The group took a break to support You Me at Six on their UK tour in December; they were unable to fly back until the end of the month due to bad weather to finish the album.
Leading up to the album's release announcement, "Start the Reactor" and "Exit Summer" were made available for streaming, and "Certain" served as the first single.
Described as a melodic hardcore and pop punk record, Burning at Both Ends has a slower tempo than the group's previous albums.
[4] On October 1, 2010, the group began recording with producer Brian McTernan at Salad Days Studios in Baltimore, Maryland.
[15][14] These sessions were held at Tree Fort Studio; Green, who also served as the engineer, was assisted in production by Kyle Black.
[16] Three of the tracks featured additional vocal contributions: Black, Jenn Brown, Ryan Holden and Julio on "The Last American Virgin"; Matt Arcangeli on "Unconditional"; and Andrew Neufeld of Comeback Kid on "Illuminated Youth".
In addition, throughout the album are crew vocals by: Brown, Holden, Julio, Arcangeli, Michael Bumblis, 1090 Club keyboardist Mike Galt, Emilio Martinez, Kevin O'Connell, Seahaven drummer James Phillips, Epitaph staff member Felicia Risolo, Brian Warner, and Set Your Goals.
[19] All the songs are credited to Set Your Goals and Brian McTernan, with the exception of "Calaveras", which was written by drummer Mikey Ambrose.
The music for "Exit Summer" dates back to 2004–2005 Mutiny!-era demos and lyrically tackles internal conflict between the band members.
Wilson found it hard to write the lyrics for "Unconditional", as he had received news about a person he grew up with having done something wrong and was unable to process it.
[7] The track includes references to various songs, shows, and movies from the decade: "Like a Virgin" (1984) by Madonna, Saved by the Bell (1989) and The Goonies (1985), among others.
[23] On March 14, "Start the Reactor" was made available for streaming, and it was revealed that the group's new album, Burning at Both Ends, would be released later in the year.
[25] On May 4, Burning at Both Ends was announced for released in June, the track listing was revealed, and "Exit Summer" was made available for streaming.
[6][29] On June 8, a music video was premiered for "Certain" through Alternative Press; it was filmed the previous month in Santa Monica, California.
[30][31] It shows the band performing at a prom party, until halfway through when the crowd melts and merges into a monster that they fight off with music.
[43] In May, the group went on a UK tour alongside Make Do and Mend, Spycatcher, Hildamay and Evarose, leading to another appearance at Slam Dunk Festival.
[48] The Aquarian Weekly writer Giorgio Mustica highlighted "Start the Reactor" and "Trenches", praising Wilson and Brown's vocals on both tracks.
[18] Tim Newbound of Rock Sound wrote that the band was "back in irresistibly anthemic form", containing the "right blend of punk attitude and pop genius.
[49] AllMusic reviewer Gregory Heaney complimented the band's "liberal use of infectious singalong choruses and half-time breakdowns", which are handled in a manner that is "precise without feeling restrained.
"[17] Brian Shultz, in a review for Punknews.org, said overall that the group simply took the mid-tempo speed of "Summer Jam" (an earlier track of theirs), and then added "plenty of gloss across the board.
[19] PopMatters' Will Rausch wrote that while there were a few "solid" songs "and almost no terrible ones", a significant chunk of the album is simply "plain mediocre or leaves you with a feeling of musical blue balls.
"[22] AbsolutePunk staff member Thomas Nassiff considered it a "downright embarrassment", adding that the sole major flaw it had was being "super boring.