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Australian post-rock trio Echotide have announced they will re-release their 2017 album Into The Half Light for its 5th anniversary in 2022, as part of the Bird’s Robe Records 10th anniversary series.

With a slow-burn introspective sound, Echotide are an Australian cinematic three-piece with a dynamic songcraft approach, ranging from delicate and minimalist ambient to an all-encompassing wall-of-sound.

The band was originally formed as a side project for members of progressive metal outfit Arcane, guitarist Michael Gagen & keyboardist Matthew Martin. The original lineup included original Caligula’s Horse drummer Geoff Irish, who featured on the band’s 2012 debut record As Our Floodlights Gave Way To Dawn.

Following the dissolution of Arcane in 2015 and the departure of drummer Geoff Irish to focus on joining Arcane vocalist Jim Grey in Caligula’s Horse, the profile of Echotide lifted further with the original 2017 release of their second album Into The Half Light.

Prospective fans need to go no further than the epic title track which opens the record to hear the might of the band on full display. It’s powerful, progressive, cathartic, ethereal and emotional all at once.

The lead single Her Back To The Sun sports a wonderful swing amidst its uplifting chordal passages, blending Sam Mead’s excellent groove on drums with Gagen & Martin’s sprinkling melodic tones.

The band on the album: “Seven symphonies for ends, those loose and neatly tied. For half lights, for dawn, for dusk. For tape delay. For our families. For our friends. For headlights over the road. For childhood memories and the sheer terror of growing up. For Jane (RIP, we hope you would have loved this record). For the late nights of loops and feedback that coat the walls of our particleboard home. For some things never change. For each other. For the distance. For the road.”

Guitarist Michael Gagen reflects on the period that led to the record: “Our second album, a new drummer, a successful crowdfunding campaign, our first film clip. It really felt like this album was the solidification of everything we had done so far as a group. New drummer Sam’s presence on the album is distinct and special, he found a perfect line between paying respect to songs our previous drummer had written and bringing his own unique feel to it. 

The writing of Into The Half Light came at the tail end of a period of turbulence and uncertainty, losing our first drummer, going through the dissolution of other bands we were involved with, and our desire to write something older, wiser, and more aware of its faculties. Where ‘floodlights…’ is a beloved first child, Into The Half Light is the bright one, the one that I hope that in 20 years time that more people have found and connected with.”

The band on the album: “Seven symphonies for ends, those loose and neatly tied. For half lights, for dawn, for dusk. For tape delay. For our families. For our friends. For headlights over the road. For childhood memories and the sheer terror of growing up. For Jane (RIP, we hope you would have loved this record). For the late nights of loops and feedback that coat the walls of our particle board home. For some things never change. For each other. For the distance. For the road.”

Guitarist Michael Gagen reflects on the period that led to the record: “Our second album, a new drummer, a successful crowdfunding campaign, our first film clip. It really felt like this album was the solidification of everything we had done so far as a group. New drummer Sam’s presence on the album is distinct and special, he found a perfect line between paying respect to songs our previous drummer had written and bringing his own unique feel to it. 

The writing of Into The Half Light came at the tail end of a period of turbulence and uncertainty, losing our first drummer, going through the dissolution of other bands we were involved with, and our desire to write something older, wiser, and more aware of its faculties. Where ‘floodlights…’ is a beloved first child, Into The Half Light is the bright one, the one that I hope that in 20 years time that more people have found and connected with.”