Burnout

The fifth tune on Beartooth's sophomore album Aggressive was co-written by songwriter and producer John Feldmann, along with Beartooth's mastermind, Caleb Shomo. In our interview with Shomo, he explained why he finds the song so compelling. "It's a cool track," he said. "It's just got a little bit of everything. It's got some fun riffs and some good singalong parts. It's my jam right now."

Shomo described why this is one of his most beloved songs on the record in an album commentary for Spotify. "That was actually the first song that I worked on, period, that made it on the record," he said. "I've had variations of that main guitar riff for a super long time. I had a demo of that that was way different. It was four and a half minutes long. I had that for over a year, but I went to [John] Feldmann's and we had already written two songs, and I was just stuck on this song. We worked on a chorus, kind of restructured it, and it turned out to be one of my favorites on the record, and I love that."

The term "burnout" can have multiple meanings. When Shomo began Beartooth, it was just a passion project to help him manage his depression and anxiety. So "burnout" can be referring to physically or mentally shutting down from being overworked and stressed. In the second verse and chorus, it seems Shomo is providing a hopeful anthem, and declaring that he will rise up above all the troubles he's endured. It's really getting hard writing negative songs Beating myself up to get another word out How much time have I lost, yelling about all the pain I've felt? There's gotta be an answer, gotta be a fact? Find the pieces, take the risk I won't go down, not like this I just wanna (Live free) They won't get the best of me (Live free) I don't need your sympathy You may spark the flame But these scars will not remain You'll never burn me out