Tom Morello unveils political ‘Final Fantasy’ anthem ‘Everything Burns’: “It’s a warning and a call to action”

Tom Morello has joined forces with Caleb Shomo on “Everything Burns”, a ferocious new track created for Final Fantasy XIV. The song serves as the musical centrepiece for the final chapter of the Arcadion raid series, pairing crushing riffs with a message rooted in urgency, accountability and resistance.

The track accompanies the climax of Arcadion’s brutal encounters and launched alongside the game’s 7.4 update. It also marks a crossover moment for Morello, who will include “Everything Burns” on his forthcoming solo album — a record that sits alongside other politically charged material he has been developing.

“I’m not trying to put songs into games,” Morello explains. “I’m trying to make songs that matter. This one matters right now. It’s a warning, and it’s a call to action.”

For Shomo, the song’s fire cuts both ways. “It’s about self-empowerment,” he says. “That feeling when you’re so lit up inside that nothing can stop you — but also the reminder that no one is untouchable. Power, money, status… everyone’s flammable. Be aware of what you’re doing to other people.”

The collaboration is a landmark moment for Final Fantasy XIV composer Masayoshi Soken, a longtime admirer of Morello’s work. He has spoken openly about how the game’s largely orchestral score occasionally demands the shock of a massive rock track. “For me, this felt cosmic,” Soken says. “Like everything colliding at once.”

The project came together at breakneck speed. After learning of Soken’s admiration, Morello was introduced through a mutual contact. With development timelines tight, the team needed a finished concept within 48 hours. By chance, Morello was already in the studio working on solo material with producer Tyler Smyth. An instrumental quickly took shape, and Smyth reached out to his childhood friend Shomo to handle vocals — with the understanding that everything would need to be written, recorded and produced the same day.

“I got the call while taking out the trash,” Shomo recalls. “I hadn’t even heard the track yet, but I said yes immediately. When you’re asked to work with one of your heroes on something this big, you don’t hesitate. It’s one of the most surreal moments of my career.”

For Morello, the finished song captured something rare. “It felt like a dice roll — either it worked, or it didn’t,” he says. “When Caleb sent back the vocals, I was floored. The energy, the message, the sheer force of it… it matched the scale of Final Fantasy and the destructive, volatile feeling of the world right now. It was lightning in a bottle.”

Although Morello readily admits he isn’t a gamer, he’s acutely aware of the cultural reach of Final Fantasy. “There’s a depth and care to how the music is curated,” he says. “It’s artful, it’s respected, and it reaches across generations.” He also sees the collaboration as part of a wider mission to push rock into new spaces, exposing younger audiences to heavier music through unexpected gateways.

Soken, meanwhile, waited patiently for the right in-game moment to deploy the track. “When the file arrived, my hands were shaking,” he says. “I wanted to share it immediately, but I knew it needed the perfect setting. With this update, that moment finally arrived. I think it’s going to introduce a lot of players to real rock music.”

Politics, unsurprisingly, sit at the heart of “Everything Burns”. Shomo says he felt a responsibility to say something meaningful when working with Morello. “Music can change how people see the world,” he notes. “Even when it feels impossible, it still has that power.”

Looking ahead, Shomo is deep into writing the next Beartooth record, promising a sound unlike anything the band has released before. Morello, meanwhile, is preparing to finish his solo album after touring internationally, including his first-ever shows in India. The new record will pull together the full spectrum of his musical identity — from explosive riffs to stripped-back, Americana-leaning songwriting inspired by classic heartland rock.

“I wanted this album to reflect everything I am,” Morello says. “All those different chapters, without fear. If ‘Everything Burns’ is any indication, it’s going to be loud, honest, and very much of this moment.”