4 out of 5

Label: Level Plane

Produced by: Steve Roche

Ready for some generalizations?

In a lot of screamo / hardcore acts, the vocalist doesn’t do instrumental double duty.  Not a criticism, as these dudes / dudettes are often pulling off enough acrobatics with their singing as to merit being considered just as complex a component as the guitar shreds or drum changeups.  But: I can admit a bias bit of respect when someone can pull off both, whilst keeping up whatever energetic output of their band’s sound.

The Fiction, though first and foremost a hardcore math band – given the harsh vocals and time signature stop starts and general aggression (is… that the definition of hardcore?) – have geared their sound to function through a punky filter, plucking from the best elements of Dischord lineage: the rage and looseness of the label’s early output; the post-rock leanings of the modern.  What results is a band kicking out the briefest blasts of guitar and bass fretboard smashes and a quick punk beat, with non-chorusy, shouted vocals thrusting the whole noisy experience forth through a nearly too-narrow opening.  The Fiction is bursting with volatility.  And all of this is more impressive (post my above prattle…) given that it’s a performed by only three guys, with the guitarist and bassist covering the vocals.  And while it could just be my bias, there’s something about that, about knowing that the densely packed riffs are being wrangled by the same guys spitting out some rants, that makes the energy seem more palpable.  It’s nigh impossible not to get infected.

…Though, in fitting with the Dischord comparison, the lyrics are rather youthy.  This is preferred over pointless fuck-yous, but the rhymeless meter sometimes sounds a bit too pressed to sound serious, which gets a further sheepish grin of acceptance when the album caps off with a straight faced Joy Division cover (yeah, I toss them in The Smiths category of wanting to sound serious…).  But again: the boiling passion with which all of this stuff is shouted and played carries things quite far.

An excellent nab for Level Plane, and a brief, bright flame that shone with the capabilities of the hardcore punk genre.