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Forged in Vancouver’s post-hardcore scene in the late ’90s, By A Thread made an instant mark with Last of the Daydreams, a Revelation Records release that quickly became a cult classic. Pairing soaring melodies with raw emotional weight, the band carved out a sound that felt both cathartic and atmospheric. But after a handful of releases and plenty of life getting in the way, things went quiet.

Fast forward to today, and the chemistry between core songwriters Sean Lande and John Franco has proven impossible to shake. Alongside longtime friend Gabe Mantle (Gob) on drums and bassist Carl McBeath, they’ve put together Mirrored Life, their heaviest and most expansive record yet. Check out our review here. It’s not just nostalgia, it’s a reaffirmation of everything By A Thread ever stood for, with the added depth that comes from grief, growth, and perspective.

We caught up with vocalist John Franco to talk about rusty beginnings that quickly turned into a flood of creativity, why doing things themselves felt right this time around, and how By A Thread still finds truth and therapy in their music.

PRT: You initially got back together to play some old songs. Was the chemistry there again right from the start or did it take some getting used to?

John: It was a little rusty in the beginning, but the chemistry wasn’t a question at all, it didn’t even enter my mind. By A Thread always just works between us, it always has. I guess when you play music together for so long, that energy never fades. We had Joe on drums in the very beginning, so it was easier for us to get the ball rolling and then the creativity just started pouring out.

PRT: You have a new rhythm section in the form of Gabe Mantle and Carl McBeath. Did they blend right in as well?

John: Gabe has always been around. Sean and I have known him since the mid-90s and he was actually the first drummer we rehearsed with when we started the project back in 1996/97. Gabe understands the By A Thread sound and it was instantly a fit for us. We are very fortunate to have very talented friends. Carl joined the band and it was instantly comfortable as well. He’s an all-around musician who plays many other instruments and it’s so nice to have some background vocals now since he has an amazing voice. Gabe is singing as well and he’s a monster vocalist, so things are a little different that way.

PRT: Was there one specific moment that was the catalyst to start writing new songs?

John: For me, I bought a new guitar, a Fender Jazzmaster 58th Anniversary, that made me write the parts to the song “Connaught.” That was shortly after our initial rehearsal. For a song to come out so soon is a really good sign, it means there is excitement happening, something new, good energy. Sean also wrote “Tempest” in that time, so it was all happening fast. I guess the true catalyst is the fact we were all stoked to play By A Thread songs again.

PRT: Your debut album came out in 1999, the self-titled album was released in 2011. And now it’s 2025 and you are gearing up to release your third album. I feel like the normal release cycle doesn’t mean much to you?

John: We didn’t intend to have so much space between releases, unfortunately it ended up being the story for By A Thread’s legacy. There was a lot of growing up happening in the early days. We released a few 7”s on various labels, but looking back, I really wish we had a mentor to keep our goals on track back then. After the second album the band was in permanent hiatus and we never thought we’d ever play together again. Never say never. We do plan on releasing another record sooner than we have in the past. We are having a lot of fun writing and creating together, playing with cool gear, getting new sounds. Hopefully in the next couple of years you’ll see another record from By A Thread.

PRT: How has the role that the band takes up in your life changed from when you first started out versus now?

John: Adulting takes a lot of time. We all have serious jobs now and little time. Music is very important to all of us, we take this band extremely seriously, so we are making time to put all the energy and effort we have into this to make it as great as we possibly can. The work/music balance is real. It would be so awesome if we could just play music. So we are hoping as time goes on, we are able to be on the road and write more and work our jobs less.

PRT: You did pretty much everything yourselves for the new album. Was it the idea from the start to work that way or did it end up happening that way because of circumstances?

John: We had not planned for any of this. The reason we were able to record this record was because of Stu—he gave us a huge deal on recording time and helped us along the way. He’s really a 5th member of the band at this stage. After the initial recording, we decided that I would mix the record. That wasn’t my intention at all, I actually wanted to sit back and just be a musician during this process, but the boys loved the mixes and I ended up in the hot seat. Sean is an amazing award-winning photographer, his style fits By A Thread extremely well and it was a no-brainer that Sean supply the photos and theme for the record. Carl, who joined later in the process, did all the graphic design for the record and we were lucky for his skill set and talents. In the end, we sat back and realized that we did mostly everything on this record, like a homemade vegan apple pie. The first time we didn’t have a producer shaping the record, we made all the decisions and I think you can tell when you listen to Mirrored Life.

PRT: I feel you have put together an incredible album that perfectly balances atmospheric and heavier parts and which—while you described the album as an anti-pop record—still packs a lot of slick melodies. Did that all just kind of fall in place when you started writing?

John: We wrote many songs, some that never made the cut but might end up somewhere in the future. What we were going for and kept in mind was that we wanted a traditional By A Thread-sounding record. Something halftime and heavy, with verb’ed-out guitars, smooth bass and hard-hitting drums. We wanted something that reflected what we have gone through in our personal lives, so we fed off that kind of energy and it all came together. I was worried if I could even pull it off at first, it had been so long since I sang that way, but I am so proud of what we accomplished as a band and as friends with this record. The best record I’ve ever been part of.

PRT: Lyrically, the album deals with loss and taking stock of one’s life. Do you approach writing as your personal therapy?

John: By A Thread has always been therapy. We have always released our emotions and energy through the music. We always try to seek a truth about our songs, something that reflects our personal journey in this life. We have lost so many family and friends between records and it was just natural for us to carry that to our songwriting. These songs sit deep in us, just like the prior records, but this one is very special to us and I’d like to think it carries our lost loved ones in the music.

PRT: Does it ever feel—for lack of a better word—weird to put these very personal feelings out in the world for all to hear?

John: I can see how that could be an issue for some. Being very personal and putting it out there for the world is very nerve-racking. For me personally, it’s something I’ve been doing for years so it feels very natural to me. I hope these words resonate with others out there if they are feeling the weight of the world come down on them. Put this record on and know you’re not alone.

PRT: You came up in Vancouver’s post-hardcore scene back in the late 90s. Is there still such a thing as a scene now?

John: The scene is very different from back in the late 90s/early 00s. It kind of reminds me of the early 90s when you’d see bands that were so different from each other play on the same bill. Like a metal band with an indie band. The scene seems open-minded and I’m stoked about that. Post-hardcore was always linked with hardcore back in the 90s, we always just thought of ourselves as a hardcore band. It’s great to see the next generation doing what they do.

PRT: What’s up next for By A Thread once Mirrored Life is out?

John: Euro tour in the works, play some shows around the world as much as we can. Write more music and put out another record. Keep a lookout for us on the road in your town, come by and say hi and rock out with us.