Vital
Anberlin give their melodic rock a sharper electronic edge on Vital. The guitars and drums still provide plenty of force, but synths and programmed details have a larger role in the arrangements. The band’s sixth album sounds ambitious without losing the direct choruses that make its strongest songs easy to remember.
“Self-Starter” opens with urgent drumming and a tightly wound guitar part. Stephen Christian’s voice has an electronic treatment, but the production does not remove the energy of the performance. It is a useful introduction to the record’s approach: new textures work inside the songs rather than replacing the band beneath them.
“Little Tyrants” follows with a more direct rock attack. The rougher vocal delivery and guitar solo give it an immediate physical pull. “Someone Anyone” also makes good use of the balance between guitars and synths, keeping its momentum clear while allowing the arrangement to feel fuller than a basic riff-and-chorus format.
The quieter songs are just as important. “Innocent” draws on delicate electronic sounds and a more restrained vocal, giving the album a softer point of focus. “Other Side” uses its atmosphere effectively, with the production surrounding the melody instead of distracting from it. These changes in scale keep the heavier material from becoming routine.
Christian holds the different sounds together through clear, expressive singing. His clean delivery suits the more polished passages, although the smooth vocal approach and recurring electronic textures can occasionally reduce the sense of risk. The arrangements have more detail than the familiar song structures first suggest, but not every idea feels equally surprising.
“God, Drugs & Sex” gives the original album a slower, more expansive conclusion. Its two voices and patient rhythm allow the emotional weight to build without needing another fast climax. The ending provides a strong contrast to the opening tracks and makes the record feel carefully shaped.
Vital works because Anberlin keep their melodies strong while finding more ways to support them. The heavier playing and electronic details usually help each other, and the softer tracks contribute as much as the obvious rock songs. It is a confident, varied album with enough substance behind its polished surface to make repeated attention worthwhile.
