The Veer Union formed in 2004, when vocalist Crispin Earl and guitarist Eric Schraeder found themselves living in adjacent rehearsal studios in downtown East Vancouver. The friends had previously pursued music in different bands; Earl contributed songs to Tommy Lee's solo album and fronted the band Everything After, while Schraeder enjoyed a short stint on Hollywood Records with 40 Foot Echo. Finding themselves in need of a change, the duo banded together and retreated to the studio, where they later met lead guitarist James Fiddler and bassist Marc Roots. The Veer Union formed as those two musicians climbed aboard, and the subsequent addition of drummer Neil Beaton allowed the group to tour in support of its brash, gravelly-voiced hard rock. An offer from Universal Records appeared two years later, and the Veer Union released its debut album, Against the Grain, in April 2009.