, deadwired, we went into the set with open minds. Having caught them live a few times already and feeling somewhat underwhelmed, we’d hoped that perhaps their new material would mark a turning point for the band, and finally make them click for us. A few songs in, and the crowd was loving it, but for us, it still didn’t quite hit as we’d hoped. Perhaps they’re better experienced in a smaller space, or perhaps we are just a bit behind the times, but for us, it wasn’t quite clear just what it is that so many people love about this project. With that said, people very clearly do love this project, and we were absolutely in the minority here, so there’s absolutely something to be said about this band’s draw. Check them out, maybe you’ll get more out of it than we did!
Long Goodbye (15:30, The Attic)
Now back to The Attic for what may well have been one of the greatest sets of the weekend, Long Goodbye. Just a week out from releasing their sophomore EP, to reconcile with death for the sake of a beautiful ending, it’s safe to say that the band were pulling out all of the stops, and treating the Torquay crowd to a sneak peek of what was to come. Menacing riffs, ferocious vocals, and crashing drums bellowed out across The Attic, leaving nowhere to hide. Attracting quite a crowd, limbs were flying around the room for the entirety of the set, with vocalist Patrick Morton joining the fray to showcase the North Eastern style. Whether it was the excitement of hearing the long-awaited new material, or just the sheer ferocity of the performance, it was truly a spectacle, and one that would be hard to top for any who followed. Easily one of the strongest, most exciting new bands in the UK right now, Long Goodbye deserves every single bit of the praise they’re seeing right now, and we’re counting down the days until we can see them again.
Break Fifty (16:30, The Attic)
Break Fifty, our beloved, is an act that goes from strength to strength as each release passes. Their intense performance punches its mark on any line-up, as vocalist Gus screams the visceral tales told in their tracks. Newer tracks have seen a shift in the set-list, with the likes of “I Still See You” swapped out for “Carousel“, ensuring the set exits on what is a hellish and almost bombastic track. Given the heights that acts of similar ilk have reached, the bigger stages will hopefully bay for Break Fifty. Yet, as always and as they continue to do each time we seem them live, Break Fifty are one hell of a vicious group.
Perp Walk (17:30, The Attic)
Born From Pain (18:30, The Attic)
A relatively late addition to Burn It Down following the cancellation of a clashing show, Born From Pain were a bit of an unknown to us, but given the stellar sets we’d already seen in The Attic, we figured, why not give them a shot! One for the OGs, this band clearly struck a chord with many hardcore fans along their long-running career, as the room quickly filled up once more with plenty of familiar faces, but also lots of new faces, seemingly going out of their way to catch them. Besides the members’ clear age difference in comparison to many of the other bands that had played, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Born From New were in their prime, as they sounded phenomenal. Creating an incredible atmosphere, encouraging fans to pack in, and never taking themselves too seriously, Born From Pain put on a set which will truly not be forgotten – though you may wish you could scrub the image of the fancy dress “sailors” from your mind… All in all, a surprisingly fun set, it’s clear to see why so many people made their way up to see them, and we hope to see them again sometime soon!
Overpower (19:30, The Attic)
Like riffs? How about chainmail? Need a soundtrack to ride into battle to? Overpower has you covered. Having not seen the band since 2000Trees a few years prior, we were excited to see how the band had grown and how well their newer material translated in a live setting. We could not have been any more impressed. A ludicrous set, full of goofy antics, such as asking the crowd to boo because a song is “too fast”, Overpower managed to deliver a show, rather than just a performance. Initially, we wondered why they were playing so late in the day, but less than a song into the set, it all made sense. Their unique style and live experience had pulled in swathes of festival-goers to The Attic once more, making it a remarkably intimate affair. Riff after riff, ridden by ferocious barked vocals, Overpower pulled out all of the stops, and will no doubt be a must-see for many for the foreseeable future.
Guilt Trip (20:00, The Foundry)
Now for the big one. Guilt Trip. No Barrier. Main stage.
When this was initially announced, we asked “Why?”, but on the lead up to the festival, it became very clear that this was what people wanted. Having seen Guilt Trip a fair few times now, we thought we had an idea of what to expect from the band, both in a no-barrier setting and playing a headline slot, but we were not prepared for the combination whatsoever. More than a sum of its parts, Guilt Trip’s set was absolute cinema, from front to back. Performing to a full-to-bursting Foundry, their set was packed with plenty of fan favourites, with a focus on their latest album, Severance.
Stage dive after stage dive, two-step after two-step, and plenty of mic grabs, there wasn’t much else you could have asked for; this set had it all. Becoming physically hard to see at times due to the volume of people and the amount of movement, this set felt like the true culmination of all of the band’s hard work, finally coming to fruition. For us, this was the true headliner, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anybody else in attendance who disagrees.
Guilt Trip have been a much beloved band in the hardcore scene for some time now, but if Burn It Down has proved anything, it’s that they’ve transcended this to become a whole new beast. Now able to pull in ridiculous crowds and acting as a gateway of sorts into the hardcore scene, Guilt Trip have shown that by sticking to what you’re good at, and being consistent, anything is possible. Yet another incredible set, just like Static Dress the night prior, it’s unclear how Burn It Down will top this with future iterations, but we look forward to seeing them try.
Final Thoughts
You may have noticed a lack of mention for the official headliners, Cancer Bats, who were performing as an exclusive UK appearance, and that’s for good reason. Whilst we absolutely loved pretty much every band we saw, and were able to confidently walk stage-to-stage to catch incredible performances, Cancer Bats stood out like a sore thumb. In fact, it was notable that throughout Saturday, what we’ve lovingly dubbed as the Cancer Bats dads could be seen, a gaggle of older men, all wearing big boots and battle jackets, all clearly attending to see Cancer Bats. Now we have nothing against this, and we hope that they managed to find a few new, cool bands, but it has to be said that it did make the whole vibe a little bit odd. Considering the strength of the rest of the lineup, their positioning as a headliner felt wrong, and, having caught some of the set, it seems like a lot of people agreed. With that said, we’re not at all saying that there’s anything wrong with Cancer Bats, they just didn’t really make sense amongst the rest of the lineup, and we’re still scratching our heads now as to why they were booked.
Besides that, our resounding conclusion is this: Burn It Down 2025 was incredible. An incredible selection of bands, new and old, with great organisation, and some impressive exclusives, it’s hard to argue that Burn It Down didn’t deliver on all fronts. Managing to convince our team to travel, some of us driving down hundreds of miles from the north, there’s something to be said for the festival’s pull. There are very few events that could convince us to travel across the country to a small seaside town, but there we were, and we don’t regret a second of it. Burn It Down has shown that they’re serious contenders for the UK’s best mid-sized festival, and given that it’s been steadily expanding year upon year, bringing in more and more talent, and attracting more fans with each iteration, we look forward to seeing what 2026 has in store.
Thank you to all of the staff, the security, the bookers, and the fans for making this festival what it is. Without the community, these events could not happen, and we’re glad to be a part of it.