FESTIVAL REVIEW: Burn It Down Festival 2025

Now in its seventh year, Burn It Down Festival returned bigger and better than ever, delivering three days that celebrated the thrilling breadth of the UK’s modern alternative scene to Torquay. From ethereal shoegaze to queercore punk and bone-shattering hardcore, the lineup was a testament to the diversity and vitality of the underground. We dived into the action across Friday and Saturday – here’s how it all went down.

Friday – August 29th

Opening the day at The Foundry, GRAYWAVE (7) set the tone with a moody, atmospheric tapestry. While the vocals occasionally strayed pitchy, the band’s immense harmonic strength and ghostly soundscapes—particularly on Dark Spell with its crushing breakdown and layered screams, hinted at serious potential. A solid start for fans of THORNHILL. If GREYWAVE were the calm before the storm, KNIVES (8) brought the chaos. All six members, including three vocalists, were a whirlwind of energy, cutting through the early-afternoon haze with a set drawn mostly from debut album GLITTER. Groovy, saxophone-infused and utterly unhinged, their performance proved more bands need a brass section. A breathless, brilliant showing for fans of UNPEOPLE and CRASHFACE.

Then came TROPIC GOLD (9), an exercise in relentless, precise aggression. Jacob Parris’ in-your-face delivery and hammering vocals were a masterclass in intensity, leaving the audience reeling from a sheer auditory assault. Coupled with brand-new electronic visuals, their presence at The Foundry showed that size doesn’t matter—anyone can leave their mark. Ones to watch on future lineups. CRASHFACE (8) kept the energy sky-high with boisterous, unadulterated chaos from the first second. Bassist Otto Balfour thrashed about so violently you’d never guess this was a small band’s set at the back of a pub. Their high-octane performance was elevated by a guest appearance from Tom Maxfield of HELL HOTEL for Maniac, igniting an active mosh pit and cementing their status as a must-see live act. After a short delay, GOD COMPLEX (8) stormed the stage with a pushy, shovy set of brute-force hardcore. While not rewriting the genre, every member was fully present and active, delivering a punishingly effective performance.

SPLIT CHAIN (7) offered a curious blend of shoegaze and hardcore. Unfortunately, the experiment didn’t fully gel; the band’s energy was undermined by a lacklustre vocal performance that failed to match the instrumentation’s drive. Still, the crowd stayed engaged, proving the concept has potential. Injecting a dose of sass and politics, THE MENSTRUAL CRAMPS (7) were unapologetically themselves. With great outfits and tight sync, songs like Body Politics tackled gender norms head-on, while the band’s charismatic banter (“you can thank me later in the strip upstairs” for their outfits) kept spirits high, even if the vocals showed signs of tour fatigue at points. Hailing from Texas, GLARE (6) slowed the pace with a sleepy brand of shoegaze that struggled to connect. Three singers with similar tones and a set that took nearly 20 minutes to introduce variety left the crowd drifting toward inflatables and bar chatter.

Then came the moment of the day: STATIC DRESS (10). This was more than a set—it was a piece of art. Committed to the bit in full suits, the band played their seminal Rouge Carpet Disaster album in full, clearing the photo pit early to handle the endless waves of surfers. Brimming with raw emotion and capped by an unforgettable snow machine during Marisol, this was a career-defining performance. Olli Appleyard’s impassioned speech urging artists to create solid art over chasing singles was a poignant festival highlight.

Saturday – August 30th

London’s SHOOTING DAGGERS (7) kicked off with upbeat, fun queercore energy and a vital message. While the dual vocals sometimes felt messy and slightly off-sync, the powerful cleans and melodic interludes shone through. A band deeply committed to their cause and the scene – definitely one to watch. Next up, EVILLE (8) delivered an intimate yet explosive set that felt like a coming-of-age moment. Vocalist Eva Sheldrake oozed newfound confidence and sass, leading their well-polished unit through clean screams and a successful wall of death that stunned everyone. A huge leap forward from earlier performances. Expect to see them on the main stage next year.

MALLAVORA (7) followed with a technically flawless display of alt-metal prowess. Incredible clean vocals and skull-vibrating riffs executed with precision made for a powerful, if slightly clinical, performance.
Genre-fluid and high-octane, LOVE IS NOISE (7) kept the energy flowing. Singer Cameron Humphrey paced the stage relentlessly as the band shifted from pop-punk and shoegaze to metal, encouraging a constant pit of two-steppers. It took time for the crowd to warm up, but by the final song, they had the room in their hands.

Then came MOUTH CULTURE (9), who transformed the lofty Foundry into a hot and heavy dancefloor. Sultry and high-energy, their upbeat rock anthems – even without Dead In Love – had fans dressed as Elmo and Cookie Monster opening the pit. A set that ended far too soon. The surprise of the weekend? FROZEMODE (9). In just eight minutes, they unleashed an unrelenting rave, spitting lyrics with precision and zero laziness. Any doubts about their place at an alternative festival were obliterated by erupting two-steppers and moshers. Unmatched vibes by any other set of the weekend.

Norway’s BLOOD COMMAND (9) brought effortless cool and infectious energy. Dripping in Adidas and sunnies, their ‘death pop’ had the pit active from the start, even inspiring a wave of unprompted shoulder rides. The perfect mood-setter for the evening’s finale. If BLOOD COMMAND set the tone, GUILT TRIP (9) detonated it. Their no-barrier set unleashed a wall-to-wall riot, the pit a relentless exchange of intensity. This reviewer even lost a fingernail in the fray – a worthy sacrifice for a legendary hardcore moment. DESOLATED (8) kept the hardcore engine roaring for those still standing. Hot, sweaty, and packed with serious two-steppers, their set was pure punishing heaviness. No frills, no gimmicks.

Closing the night, CANCER BATS (8) delivered a full-force, guitar-shredding set worthy of a headliner. Sadly, the day had drained the crowd’s energy, leaving only a handful of survivors pitting amidst polite applause where there should have been chaos. A killer performance let down by exhausted punters.

2025’s Burn It Down Festival proved why it’s become a cornerstone of the UK alternative calendar. From STATIC DRESS’ career-defining spectacle to the raw ferocity of GUILT TRIP and the genre-bending brilliance of FROZEMODE, this year’s edition was a triumph of diversity and intensity. If this is the future of the scene, it’s in very safe hands.

Check out our extensive photo gallery of this year’s Burn It Down Festival from Serena Hill Photography here: 

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