Tom Morello‘s latest collaboration is a different kind of raging against the machine. On the high-octane single “Everything Burns,” the RATM guitarist and solo performer cranks up the energy for a fierce metal-meets-beats jam featuring urgent vocals from Beartooth vocalist Caleb Shomo.
“Whole house packed/ Not here to make friends/ Do or die moment/ I love it this intense/ Who am I taking out/ Thinking you’re next/ You’ll know it when the sky turns red/ ‘Cause everything burns,” Shomo sings on the ominous song before jumping into the howling, galloping chorus: “Everything burns/ Light it up lets go/ Light it up lets go.”
The team-up with the metalcore singer brings to mind the vibe and energy of the classic 1993 nu-metal-meets-hip-hop mash-up soundtrack to Judgement Night, which paired such seeming odd fellows as Biohazard and Onyx, Slayer and Ice-T and Pearl Jam and Cypress Hill.
“Everything Burns” was produced by Tyler Smyth (Falling In Reverse, Royal & the Serpent) and on Tuesday (Dec. 16) it made its in-game debut in the latest update to the Final Fantasy XIV video game.
“Everything Burns is a high energy riff heavy banger that feels like it’s rising from the streets,” said Morello in a statement. “Collaborating with Beartooth and super producer Tyler Smyth to forge this ferocious next single from my upcoming solo album was a real thrill.”
Shomo added, “creating ‘Everything Burns’ was the definition of lightning in a bottle. Pressure makes diamonds. When I got a call saying Tom Morello wants you to sing on a song for a huge project and it’s due in a few hours I had no idea what would happen, but I gave it all I had and it turned into something that’s truly once in a lifetime. I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of this with Tom and the entire Final Fantasy family that made this happen. Life goal achieved.”
Morello recently unveiled his new Arm the Homeless guitar with Fender — which recreates one of the rocker’s most beloved instruments — with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Los Angeles homeless charities Midnight Mission and Covenant House.
Watch the “Everything Burns” video below.