The history of Echo Image

Pål Magnus Rybom and Jon-Ivar Berg decided to start a synth-based project in 1997. During the summer, they made some songs together that ended up on
a demo, recorded at X-Ray studio.
The demo got some good reviews in the fanzines, but unfortunately, they heard nothing from the record companies. Jon-Ivar started focusing on his own band "Biozide", and left the project.
A few months later, Pål Magnus got in touch with Fredrik Hansen. Fredrik, who was well known with electronic music, became a member of Pål Magnus' project, now named "Echo Image".

Pål. M. Rybom

Fredrik Hansen

Fredrik had earlier played synthesizer in an EBM-band called "Elected by Fear", together with Marius Johnsen (Centravibe) and Christian Lund (Icon of Coil/Enroute). Later that year, Trine Bilet joined the guys on backing vocals and synthesizers. In Desember 98, the band released the EP "Walkout" at a local record label "Kvarts Musikk", and the EP was sold at concerts and in local record stores. But Echo Image didn't quite fit in at "Kvarts Musikk". The label was basically for punk, prog, and low-fi music, so the co-operation with
"Kvarts Musikk" ended.

In 1999, the band did several live shows in Norway, and got some airplay on Norways biggest radio channel, followed up by an appearance on the tv station "Metropol". In late '99, beside putting together their second demo "III EP", Echo Image appeared on the ".:sex.:goth.:electronics.." sampler and "Prospective Magazine Compilation". In March, Echo Image were "Band of the Month" on The Synthpop Network. Echo Image signed a record contract with US based "A Different Drum", 16th May, 2000. They also got a european distributor through the german record label "Bloodline".

Trine Bilet

Lars K. Holt

During gigs in Norway and Sweden, guitarist Lars Kristian Holt joined the band live.Their debut single "Need to be Proud" was released 26th October and is produced by Stephan Groth (APB) and features remixes by Iris and Count 2 Infinity. The single got great reviews and became an underground hit in Germany. Echo Image's debut album "Compuphonic" was released in the US 5th March 2001."Skulk", the second single from "Compuphonic", was released July '01 and both Icon of Coil and Sweep appears with remixes.
Lars Kristian Holt became a full-time member in July.

Beside working on new Echo Image stuff, the band did in May/June remixes for Sweep and Count 2 Infinity.
In September 2001 the band signed with the Norwegian label Hard:drive (home of Apoptygma Berzerk).
The last release on A Different Drum is the third single from "Compuphonic", "Standing Alone", released November 2001.

From February to April 2002, Echo Image supported Apoptygma Berzerk on their "World Harmony Tour".
Countries to be visited were Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, France, England, Spain, Italy, Austria, Switzerland and Poland. The band shot a live video for their next single "Endless Day" in Hamburg.

The single "Endless Day" was released in the end end of february 2002. Apart from working on the next album, the band did a few gigs in Norway and Sweden during fall/winter 2002/2003.