Anberlin - Vital

Anberlin makes good records. Period. While I've not always gushed over everything the band has put out, there's no denying that the boys in Anberlin knowhow to write a great song.

While the band's last two albums might not have been fans favorites, they both showcased a polished and more mature side of Anberlin.

Vital finds a way to capture the raw rock attitude of the first three albums without giving up the polished sound. Self-Starter packs a punch with a solid groove driving the song. Little Tyrants is a more straight forward four on the floor rock and roll song. Each of the two opening tracks delivers an energy that Dark Is The Way was missing. Other Side is more electronic than anything Anberlin has done in the past. The chorus rings full and rocking but the electronics are what grab my attention. It's has a feel almost similar to some of vocalist's Stephen Christian's side project, Anchor and Braille. Someone Anyone is the gem of the album. The driving synth line melody and the catchy as all get out hook make this track unforgettable. Intentions is another groove and synth heavy track.

Innocent is the first ballad of the record and is a nice change of pace before Desires cranks things back up to 11. Type-Three is a more typical Anberlin ballad (more acoustic driven). Orpheum and Modern Age in very different ways continue the Killers-esque vibe that most the record has. God, Drugs, & Sex ends the record on an interesting note. Super spacey, the track features guest vocals from Christie DuPree and is as epic as Anberlin has ever gotten... Yet the track isn't epic in most conventional ways. 

Vital is both a return to form and something completely different for Anberlin. Maybe not the band's best record to date but without a doubt their most interesting and diverse. A great record start to finish.