Fort Wayne, Indiana’s Still Burning didn’t come out of nowhere—they’re the product of years spent in and around hardcore, with a lineup that eventually converged in one place.
“We’ve all been involved in bands all over the place over the years,” drummer Trey and guitarist Nelli told No Echo via email. “Eventually, we all ended up in Fort Wayne.” The band initially formed with Jared, Chris, and guitarist Nelli, playing a handful of shows before locking in their current lineup in the fall of 2024 when Trey and bassist Kyle Norbeck joined.
That chemistry is fully realized on World On Fire, a new EP that pulls from a wide range of influences while staying grounded in hardcore. “We’re influenced from all over the map in and out of hardcore,” Nelli and Trey explained, pointing to everything from Trapped Under Ice and Incendiary to Catharsis, Converge, and even Slayer and Dillinger Escape Plan.
The EP was recorded entirely in-house, with Norbeck handling engineering, production, mixing, and mastering duties. “We wrote all of it together and put so much of ourselves into this one,” said Neilli and Trey. “We’re all really proud of it.” That DIY approach extends to how the band is sharing the release as well—World On Fire is available for free on Bandcamp for anyone who wants to dive in.
Lyrically, the record reflects both personal and external pressures. Trey and Neilli noted that vocalist Chris leaned more into internal struggles this time around. “He wanted to touch more on personal topics like mental health during the bullshit we’re all going through right now,” they said, while still addressing political corruption and global injustice. The EP’s central question—“What do you do with the world on fire?”—cuts straight to the core of that tension. “What do you do when you feel useless?”
Still Burning are taking that urgency on the road for their most ambitious run yet, teaming up with Splitjaw for a stretch of dates across the Midwest, East Coast, and into Canada. “We’ve done well on smaller runs over the past year,” Nelli and Trey wrote. “For most of us, this is our first tour, and we wanted to make the most of it.” After connecting with Splitjaw at a show, the pairing felt natural, and the band expanded the run to include major cities and new territories.
Back home, Fort Wayne is experiencing a surge of activity. “Indiana in general, and especially Fort Wayne, is doing insane lately,” Trey and Nelli said, crediting a strong DIY network and promoters like Ty Shirely for helping keep things moving. They also pointed to a long list of regional bands—Intel, xBaragonx, Mortal Draw, CASTXDOWN, Starscourge, and many more—as proof that the area is thriving.
The tour wraps with a hometown EP release show on April 21 at the Bug House, bringing things full circle for a band that’s clearly building momentum both locally and beyond.
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Still Burning on social media: X | Instagram
Tour Dates
4/10 Detroit, MI Bella’s Vault
4/11 Toronto, ON Dance Annex
4/12 Montreal, QC Turbo Haus
4/14 Meriden, CT Grace’s Place
4/15 Queens, NY Bridge & Tunnel
4/16 Philadelphia, PA Century
4/17 Baltimore, MD The Shamrock
4/18 Pittsburgh, PA Local 724 (Beaver Falls)
4/19 Columbus, OH Dirty Dungarees
4/21 Fort Wayne, IN Bug House ~ EP Release Show
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