Grand Unification comes with a biography that effectively writes singer Charlie Simpson's old band, Busted, out of history. They don't even get credit for being the catalyst for Fightstar - a group that probably wouldn't exist had Simpson not spent years simmering with resentment at having to get up early for CD:UK.
Finally giving voice to the frustration, he has a grand time here, stomping and screaming in a convincingly emo way. To further alienate the brave pubescents who've followed him from Busted, he and his grunge quartet have made a concept album about the last day of the world, which launches with a diddly "post-rock" instrumental, takes headbanging shape over 11 tracks and ends with a 100-strong choir triumphantly chanting, "Wake up!" It has been produced by Slipknot veteran Colin Richardson, who has Fightstar turning up the lump-hammer guitars and making a feature of power-drummer Omar Abidi.
It's certainly better than the chap from Boyzone who went hip-hop.