After a 15-year hiatus, New Jersey metalcore pioneers Burnt By The Sun have officially announced their reunion. The group confirmed their return via social media yesterday, June 5, alongside the major news that Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher has joined the lineup as a second guitarist.
The reactivation brings together the core quartet of vocalist Mike Olender, guitarist John Adubato, bassist Ted Patterson, and drummer Dave Witte. The founding members physically reconnected in late 2025 while attending the funeral of Patterson‘s father, a figure who had been a significant presence during the band’s original run.
“Talking over text and everything is great, but all of us sitting down, talking, rehashing old memories when the Old Man was out with Burnt really moved it forward for us,” Ted Patterson said regarding the reunion.
The addition of Bill Kelliher is a natural progression, as the Mastodon guitarist shares deep historical ties with the New Jersey outfit. Long before Burnt By The Sun established their crushing legacy with albums like 2002’s Soundtrack to the Personal Revolution, 2003’s The Perfect Is the Enemy of the Good, and 2009’s Heart of Darkness, Kelliher was involved in the band’s formative creative stages.
“The icing on the cake for us is bringing Bill into the fold. Bill is a longtime friend, and our early years mirrored Mastodon’s, having shared the stage many times in the early 2000s. Bill was actually part of that initial creative spark that led to BBTS getting formed. Back in the late ’90s Bill and John were writing together, some of which became BBTS’s first recorded material, and so for him to be part of this new chapter of the band is a reconnection to our roots and love for this kind of creative expression. We are also really excited about the new dynamic that Bill will add in terms of our live shows and new material,” Mike Olender explained.
Due to the demanding professional schedules of all members, including Kelliher and Witte‘s heavy touring commitments with their respective bands, and the careers of Olender, Patterson, and Adubato, Burnt By The Sun has not yet established a specific timeline for upcoming live performances or new recorded material. However, the members are eager to move forward.
“I’m getting another chance to make some noise with some of the best people in my life. I love these guys,” Ted Patterson added.
