The album was released on September 28, 2018 through Deathwish Inc. Burnt Sugar was co-produced by Jeremy Bolm of Touché Amoré and Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Super Unison, Loma Prieta), and was recorded live to 2" analog recording tape at Shirley's Atomic Garden studio in April 2018.

[5] To support the album, Gouge Away toured the US and Europe with Culture Abuse from September to October 2018, followed by a leg with Drug Church in the US from November to December 2018.

"[8] Tom Breihan of Stereogum wrote: "Michelle's voice is a strained howl, and her lyrics are heavy but considered lines, many of them about depression or anxiety" and that "she sings about things that I don’t hear addressed in song often, like the weight of social expectation.

"[9] Writing for BrooklynVegan, Andrew Sacher says: "The new album's got a handful of punk rippers that pick right up where Gouge Away's debut left off, and leading the way is still Christina Michelle's scream, which sounds as throat-shredding as ever.

"[10] Critics often compared elements of Burnt Sugar to other music artists, including: The Jesus Lizard,[8][9][10][11][12] The Pixies,[9][10][13] Fugazi,[11] Superchunk,[12] Girls Against Boys,[9] Slint,[10] and Sonic Youth[10] among others.