What the Fire Left - What the Fire Left EP

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 13 Mar 2026

Tracklist:

1. Ash

2. Refusal

3. Silence

4. Hope

5. Bone

I've been dragging my heals. I've got a pretty diverse list of releases I want to cover over the next two weeks, but also I don't want to pressure myself to write too much. I know, maybe writing will help! I didn't think I'd cover anything such as solo cello-driven crust punk here, but I'm trying to keep up with those submissions that come directly from bands, which is exactly how I came across US band What the Fire Left.

Admittedly, the e-mail to which I am referring dates back to January, so I've had plenty of opportunity. This is the band's self-titled debut EP, which was officially released in March on digital platforms. I actually didn't know but What the Fire Left has links to Taiwanese post-black metal band Laang and also Abyssius, whom I recently reviewed. Some things are just meant to be!

Apparently, WTFL’s sole member Aspen learned to play cello specially for this release. That’s pretty special! Opener ‘Ash’ has a very upbeat and melodic sound from the off, which is a little bit at odds with crust punk if I’m honest, but that doesn’t mean anything in the grand scheme of things because it’s still really enjoyable to listen too. The percussion and guitar work are both excellent, while the vocals are delivered in a hardcore vein and sound really authoritative. Can’t say I can hear the cello in the mix but it may be sitting deeper. I’ll keep listening. 

‘Refusal’ has me wondering if the cello is being used in place of a bass guitar. Perhaps I’ll never truly know! Either way, the music gets more anthemic and the tempos remain frenetic, but not in a chaotic way. It’s controlled and so genuinely musical considering the songs themselves are short. It remains to be seen whether WTFL is just a stop-gap project between Laang albums or whether it’s destined to become something bigger. On the strength of ‘Silence’, it’ll surely be the latter once it reaches more listeners. 

So ‘Hope’ is where the cello comes to life properly and it’s glorious to hear, when it’s given the space. It’s clear that WTFL wears the American hardcore/metal influence on its sleeve. Couple that with the super clean recording/mixing/mastering and it’d be easy to forget that you’re actually listening to a debut release. Without sounding corny, it really does give you hope for new music.

EP closer ‘Bone’ again has the cello up-top at the beginning, while the main body of the song is filled with incredibly cathartic hardcore-tinged heaviness. I’m not sure I’d call it crust punk but that’s on me I guess. Aspen is a very talented musician on all fronts and has written something that will get under your skin right from first listen. Let's normalise more cello in heavy music!

You can stream the EP via bandcamp below, where it's available as a name-your-price-download:-

Give it a listen and let me (and especially What the Fire Left) know what you think.

What the Fire Left - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587033001220