[3] Lead singer Jack Cochrane also described the band as being "more cautious" with their songwriting and messages in W.L., something that drastically has changed with the politically fuelled Burn the Empire, as the success and acceptance of their debut album made it feel "a lot easier to use our voices in a more direct manner".

largely featured songs only written by the band, Burn the Empire consists of songs co-written with their producers Nathaniel "Detonate" Ledwidge and Clarence Coffee Jr.. Bass guitarist Callum Wilson described Detonate as "[focusing] mainly on musicianship and instrumentation" and introducing the band to new rhythms they hadn't explored before.

[6] However, on 5 September 2022, the band tweeted that they had asked Parlophone if they could release the album earlier so fans could hear the songs before the beginning of their tour, but that the label had refused.

The titles takes its name from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, with clips of him frequently interspersed in the song's official lyric video.

It was inspired by Escaramuza charra, the only female equestrian event in the Mexican charrería, and the video features rider Regina Segura Martínez.

The cassette will be released with four different O-card cover sleeves depicting a Zippo, clipper, matchbox or matches, in keeping with the idea of burning.

[17] Reviewing for the NME, Ali Shutler described Burn the Empire as "wonderfully unhinged" and that it "might flicker between wanting to tear everything down and preaching compassionate understanding while it mashes together different genres, but there's still a fierce focus to the record".

Shutler concluded with that "every decision, no matter how bonkers, is followed through with confidence and conviction giving the entire thing a reckless energy that champions total freedom".

He added that whilst the album can be a "source of escapism", "it's a record designed to challenge and make for an uncomfortable listen, it's necessary for these complex times".