By A Thread has always been more than a band, it’s been a vessel for heavy emotion, raw expression, and deep connection. Emerging from Vancouver’s vibrant post-hardcore scene in the late 90s, the band made their first mark with Last of the Daydreams, a record that quietly carved out a place in the lineage of melodic hardcore through introspective lyrics and explosive energy. Released on Revelation Records, it became a cult favorite among fans of emotionally charged, melodic post-hardcore.

“Getting to be on Revelation was a goal, as I grew up worshipping that label from its inception,” says guitarist/vocalist Sean Lande. “It was a dream at that time for them to release Last of the Daydreams. As with most things when you’re young, you don’t always appreciate what’s happening. I guess we’re not totally sure about the staying power of the record. We do hear things here and there, but I feel we flew under the radar a little bit. It was such a fun record to make at the time.”

In 2011, after a period of relative quiet and lineup shifts, the band released their self-titled second full-length. Written and recorded years earlier, the album was delayed due to various circumstances, and its eventual release marked a turning point, both a reintroduction and an evolution. Sonically, it pushed their sound into more atmospheric territory, leaning on expansive guitars, dynamic pacing, and matured songwriting. Songs like “Fashion” and “Dive In” showed a band grappling with change but embracing it with clarity and force.

After stepping away once again, By A Thread eventually reunited, less out of ambition, and more out of instinct. “We first got together just to play some old songs,” says vocalist/guitarist John Franco. “But once the creative process starts, that’s the glue that keeps you together.” One song led to another, and eventually a full-length took shape. The result is Mirrored Life, the band’s most collaborative, deliberate, and emotionally resonant record yet.

It’s an album born out of grief, reflection, and growth. “The journey of the new By A Thread is growth,” says Franco. “As individuals, songwriters, and great friends.” The lineup shifted once more, this time with Gabe Mantle (Gob) on drums and Carl McBeath on bass, but the creative heart remains the same. “We’ve never collaborated better,” adds guitarist/vocalist Sean Lande. “While it’s been a lot of work, it’s never felt as cohesive and seamless as it does now.”

From the start, the band knew they wanted Mirrored Life to revisit their early fire while fully embracing their growth. Reverb-heavy pedalboards and moody, deliberate tempos replaced the radio-ready instincts of earlier material. “This is essentially an anti-pop record,” Franco explains. “It’s meant to feel heavy.” The production process became a full-circle DIY mission, with tracking done at Raincity Recorders in Vancouver, BC and at home, and Franco ultimately mixing the record himself over the course of a year. “We were in charge of our own destiny.”

Lyrically, the album dives deep into themes of loss, identity, and introspection. “The last 15 years have been hard on the BAT family,” says Franco. “We lost so many family and friends, and this record naturally drifted in that direction.” The album’s title speaks to that inner work, “the idea of self-reflection and a constant examination of our experience,” says Lande. From the emotionally towering “Tempest,” written about the loss of Lande’s mother, to the aching finale of “Connaught,” a tribute to a departed friend, Mirrored Life is more an exercise in catharsis than closure. It’s a document of a band that’s walked through fire and come out more focused, more vulnerable, and more in tune with what matters. Mirrored Life isn’t a comeback record, it’s a continuation, a reaffirmation, and a clear statement that By A Thread’s collective voice remains as vital as it has ever been.

“There is always a constant with this new version of BAT,” says Franco, “We are committed to this record that we love, and we can’t wait for everyone to hear it — and hopefully enjoy it with us.”