Anberlin: Vital

By TCMRB | Released On October 16, 2012 | Published September 21, 2026 | Last Edited By: TCMRB

Anberlin has long been a band that I ignored. I was never a huge fan of their style - for some reason - and something about their music just never drew me in. That all changed when I decided to give them a chance and buy their greatest hits album, Dancing Between the Fiber of Time that came out earlier this year. After one listen through the album I was in love; I could not stop listening to all of the songs on the record. This of course made me very excited to get my hands on a new Anberlin album (even though I still do not own a full Anberlin record other than Vital - something I hope to change soon). Vital is everything I hoped for, and more. Every time a band parts with their record company it can be seen as kind of bad thing, but it looks like parting ways with Tooth & Nail was a actually a good thing for the band. Their last album, Dark is the Way, Light is the Place, was generally unimpressive from what I have heard of it; but, Vital is precisely the opposite.

Most diehard Anberlin fans will say that Cities is the greatest Anberlin record, and from what I have heard of it, it is fantastic. However, I think Vital may be better. This album sees Anberlin delve into the more electronic and technical aspects of music, something that actually seems very appropriate for Stephen Christian's vocals. His side project, Anchor & Braille, actually leans more to the techno side of music, so that may be why it seems so appropriate for them to add this style to their music.

Vital begins with the first single, "Self-Starter," which is easily one of my favorite songs on the album. The song is very upbeat and has a very raw feeling to it; however, it immediately shows the album's more technical side - especially in the bridge. The lyrics also seem to be a bit more urgent - for a lack of better words - than previous songs from the band. "Little Tyrants" has a little more of an old school feel to it, which may come from the fact that it is just a straight up rock song, with minimal programing. "Other Side" shows off the bands more emotional side with lines like, "Love me! Love me! Why don't you know me? Know me? Hold me! Hold me! I am just me, trust me!"

"Someone Anyone" was instant favorite of mine as soon as it was released as a single. The track is one of the more fast paced on Vital, and has probably one of the coolest background stories. The song was written kind of in response to the riots in Egypt, and from what I can tell is written from the perspective of one of the rioters. "Intentions" has more of a dance vibe to it, something I do not think I have heard from Anberlin. The song sees vocalist Stephen Christian longing for something better, saying, "I want a love that I don't deserve." The song "Innocent" brings the album to a sort of crossroads with the slowest song on the record. I love the lyrics to the track which talk about how we are all born innocent and made to be carefree; the song reminds me a lot of Anchor & Braille.

After slowing the album down, Anberlin picks right back up with one of the more fast-paced songs, "Desires." The song also happens to be my favorite on Vital; which comes from my love of the chorus. I had no clue that I could fall in love with a song as much as I have with "Desires;" I may have literally listened to this song 100 times in the first week after I got the album. It never fails to get me singing along (and possibly even dancing), and it always, always gets stuck in my head.

"Type Three" follows that up with another phenomenal song which also gets stuck in my head on a frequent basis. The track is easily the most vulnerable song on the album, and maybe one of the most vulnerable I have heard this year. The very first lines of the song automatically give you a hint into how personal the song is - "I have my reasons, for the vices I embrace. A world of treasons, I'm their only escape. No one lives here, as conversations are drowning. Sixteen is nothing, I never will be 'til I'm dead." With "Type Three" begins a streak of more emotional songs, which is seen in the final three songs, "Orpheum," "Modern Age," and "God, Drugs & Sex." It is interesting, to me, that for a such fast-paced record they end with four straight slow songs; but, I kind of like it. It is different. I might also add that "God, Drugs & Sex" is one of my favorite final songs on album in awhile.

Anberlin has become one of my favorite bands, and they really blew me out of the water with this album. I have come to love every song on this album; it is one of those where you do not want to skip a single track - they are all that good. Vital is easily worth the 10 bucks or so it costs to buy, and one of those I would highly recommend checking out if you are a fan of alternative rock music. Take it from someone who never really gave Anberlin a chance until this year - give this album a chance. Anberlin is back and better than ever, folks.

Favorite Song: Desires

This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from The Christian Music Review Blog. Click here to visit today!