Finnish progressive death/post-metal metal band Ashes In The Fall released their debut EP 'Where Serenity Prevails' on 21 March 2025 via Inverse Records. The band was formed in 2019, and all members are between 17 and 18 years old.
LISTEN to Where Serenity Prevails EP: https://push.fm/fl/aitf-ep
Congratulations on the release of Where Serenity Prevails! How does it feel to finally have your debut EP out in the world?
Thank you! We are very relieved to finally have the EP out for people to listen to, because the production took so long. We are also very pleased with the positive feedback we have received so far.
It took you some years to release your first record. How did you evolve as a band in the last years?
At first the band was practically just a group of teenagers jamming in our drummer's basement. It took us a few years before we started to become a bit more ambitious and motivated, which happened naturally as our skills evolved. In the last year we have also experienced quite a few changes in our lineup, however it seems to finally have stabilized with our current lineup.
Your music blends progressive death metal and post-metal with elements of jazz and folk. How did you develop your unique sound, and what inspired this fusion?
Our band members come from quite varying musical backgrounds. For example, some of us have studied music in pop/jazz music schools while others are mostly self taught. Our contrasting backgrounds and influences bring many different flavors to our music and are a big contributor to our experimental approach to creating music.
You’ve mentioned that Opeth, Gojira, and Alcest were big influences on this EP. What aspects of their music resonate most with you?
The progressive and experimental aspect of Opeth’s music, the groove found in Gojira’s music and the atmospheric nature of Alcest’s music are what resonated with us the most when writing the music for our EP.
Where Serenity Prevails explores themes of humanity’s destruction and the aftermath.
Can you tell us more about the story behind the EP and how Studio Ghibli films inspired you?
Many of Studio Ghibli's films contain depictions of the relationship between mankind and nature. They also frequently portray natural disasters in the form of monsters. The story was also heavily inspired by the alarming state of climate change as of right now.
You recorded, mixed, and mastered the EP yourselves. Was this a conscious decision to maintain creative control, or was it more out of necessity? How was the experience?
We didn’t want to pay huge amounts of money for a studio and figured that our skills would be enough for creating the EP ourselves. Recording for entire days while also having summer jobs was a really stressful experience. Our bassist also had to sleep in our rehearsal room once, an experience which prompted us to get a couch.
Your lead single, Dusk of Mankind, was released in January. What was the response like, and why did you choose that song to represent the EP?
The response has been very positive so far. We chose Dusk of Mankind as the single because we felt that it represents the overall mood of the EP the best.
What’s next for Ashes In The Fall? Do you have plans for a full-length album, more shows, or other projects in the near future?
We are planning to start playing more shows and writing some new material. In the summer we are going to perform at the Tuska Festival in Finland, which is something we’re all looking forward to.
Finally, what message do you want to share with listeners who are just discovering your music?
We hope you enjoy our music and check out our future releases!
Thomas Wunder
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/aitfband
https://www.instagram.com/ashesinthefall.band
https://ashesinthefall.bandcamp.com
https://bsky.app/profile/ashesinthefallband.bsky.social
https://www.tiktok.com/@ashes.in.the.fall
