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Test for Echo

by Rush

Released: September 10, 1996

Progressive rock, alternative rock, art rock

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Why This Album Matters

Rush's official tour archive supplies the final tour date, while contemporaneous MTV reporting verifies Selena Taylor's accident and later interviews and retrospective accounts directly connect Peart's two losses with Rush's extended hiatus. The headline describes the documented sequence and its explicitly reported effect on the band without claiming that the album itself caused the tragedy.

The Album

Following the tour, Rush went on a five-year hiatus due to the personal tragedies experienced by drummer Neil Peart, specifically the deaths of his daughter and wife. "Test for Echo" is the sixteenth studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released on September 10, 1996, by Anthem Records. The album has been remastered and reissued multiple times: first in 2004 as part of "The Rush Remasters" series, and again in 2013 as part of the box set The Studio Albums 1989–2007.

Inside the Recording

This album marked the end of the band's collaboration with producer Peter Collins.

Stories and details

Interesting Facts

In 2015, it was reissued with a new…

In 2015, it was reissued with a new remaster by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios, following a direct request by Rush to remaster their entire back catalog.

The band supported the album with a world…

The band supported the album with a world tour throughout 1996 and 1997.

The band did not record again until 2001

The band did not record again until 2001.

The song "Driven" became a prominent bass showcase…

The song "Driven" became a prominent bass showcase for Geddy Lee during live performances, while "Resist" was rearranged into an acoustic version for the Vapor Trails and R30 tours.

Notably, the band chose not to perform any…

Notably, the band chose not to perform any tracks from Test for Echo on their subsequent tours.

Start listening here

Essential Tracks

Driven

The song "Driven" became a prominent bass showcase for Geddy Lee during live performances, while "Resist" was rearranged into an acoustic version for the Vapor Trails and R30 tours.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

Rush - Test for Echo

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Reception

The title track of the album reached No. 1 on the mainstream rock chart.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Test for Echo" is the sixteenth studio album by the Canadian rock band Rush, released on September 10, 1996, by Anthem Records. This album marked the end of the band's collaboration with producer Peter Collins. The band supported the album with a world tour throughout 1996 and 1997. Following the tour, Rush went on a five-year hiatus due to the personal tragedies experienced by drummer Neil Peart, specifically the deaths of his daughter and wife. The band did not record again until 2001.

The title track of the album reached No. 1 on the mainstream rock chart. The song "Driven" became a prominent bass showcase for Geddy Lee during live performances, while "Resist" was rearranged into an acoustic version for the Vapor Trails and R30 tours. Notably, the band chose not to perform any tracks from Test for Echo on their subsequent tours.

The album has been remastered and reissued multiple times: first in 2004 as part of "The Rush Remasters" series, and again in 2013 as part of the box set The Studio Albums 1989–2007. In 2015, it was reissued with a new remaster by Sean Magee at Abbey Road Studios, following a direct request by Rush to remaster their entire back catalog.