Check Out Eric Burton’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Burton.

Hi Eric, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started By Way Of Fire in the summer 2021. The first EP, “Jackals”, was written and performed by myself, except for drum duties, which were handled by my childhood friend John Nation. Shortly after its release in late summer of 2022, I recruited Steven and Ryan Cates (former All My Vices At Once guitarist) on drums and bass respectively.

The band spent 2023 and 2024 working it’s way through the metro Atlanta scene, playing venues such as Smith’s Old Bar, Blackstrap Rock Hall, and Sweetwater Bar and Grill

While building a following through live performances, we began writing and recording our next effort.

In July of 2024, while performing at an outside benefit show, Steven suffered major heat exhaustion, forcing us to end the set early. At this point I decided to re-assess the current lineup. Steven had an extensive and complicated medical history involving neurological issues and multiple brain surgeries. This, compounded with the financial stress of job loss, led to self medicating in the form of alcohol. Ultimately, I let Steven go from the band so he could focus on rebuilding himself. Jeremy French (former Gornormity and Hollow Depths drummer) replaced Steven one week later.

Unfortunately, Steven Cates was unable to surmount his troubles and ultimately lost his hard fought battle on August 23, 2024.

“Into Oblivion”, By Way Of Fire’s second EP, released October of 2024, and features the last musical performance of Steven Cates.

The band carried on into 2025 as a three piece. In the Spring of 2025, Chance Reynolds (formerly of Traumabond and Far From Sober) picked up bass duties, Ryan moved to guitars, and the band became a four piece. 2025 was spent writing new material and playing shows across Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee, with the goal of expanding reach and traveling to new cities across the southeast.

In November of 2025, the band entered Ledbelly Sound Studio to work on the full length follow up to “Into Oblivion”

Throughout 2026, writing, reheasals, studio time, and shows were scattered through the first 8 months of the year. Presently the band has shows booked in the Southeast for October. The rest of the year will be spent finishing the record.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road is never smooth for an independent heavy metal band. We have money invested in gear, a trailer, merch, studio time, photography/media/PR, gas, lodging and we are lucky to make a few bucks at the door and sell a couple of shirts to help offset the cost of operating a band. We overcome this daily by sheer spirit and will.

The toughest obstacle was navigating this project after letting go of Steven, both from the band and from this earth.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
By Way Of Fire is a passion project, a thing that we can’t control inside us that forces us to write music. While we would love for this to be our one and only full time career, the reality for us and most other bands is that people don’t buy music and you are fortunate to break even, if at all.

So we subsidize our dream by working corporate jobs at corporate places doing corporate things. This can range from driving a semi truck, welding, or project management. At the end of day, all four of us clock in for somebody else in exchange for pay to fund the band.

What were you like growing up?
I grew up in the northern suburbs of Atlanta playing in the woods and riding bikes with my friends. I developed an affinity for music around middle school when I was skateboarding. I can’t speak for the rest of the band, but I’m sure they were rascals too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bywayoffire.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bywayoffire/
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/bywayoffireatl
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bywayoffire
• Other: https://bywayoffire.bandcamp.com/album/into-oblivion-2