[2] Guitarist Randy Strohmeyer was invited to join Finch after they saw him play with his band Evita Fresh.

[3] Strohmeyer became friends with Drive-Thru Records' owner Richard Reines, following a fan letter he had sent in a few years earlier about the Rx Bandits.

[7] Finch began recording What It Is to Burn in June of that year at Big Fish Studios in Encinitas, California, with producer Mark Trombino.

[6] Doherty, Linares and Strohmeyer first met Palumbo at a Deftones show, and later when they played with Earth Crisis, and kept in contact with him.

[10] "Project Mayhem" initially existed as a two-minute track, before Trombino altered it into the final version,[26] and incorporated programming.

[13] "Ender" begins with a subdued intro that steadily coalesces by the third minute, when it progresses with a constant piano part, and ends with an ambient instrumental section.

[2] Finch's debut EP Falling into Place was released in October 2001, featuring early versions of "Letters to You" and "Perfection Through Silence".

[6] The artwork features an ice bucket and measurements, and a beaker with boiling liquid; Doherty said the band "just wanted some cool imagery.

[33] The United Kingdom edition, released on June 2, 2002,[10] included an acoustic version of "Letters to You" and the "What It Is to Burn" demo as bonus tracks.

[41] Strohmeyer said that up to that point, "Letters to You" served as an "unofficial single" as radio stations were picking up the song and adding it to their rotation, which was "really cool because we didn't have to spend a dime" to promote it.

[51] Between late June and mid-August, Finch performed on the 2002 Warped Tour as part of the Drive-Thru Records stage.

[55] In October and November 2002, the band embarked on a tour across the US with New Found Glory, Something Corporate and Further Seems Forever, and appeared at the Smoke Out Festival.

[68] The following month, the band appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!,[69] and performed at the KROQ Weenie Roast festival.

"[13] He also wrote that the album "exemplifies everything that is right in the punk scene", citing its emotional vulnerability, the "agonizing fury of hardcore" and the positive "tones of pop-punk.

"[13] Amy Sciarretto of CMJ New Music Report was impressed with the band's ability to not be pigeon-holed into one specific sound, observing that the album showcases their "delicious blend of infection and perky rock," incorporating Glassjaw, Thursday and Jimmy Eat World "into a potent Molotov cocktail.

"[77] Drowned in Sound writer Peter White referred to What It Is to Burn as an "absolutely gut smokingly fantastic record.

"[20] FasterLouder's Roby Anson described it as an "album of sadness, gladness, big chunky guitar riffs, smart chord progressions and a rhythm section that chugs along nicely in each song.

"[25] LAS Magazine writer Andy Vaughn noted the Glassjaw influence added "a great deal of intensity" to the album, which he felt "would be missing otherwise.

"[78] Melodic webmaster Johan Wippsson said the album has "the perfect mix of good melodies with the extra edge," and complimented Trominbo's "great" production style.

[76] Sputnikmusic emeritus Ryan Flatley praised "Grey Matter" and "Project Mayhem" for their energy, but said that the album turned out to be a bit of a disappointment due to the large amount of hype surrounding its release.

's Amber Authier commented that Finch "doesn't do a bad job" of merging punk rock and metal together.

"[21] Lina Lecaro of the Los Angeles Times said the band bounced "between soothing croons and throat-burning wails, metallic riffs and bubbly beats," a fusion that "kept things interesting ... even if the shifts weren't always seamless.

"[22] While Barcalow "proved himself to be a versatile vocalist on tunes ... his range didn't quite make up for his lack of charisma," Lecaro added.

reviewer Paul Travers criticized the titles of the songs on the album, saying that Finch were "in need of a good slap ... you can almost taste the salty tang of tears spilling out of the speakers.

[86] Shezhaad Jiwani of Chart Attack said What It Is to Burn was one of emo's landmark releases, noting it for leading the genre alongside albums by Glassjaw and the Used.

[91] Independent label Tragic Hero Records released a live video album of the anniversary celebrations in January 2014.

[94] Sleeping with Sirens frontman Kellin Quinn singled out Finch's mix of screaming and singing vocal parts on the song as an influence on him.

[96] Senses Fail frontman Buddy Nielsen has cited What It Is to Burn as an influence on the band's early work,[86] and Josh Franceschi of You Me at Six has expressed admiration for it.