2008 was a big year for Anberlin, with the Florida-based alternative rock outfit proving that their move up the label ladder to Universal Republic Records didn’t signal an end to their trademark sound, or a watering down of their ideals.
2008 was a big year for Anberlin, with the Florida-based alternative rock outfit proving that their move up the label ladder to Universal Republic Records didn’t signal an end to their trademark sound, or a watering down of their ideals. Instead, New Surrender eventually went on to maintain the band’s standing amongst their loyal fan base, and even garnished some well deserved mainstream success.
Two years on, and the band have returned with their fifth full-length album Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place.
Anberlin open up the album in a dynamic and heavier sounding way, with We Owe This To Ourselves standing out as one of the album’s more rocking and guitar-orientated tracks.
The compact and tight sound of the opener flows on to Impossible, which brings to mind the kind of stunningly simple and rockier sounding songs that Jimmy Eat World used to produce effortlessly, while the semi-acoustic Take Me (As You Found Me) sees the band and producer Brendan O’Brien experimenting more with the song’s huge backdrop of percussive instruments with resounding success.
The darker and louder Closer is a definite favourite with its edgier and heavier overtones, with the all-out aggression ofTo The Wolves following close behind, while the sombre feel within The Art Of War and the band’s now trademark cinematic closer Depraved give the album some balanced contrast in terms of sounds and moods.
The album also has its moments of experimentation, with the foot stomping/hand clapping percussion within Pray Tell seeing the band trying something a little outside their comfort zone, while the orchestral strings added to the stripped back and acoustic based Down highlights Christian’s emotive vocal presence, and the showcases band’s powerful song writing.
Expect 2010 to be a big year for Anberlin, and Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place to earn a place as a firm favourite amongst fans, both old and new.
Anberlin, Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place is out now through Universal
