Grand Unification is the debut studio album by British post-hardcore band Fightstar, released on 13 March 2006 through Island Records.

Based upon the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, Grand Unification was produced by Colin Richardson and is considered a concept album.

The lyrics are themed around social commentary at the end of the world, while the album's title refers to the Human Instrumentality Project.

[6] Richardson, who had previously produced albums for the likes of Funeral for a Friend, Machine Head and Fear Factory, was particularly meticulous during pre-production, taking five days just tuning the drums.

"[6] Simpson also explained that the band enjoy a shift in dynamics, often going from a heavy and aggressive style to soft and quiet passages during the same song.

[4] Describing the evolution in sound from their debut EP, the band stated that Grand Unification is a lot "grander", both in terms of songs and production.

[8] Second lyricist and lead guitarist Alex Westaway spoke of the "dark" tone amongst many of the songs; "We really tried to veer away from the whole emo thing.

"[9] Grand Unification is a concept album, which is influenced and based upon the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion.

[10] Westaway has explained that "[R]elationships and things we've actually experienced are involved, but the basic concept is about two people who experience the last few days of life as they know it before the world's ended.

"[10] The album starts with sleeping and ends with waking up, portraying the subsequent events in between taking place in a dream state.

[11] The single "Waste a Moment" was written about the 2005 London bombings, which in the context of the album is told from a personal perspective, yet in a surreal setting.

Despite the fact that the track "Lost Like Tears in Rain" was lyrically based around the Evangelion story, the band only realised connections throughout the songs towards the end of recording.

[11] The track "Lost Like Tears in Rain" contains the line "It's Neon Genesis" to support the band's interest in the anime series.

"[10][failed verification] All of the album's artwork was based upon the concept, with Haigh stating, "What we're doing is centered around hope and starting again, capturing things that are epic.

Haigh was immediately drawn to Conway because of the cohesion between his work and the album's lyrical and conceptual themes; "We’ve always been a visual band and I think people are going to realise that when they see the artwork.

Journalist Chris Long of BBC Music wrote a favourable review and opined that "[M]ake no mistake, Fightstar are Charlie Simpson's proper grown-up band, a full-on rock machine.

Bursting with energy and thrilling on several tunes, not least the dual powers of the split title track and the throbbing 'Paint Your Target', Grand Unification is a belting collection".

[22] Andrew Kelham of Rock Sound magazine gave a score of 9/10 and described the album as "a shockingly impressive debut that makes the naysayers look utterly foolish".

[19] All lyrics are written by Charlie Simpson and Alex Westaway; all music is composed by Fightstar[23]Adapted from the Grand Unification credits.