REVIEW: Burner - No One Is Coming To Save Us
Emerging from the depths of South London, BURNER return with No One Is Coming To Save Us, an 11-track assault that sees the band push their sound well beyond straightforward extremity. While the foundations remain firmly rooted in the darker corners of modern metalcore and hardcore, BURNER are clearly unwilling to remain confined by convention. This is a record that embraces atmosphere and experimentation without ever losing sight of what makes their music hit so hard.
Adding even more weight to an already formidable record is an impressive collection of guest appearances. Matthew K. Heafy of TRIVIUM, Josh Middleton of SYLOSIS and Anthony Lucero of CULT LEADER all make appearances throughout the album. Thankfully, these don't feel like obligatory celebrity cameos designed simply to add familiar names to the track listing. Instead, each guest brings something meaningful to the songs, complementing BURNER's sound while allowing the band's own identity to remain firmly at the forefront.
The album opens with The Third Revelation, a lengthy, nearly eight-minute introduction that immediately sets the tone for what is going to be a seriously meaty record. The opening minutes take a more melodic and atmospheric approach, allowing the tension to build before, around the two-minute mark, the familiar BURNER sound comes crashing through. It's a clever way to introduce the album, demonstrating from the outset that there is considerably more going on here than simply throwing one crushing riff after another at the listener.
That balance between atmosphere and outright brutality becomes one of the album's greatest strengths. Beneath the savage riffs and punishing rhythms are flashes of serene post-metal, expansive textures and a cinematic quality that gives the record a genuine sense of scale. Rather than taking away from the heaviness, these moments make the more aggressive sections feel even more devastating. BURNER understand that sometimes the best way to make something sound enormous is to give it room to breathe before unleashing hell.
Sunrise, Parabellum (feat. Matthew K. Heafy) provides one of the album's standout collaborations. You can hear the exact moment Heafy's vocals kick in, with his instantly recognisable tone cutting through BURNER's crushing instrumentation. His distinctive delivery adds another dimension to the track without overshadowing the band's own sound, making the collaboration feel natural rather than forced. It's a particularly satisfying guest appearance and one that demonstrates how well BURNER can incorporate another artist without losing their identity.
A Shattered Visage Lies brings another welcome change of pace, finishing with a brilliant polyrhythmic outro that introduces a technical edge before dropping into a solid, crushing breakdown. The rhythmic complexity gives the closing section an additional layer of aggression, making it particularly satisfying for those who enjoy their metal with a little more intricacy. It's another example of BURNER knowing exactly when to introduce something different without allowing the experimentation to distract from the sheer heaviness.
Then there's Accelerationist, which feels almost purpose-built for the live environment. This is the track that should have crowds moving before the first chorus has even finished. Huge breakdowns, frantic energy and enough momentum to get a circle pit going make it one of the album's most immediate offerings. There is even plenty of opportunity for those inevitable fly kicks. Despite being one of the shorter tracks on the record, its compact runtime works in its favour, keeping everything fast, direct and relentlessly aggressive. It leaves a lasting impression and stands out as one of the album's most chaotic moments.
Kurtz (feat. Anthony Lucero) sees BURNER explore further. Anthony Lucero's vicious vocal performance adds another layer of aggression, while infectious vocal hooks and sharp lead work provide plenty of memorable moments. It's a track that manages to be both punishing and strangely catchy, with certain riffs and vocal lines likely to remain lodged in your head long after the record has finished.
That ability to balance melody, atmosphere and sheer brutality is ultimately what makes No One Is Coming To Save Us such an engaging listen. BURNER haven't simply taken their established formula and turned the heaviness up another notch. Instead, they've expanded the palette that give the album a greater sense of depth.
No One Is Coming To Save Us represents a significant evolution for BURNER. They haven't abandoned the extreme sound that established their reputation; they've sharpened it, this is BURNER sounding more ambitious than ever. With its crushing breakdowns, memorable collaborations and willingness to explore beyond the boundaries of conventional heaviness, No One Is Coming To Save Us is a record that demands to be played loud, preferably with a circle pit within reach.
Score: 8/10
No One Is Coming To Save Us will be released on 25th September 2026 via Church Road Records.
Words: Ciara Hicks-Evans
Photos: Kieran White
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