As Rome Burns release debut EP “Reactor”
“...an immune response to a specific antigen or an adverse reaction to a drug or other substance”
a REACTOR.
Written, recorded and produced by a band as they observe, in real time, one of the most turbulent moments in modern history. A tinderbox moment of crumbling international solidarity, a rupturing of the social contract and a resurgent far right.
This is 21st century life. This is REACTOR.
We are an unsigned, self-funded, DIY alternative rock band with a simple mission statement: creating art that mirrors the confusion, rage and hope of 21st century life. That vision comes to life in our three-track debut EP REACTOR, recorded and produced at Salvation Studios, Brighton (Wet Leg, Shame, David Gilmour).
REACTOR marks a turning point for our band, the moment we committed to levelling up our sound and matching our ambition with collaborators who truly understood the vision. These songs were painstakingly written, torn apart, rebuilt, and obsessed over, until they captured as much intensity and honesty as we could give. The result, we believe, is one of the most distinctive and emotionally charged debut EPs to emerge from the UK alternative scene in recent years.
This is us, holding up a mirror to what it means to exist, resist and love in the 21st century.
i: ANIMAL
Animal is a visceral response to the political realities of modern Britain. A furious reaction to Labour’s shift toward right-wing populism and the alienation of the left. With friends and family directly affected by anti-immigrant rhetoric, the song captures the feeling of being abandoned by your own country, dehumanised and alone. Animal fights back with fuzz war riffs, Joe Talbot-esque vocals, and skin-splitting drums – the essence of our sound.
Despite its complexities, the track came together quickly in the studio (maybe because it’s just a straight-up banger). Highlights to listen out for include: lead guitarist David Windmill screaming through his pickups into a 200-watt amp, and the crashing solo section built from drummer Alex Bywater and bassist Sam Spacey smashing a metal bin to pieces in a giggling frenzy. These chaotic flourishes helped bring Animal to life and cement it forever as our urgent, cathartic anthem to the left behind.
ii: I AM YOUR ENEMY
I Am Your Enemy has been a staple of our live set (and a fan favourite) since we began playing shows in early 2025. It explores the weight of intergenerational trauma: the way pain reverberates through families and the struggle to break cycles we never chose to be part of. That emotional friction bleeds into the song, which asks a not-so-quiet question: can we break the wheel?
Musically, the track is unapologetically big. One standout moment: David’s mid-song guitar solo was improvised in a single take after scrapping a version that didn’t feel right. It was shaped in real time by the intensity of the moment and a raw conversation about the song’s meaning.
The vocal cracks in Pete Tibbits’ voice in the final refrain? Real. It was an emotional moment, realising the topic into musical form.
iii: I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE
I Think You Should Leave is REACTOR’s wild card. Equal parts headbanger and bass showcase, the track draws clear influence from Rage Against the Machine, early Chilli Peppers, and the nu-metal that first pulled us into rock. Written whilst recovering from a significant period of poor mental health, the song is a celebration of the people in our lives who help keep the wolves at bay, real or imagined.
Highlights include the popping bassline throughout and a layered wah-pedal solo that creates a rolling wave effect by integrating two separate takes – one rising as the other falls. To our knowledge, it’s a trick that hasn’t featured on a major release before.
