Although having some of those folk-influenced moments of Jars of Clay or Concerning Lions, Holy Fiction mainly plays a rock sound that brings the 90’s to mind, especially bands like Something Happens, An Emotional Fish, and perhaps even American Music Club in that era. Lead singer Evan Lecker sounds like Kirk McLeod from the Celtic rock group, Seven Nations, or maybe like the 90’s band Miracle Legion’s Mark Mulcahy.
On “Iron Eyes” fromHours From It, a brooding emotionality leads up to the high hat rhythm chorus. The brooding continues on “Exit,” this time leading up to a marching chorus. “More Than Ever” and “Golden City Lights” reminiscent of Big Country—not their self-named hit but their album cuts of big spaces and anthems. “Yes They Were Hear” brings up the Miracle Legion and the Origin.
A bluesy acoustic guitar, singer/songwriter sound on “Two Small Bodies” is groundwork for the band bridge which comes marching like a Civil War, Appalachia story. A dream sequence anthem opens “Hours From It” before a sampled loop bridge sounds like bits and pieces from Congotronics. The song then rocks ahead on that 90’s sound of shout and smash.
Where Holy Fiction suffers a bit is on ballads, such as “Song Ten,” as it wanders a bit—although the violin line pulls the melody back on course.
