Mind Equals Blown

Anberlin Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place

MEB Rating:

.0

User Rating:

8.5

12 Ratings

Here it is. The mature record we wanted in place of New Surrender.  A worthy evolution of Anberlin has finally surfaced in Dark Is The Way,  Light Is A Place. Gorgeous tones, beautiful melodies, and expertly-crafted tunes will make this a record to beat in 2010.

In typical Anberlin fashion, the doors are flung open with the opener, in this case “We Owe This To Ourselves.”  By far the track most reminiscent of their previous work, the track features the album’s catchiest riff to backbone Stephen Christian’s Martin Luther King-inspired lyrics.  Smart move on Universal’s part releasing this track first; it should reign in the fans who felt slighted by “The Feel Good Drag” opening Anberlin’s major label career.  Conjuring up the Never Take Friendship Personal-energy from 2005 made this the ideal intro to the new record.

After repeated listens to “Impossible,” I’ve been eating my words.  I called the single “boring.  Not half as good as ‘We Owe This To Ourselves.’ ”  With the album stream, I gave the song another chance.  Within the context of the record, I now understand the importance of “Impossible” getting the radio attention.  The track accurately details what will follow on the next nine songs, displaying an 80′s influence new to the Anberlin sound.  Christian has mastered subtlety, smoothly sliding his way into tracks when it’s appropriate and seductively enticing audiences into the next verse.  His highs have always been unmatched, but never has Stephen sounded so sensual.  Gone is the “Haight St.” days of remembering Church camp; this is adult Anberlin, and this is essentially perfect.

As spectacular as Stephen’s performance is, this album belongs to Joseph Milligan and Christian McAlhaney.  The guitar players favored songwriting over blazing riffs and it has paid off incredibly.  ”Take Me (As You Found Me)” has a “With or Without You” simplicity to the intro and verse.  Quick pick-work can still be found, just with the volume down to set off the dark, ominous tones like in “Closer” and “The Art Of War.”  I formerly believed that McAlhaney, formerly of Acceptance, could have been at least partially responsible for the diluted quality of New Surrender; after all, the old band hadn’t written a dud track in three albums, while the new guitarist’s album had more than a few fails.  With the stunning quality here though, I retract my accusations.  Thank you’s should be extended to producer Brendan O’Brien as well, who’s masterful hands have created another sensational production.

It’s interesting how the brooding  mood is created in Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place. Anberlin slowed things down to channel the darkness, using a steady pace slightly slower than listeners are accustomed to.  Nathan Young continues to excel as a drummer here, and Milligan and McAlhaney need to be praised again for their writing chops.  Even “To The Wolves,” the album’s most fun song (and one of the few that uses electronics), fits snuggly into the tracklisting with its wave effect on the chorus riff.

Not one moment of the record should go unnoticed.  ”Down” will instantly be named older brother of “The Unwinding Cable Car” due to the acoustics and lack of percussion.  ”You Belong Here” begs to be in a major motion picture’s climactic scene, oozing with sweetness and genuine emotion.  Fans know better than to pass on Anberlin closers, and “Depraved” is no exception.  It may not be the seven-minute epic that’s been present on past albums, but the track slow builds into a tremendous chorus of overlapping vocals to epically end DITW,LIAP.

Forgive me for repeating an adjective, but “stunning” is the perfect summation.  Dark Is The Way, Light Is A Place is an essential rock record.  Easily the most important piece of music Anberlin has created, and possibly the most important listen we need this year.  Do away with whatever plagues your headphones, turn off the lights, and drift into an album of the year contender.

For a full album stream, visit MySpace.com/Anberlin.  The record will release nationwide September 7.

Author: Jack Appleby View Staff Page for Jack Appleby

That 6’5″ guy you curse about under your breath for standing in front of you at shows. Southern California resident (a fact my fellow MEBers tend to hate me for). Student at Hope International University, where I served two years as Editor-In-Chief of the Hope International Tribune. College basketball player (I’m losing cred by the word). Social networking connoisseur. Musically, I’m all across the board, but tend to hover around ____core and good catchy-rock. Always ready for seven hour Facebook debates on the music industry, your favorite band and anything else.

(12 votes, average: 8.50 out of 10)

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