Hold On Fire Releases Debut EP Half Alive, Announces NYC Release Show

Jon Bernstein of Hold Fire

By: Jodi Rothfeld

7-10-2026

New Jersey-based heavy rock band Hold On Fire has released its debut EP, Half Alive, marking the arrival of a project that began two years ago with little more than an idea.

The record was produced by Fred Mascherino of Taking Back Sunday and The Color Fred, alongside Stephen Angello. It also features a collaboration with Story of the Year guitarist Ryan “Man” Darsala.

For founding member Jon, the band began unexpectedly—during a cutscene from the video game Final Fantasy XVI. That same night, he reached out to Joe and Jeremy with the beginnings of an idea. Just days later, he approached Mascherino after an acoustic performance and booked studio time eight weeks out, despite the group not yet having a complete lineup.

“Looking back, it sounds completely insane, but all I wanted was to create something that felt honest,” Jon said. “A band that celebrated the music that shaped me and reminded me why I fell in love with heavy music in the first place.”

The lineup eventually came together with Jon, Joe, Jeremy, Andrey and Andrew, turning that early idea into a finished collection of songs.

Half Alive is now available to stream, and the band will celebrate its release with a live show at Gramercy Theatre in New York City on July 11th, at 7:30pm.

I’ll be there photographing the show and documenting the beginning of this new chapter for a friend whose music I’ve followed for years.

For Hold On Fire, this may be the debut—but it has already been two years in the making.