Formed in 2003, the band released their debut album Other Voices, Other Rooms in 2008 which debuted at No 14 on the charts. But despite tasting domestic and international success, the Getaway Plan disbanded in 2009. Just a year later, the hiatus was over when the band reunited for what was to be a one-off gig to highlight youth depression.

But a one-off it was not. Soon the band was back together and in the studio for their sophomore album, 2011's Requiem.

By 2013, the band had parted ways with their bass player and their record label. Their first independent release of the double A-side single Lovesick/Mirrors followed in 2013. Come 2014, the band had a new drummer and by 2015 their third album Dark Horses was crowd-funded and released on their own record label, Dope Mountain. It landed at No 10 on the album chart - the band's highest ARIA debut.

For frontman Matthew Wright, the success of Dark Horses was certainly sweeter given the immense challenges the band had overcome in their decade or so together.

"There are many bands that wouldn't have survived what we've been through. There's a lot of shit that people don't even know that's been going on with the band - shit that would tear any other band apart, to be honest," Wright said from his Melbourne home.

"I think just the fact that we triumphed over that was the inspiration for the record: the fact that we are still making music together and just being in that room together with the guys 10 years on," he said.

Wright said the top-10 debut of their label's long player was cherished by the band.

"It was huge, huge news for us. I think a couple of us even shed tears just because the whole thing has been independent.

"We put so much work into this project and to have it pay off like that was incredible, absolutely amazing," he said.

It wasn't just the chart success which was gratifying for the Getaway Plan, it was that fans - who funded the album through the crowd-funded Pledge campaign - had had their faith in the band repaid.

"With the labels that we've been with in the past, they've never really tried to have creative input with the music, we're always very protective over that. But usually there is pressure from a record label on a band when they're making a record which we've had before and it sucks: time pressure, pushing you to write a single. Things which are going to make them money, basically," he said.

"I think this time around having the pressure from the fans was awesome because all they want is the best result, the best music possible from us."

So positive was the impact of the fan-driven recording that the band was the most prolific they had ever been. They went into Melbourne's The Studios In The City armed with more than 30 songs for what ended up being a six-month recording and mixing session.

"We went in with 35 songs that were almost all finished, it was pretty epic.

"Usually we just kind of scrape by [with enough songs for a record], but this time we really went for it," Wright said.

"We're definitely more inspired to be making music than we ever have been in our lives - I think that was a huge part in it.

"Usually when we write, someone will come up with an idea at home and then come in and flesh it out with the band. But because the two new members - our bass player and our drummer - are both writers as well, we can all play together in a room and nut out songs that way, which is way more natural and allowed us to pump out more songs."

The hardest part for the band was narrowing down the 35 songs to the 11 which made their way on to Dark Horses.

But Wright is sure the remaining songs will find a home somewhere, with at least a few likely to set the tone for the next album.

"Usually for us while we're writing a record, there are always a couple of songs which overshoot where we're at at the time and they always make a good starting point for the next record."

Will fans be waiting another four years for the next album?

"Definitely not, we want to get the ball rolling, we don't want it to be another five years between records. I think maximum two and a half," Wright said.

The band heads off on a mammoth Australian tour in September, before they head overseas for much of 2016.

The Getaway Plan will appear at Wollongong Uni on September 10.