Review Summary: Anberlin's well crafted rock album finds hope amidst chaos.
Sometimes getting through this life feels like swimming frantically amidst a tossing and turbulent sea. Life, like the waves, is both beauty and terror. There is both rhythm and order in the regularity of the waves, yet madness and meaninglessness in their raging strength. Ever since their formation, Anberlin was a band that was unafraid to look life and the world right in the eyes and face it, taking it in for what it truly was, not what they wished it to be or were told it was. In 2012, Anberlin released their sixth album “Vital”. It is an album set in the backdrop of a mad and dangerous sea, as the album cover so beautifully alludes to. The man swimming is gasping for breath, white foaming water all around him, ready to fall and crash over him. One can see that there is an arm reaching up and grabbing onto his shoulder, as if to drag him down into the depths... if the waves don't get him first. From the very first notes of the first track of the album, Anberlin makes sure the listener feels the man in the picture's plight, and quickly draws them into an epic and chaotic battle for life.
Even if lyrics were not considered at all in this album (which happens to be one Anberlin's greatest strong points), one would still be likely to feel in part what Anberlin was trying to express. In the opening track “Self-Starter”, the layers of guitar and synths come in distorted and chaotic. Lead singer Stephen Christian's unique and emotional vocals cry out with an urgency that gets the listener on his toes. There is a sense of danger, and something frantic in the way the music is performed and tied in to the vocals. Though the album does slow down and mix things up periodically, the whole thing is characterized by this franticness. The listener is almost moved to start struggling to find their own breath just listening to it. In the times that the music slows down and becomes less chaotic, it plunges the listener into a realm of sad, yet hopeful beauty. These pauses are brief though, often only taking up portions of songs (except in the case of “Innocent”, a pure and bitter-sweet reflection written to commemorate the passing of Stephen Christian's grandfather).
Though the musical and vocal performances on this album are, in my opinion, enough to set this album apart as a truly remarkable work, it is the lyrics that push it over the edge and make it truly magnificent. The album has a number of themes, as different aspects of the struggle of life are brought into the light and fleshed out in each song, but they are all united by a common resolve. Anberlin talks of lust, war, seeking artificial pleasure, death, selfishness, and shallowness (among other things), and though wading through this darkness may seem overwhelming at times and very discouraging, Anberlin manages to leave the listener with a motivation to fight back against all of this madness and to hold on to hope. It portrays life as a battle in which we are all caught, but it does not get caught up in that fact and wallow in it like many artists who come to that realization do. There is still goodness and beauty in this world, and there is a point to this fight.
One of the all around highlights of the album is the high octane anthem “Someone Anyone”, the catchy and intense fourth song on the record. It talks about war and the pointlessness of all our brutal human conflict. Stephen Christian has expressed his disappointment that man has not, in his time on earth, managed to figure out a way to come together and put an end to war. We don't learn from our mistakes, the song points out, and for that reason we will continue to keep making those same mistakes over and over again. The song ends with the line:
I don't see a reason
Tell me why we need a reason
However, we are not left with that mentality. Immediately following that song comes the up-beat “Intentions”. In this track, the band quickly starts to address the issue. There are so many people in the world perfectly capable of making a difference in the world, but only a very small number have the drive to make it happen. People sit around and talk all the time about how the world ought to be, and what they would do if they had the chance, but what Stephen Christian wants to advocate is getting up and making it happen. In talking about this song, Christian is quoted as having said, “Want to conquer the world? First pick up a sword, and never stop swinging.” Placing this song right after “Someone Anyone” is strategic. We were left wondering if anything can be done about the senseless war surrounding us, only to be immediately told that sitting around and talking about such things is not getting us anywhere. We need to get up and do something. Our ambition must be manifested in actions, not just words.
They say my vice should be vanity.
But I’ll stay calm, and in the street.
I’ll motivate you ‘til you think I’m right.
I’ll be exactly where we started tonight.
Where we started tonight.
My ambition, is all that I have!
There’s a tension, when you want it so bad!
We will move on, we will move on!
This progression is just an example of Anberlin's thoughtful and poetic lyrics on the album. Each song builds on the last and ties in with others on the album. “Otherside” encourages us that there is more awaiting us then a cruel and cold death in this raging ocean of a world in which we are striving to keep our heads above water in, while “Desires” speaks of diving head into the evil of this world. “Self-Starter” talks about feeding off of the bad relationships and influences in ones life, while “Orpheum” talks of the best of times, dancing the night away with the love of your life in an innocent and pure enjoyment of love, music, and friendship.
All in all, “Vital” is just a superb album. The music matches its message perfectly, and is incredibly fun to listen to. The lyrics are insightful, poetic, and marvelously tied to together in a thought provoking and beautiful way. Really, the only big reason I can think for someone to be unable to appreciate this album is a dislike of Stephen Christian's voice. I personally find his voice to be absolutely unbelievable, but some people I have spoken to have expressed that his vocals can be hard to get into. It is true, his voice is very distinct, and I suppose it could get a bit grating if it's not something that appeals to you, but for all of those who do enjoy his voice, enjoy well-thought out lyrics, and expressive, symphonic alternative rock, then this album should be an real pleasure. However, if none of those things are really your cup of tea, well, then steer clear of this one, if not for your sake, then for the sake of that poor guy on the album cover swimming... you wouldn't want to run over him, would you?
