From Fiction

The very first note of From Fiction’s debut CD, Bloodwork, dropkicks you straight into the middle of a suspense filled chase scene in an action movie. The intense punk derived seven song collection is an epic album that’s ebb and flow engage the listener similar to the way a movie soundtrack highlights what’s happening on the screen. Engulfed by its ominous intrigue, From Fiction’s Adam Barnes (lead vocals, guitar), Quentin Ede (vocals, guitar), Owen Marchildon (bass) and Rob Gordon (drums) aren’t here to waste your time. They’re not looking to be labeled ‘sleeper album of the year’.

The band released their self-titled four-song EP in 2004 to great acclaim by critics and fans alike. Recorded in Toronto by the infamous ‘make your ears bleed’ Ian Blurton (C’mon, Tricky Woo), it helped the band gain notoriety that made A&R hounds sit up and take notice. They graced the cover of Eye Weekly in Toronto, and toured adamantly around Ontario. Their sound enabled them to share the stage with a myriad of bands among them the Rapture, Tricky Woo and Wilco. They’ve also been determined to stay clear of anyone’s coat tails, hitting the clubs and underground scene and making their mark all on their own.

From Fiction entered the studio with college rock impresario Steve Albini in early 2005 to record Bloodwork. The band members had been fans of his resume which includes producer / engineer credits with the likes of Nirvana, The Pixies, The Breeders, Helmet, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Mogwai, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Urge Overkill. They’d obsessed for years on making him their producer. His hands off approach and his signature sound was the only thing the band would settle for on their new album. A long shot, perhaps, but Steve Albini took them on and recorded Bloodwork in his Chicago studio in just five days. From Fiction wanted it to capture the songs in a pressure cooker sense which most resembles their now famous ‘in your face – knock you down’ live show.

Driving bass and drums are the foundation of the album. Similar to what you would hope everyone uses to build their house foundations along the San Andreas Fault, the rhythm section never crumbles. It drives the instrument based sound from start to finish. Cleverly used guitar and vocals are impeccably placed, used with artistic sparseness that intensifies the senses instead of dulling them.