Anberlin has come a long way since their early days in the eclectic Florida alternative scene alongside fellow rockers Underoath and Copeland. Since then, the band has built a faithful grassroots following. With their last record, “New Surrender,” they have completed their crossover into mainstream waters, while cementing themselves as newly minted radio darlings.
The band continues on the upward path with their latest album, aptly titled “Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place,” that finds Anberlin in their most creative element. Lead vocalist Stephen Christian’s smooth-as-silk vocals are complimented by the dynamic duo, guitarists Joseph Milligan and Christian McAlhaney, while the band’s sound is anchored by the rock-solid rhythm with of Nathan Young on drums and Deon Rexroat on bass guitar.
The record gets off on a rocking start with “We Owe This to Ourselves,” a typical Anberlin opener with atmospheric tendencies. This is followed immediately by the lead single, “Impossible,” a far cry from the buzz-saw electric guitar crunch of “Feel Good Drag” that reeled in new radio fans. However, it does have enough U2-esque instrumentation, obligatory “whoa-oh’s” and clap-along rhythms to make it a decent radio record.
A key component of Anberlin’s sound is an 80’s-inspired vibe, displayed in full force in the record’s first ballad, “Take Me (As You Found Me).” The track is rank with roll-your-eyes, cheesy lyrics, but has a forgivably solid tune nonetheless.
Anberlin jumps back into rocker mode with “Closer,” prefacing a juicy chorus with more tinkly U2-style guitar delay. It is one of the album’s stronger tracks and is followed by the heavenly “You Belong Here.” It may be the best true ballad the band has created in quite some time, though the lovelorn lyrics do seem a bit tired.
Fortunately, the band is tasteful in its pacing, calculating correctly in the balance between syrupy love songs and beefier indie rock tunes. “Pray Tell” falls into the latter category, serving as a modern day psalm with its lyrical honesty. The song begins with a question: “Are you hiding secrets from me? / Is there more to this life than I can see?” while the pre-chorus and chorus serve as a response: “Why are you lying there? What are you hiding there? / Hide away, why do you hide away from me? / I’m the only one that can save you now.” This is a strong track propelled by a clunky Brazilian-inspired drum beat–– the solid backbone on which the rest of the band builds off of.
The album takes another turn for the cheesy with “Art of War,” ebbing with potential but ultimately falling flat, thanks to the overly emo-tinged lyrics of “…there are words that don’t belong / because of you, I’ll never write another love song.” Really?
Thankfully, “To the Wolves” kicks things back into high octane gear, providing the standard rock fare that has become Anberlin’s bread and butter since their inception. This is followed by “Down,” which sounds too similar to “Unwinding Cable Car” for comfort, but “Depraved” strongly concludes the album.
For longtime fans, Anberlin’s “Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place” is more of the same. However, those expecting a drastically retooled sound will be left wanting more. The band sticks to what works, drawing elements from its previous work, and retaining the signature sound that got them to where they are today.
