Topshelf Records has severed ties with Washington, D.C.-based punk band Ekko Astral, halting the release of their forthcoming album, the beltway is burning, the label announced Tuesday. The decision, made public via an Instagram post, comes with refunds promised for pre-orders within five to ten business days and the end of in-house public relations support for the album.
“People can no longer support Ekko Astral and will not be releasing their album the beltway is burning,” Topshelf stated. The abrupt move follows a report last week in the Washington City Paper detailing a dispute between Ekko Astral vocalist Jael Holzman and former drummer Miri Tyler.
According to the City Paper report, Holzman filed a peace order petition on February 6, alleging threats from Tyler made on social media. Tyler has denied the allegations. Tyler announced her departure from the band on January 28, but had planned to participate in a final performance at this year’s Liberation Fest II, a D.C. Punk festival supporting trans liberation and mutual aid scheduled for April.
Ekko Astral’s debut full-length album, Pink Balloons, was released by Topshelf Records in 2024. The band initially formed as a duo in 2021, comprised of Holzman and Liam Hughes, later expanding to include Tyler and bassist Guinevere Tully. Tully left the band several months after the release of Pink Balloons, citing concerns for her “physical and mental health” and a desire to focus on her solo project, Rosslyn Station.
In a statement to Pitchfork, Holzman acknowledged the situation, stating, “There is a lot of misinformation spreading about this story. We will have more to share in the near future.”
the beltway is burning was recorded in the immediate aftermath of the 2024 U.S. General Election, and was described by Topshelf Records as “a real-time historical document in the form of a dark comedy.” The album features a fictionalized version of the Washington, D.C. Area, with song lyrics referencing figures like Adam Sandler and Lil Xan. The album is available for pre-sale on Decks.de, with a scheduled release date of April 24, 2026, though that is now in question. A cassette version of the album is listed for 13.44 EUR.
As of Tuesday afternoon, neither Topshelf Records nor Ekko Astral had provided further details regarding the reasons for the label’s decision.
