I Set My Friends on Fire is an experimental post-hardcore and electronic act originally formed in Miami, Florida in 2007 by Matt Mehana and Nabil Moo. Known for their chaotic blend of screamo, electronic music, and tongue-in-cheek humor, the band quickly gained attention online with their viral cover of Soulja Boy’s “Crank That,” which showcased their unpredictable style and helped launch their early following.
Their debut album, You Can’t Spell Slaughter Without Laughter (2008), became a cult favorite, combining heavy breakdowns with synth-driven chaos and absurd, often satirical lyrics. The band followed up with Astral Rejection (2011), further pushing their experimental sound and solidifying their place in the early wave of electronic-influenced hardcore.
After lineup changes and periods of inactivity, I Set My Friends on Fire has seen renewed interest in recent years, fueled by nostalgia and a new generation discovering their music online. Their influence can be felt across the “electronicore” and internet-era post-hardcore scenes, where blending genres and embracing unpredictability became more widely accepted.
Known for their wild, high-energy performances, the band delivers a live experience that is loud, chaotic, and unapologetically unconventional — a throwback to the raw, anything-goes spirit of late-2000s alternative music.