[4] The artwork for March Fires and its singles was created by Australian graphic designer, art director, and album artist Leif Podhajsky.

His work explores themes of connectedness, love, fear, magic, the relevance of nature, and psychedelic or altered experiences, and uses techniques such as pattern, recursion, balance, symmetry, and repetition.

An accompanying EP, featuring the album track "Boy" and the B-side "Glowing in the Streets", along with a March Fires cut entitled "The Lake", was also issued the same day.

Sean Palmer of The Sydney Morning Herald gave the album a four-star review, stating that "March Fires is a gem and channels emotion but never to the point of nausea, leaving you feeling comfortable in the pleasant tones of a band that know what they are doing."

He noted the stylistic similarities of the album to the band's previous work and wrote, "There is nothing here to shock or bewilder unless you are expecting Birds of Tokyo to return to their alt-rock origins with a hardened edge.

If that's the case, you will be in for a jolt of disappointment, as beneath Kenny's words there is an astounding sense of positivity – as though one can climb that mountain, fix that bridge or restore faith.

"[16] Simon Collins of The West Australian gave the album three stars, writing, "Synth-laden mid-album tracks "The Others" and "White Leaves" briefly revive listeners, before they are plunged into a downbeat run home to "Hounds".

"[18] Rob Lyon of Adelaide street magazine Rip It Up wrote, "While this album has proved a popular move into a different direction for frontman Ian Kenny and his Birds, I hope they don't completely abandon their rock roots."

"[15] Tom Noyse of The Music gave the album a positive review, writing, "This newfound experimentation from Birds of Tokyo is fully apparent and it hits hard.