Anberlin

Anberlin Overview:

Anberlin make music that combines rock, punk and emo, although their overall sound leans closer to streamlined rock ‘n’ roll than to those other genres. At the same time, they flaunt a pop accessibility and compact song structures, which allow their albums to have an immediacy to them. While Anberlin are identified as a Christian band, they don’t include explicitly religious messages in their music.

Anberlin Origins:

The members of Anberlin, who all lived in Central Florida, teamed up in late 1996 after their own bands fell apart. Prior to signing with Tooth & Nail Records, Anberlin toured extensively and sold self-released albums. Since their 2003 debut on Tooth & Nail, Blueprints for the Black Market, the band has had four permanent members – lead singer Stephen Christian, lead guitarist Joseph Milligan, bassist Deon Rexroat, and drummer Nathan Young – but have gone through several rhythm guitarists.

A Shaky Start:

Blueprints for the Black Market captured a young group trying to assimilate its influences. Not making much of an impression on the charts, Blueprints felt like an amalgam of many pop-punk bands of the era, except Anberlin were not quite as good or confident as their peers. The single “Readyfuels” did suggest that Anberlin could latch onto a catchy riff from time to time, but their mediocre hard rock cover of the Cure’s “Love Song” highlighted that they weren’t quite ready for the big time.

Gaining Confidence:

2005’s Never Take Friendship Personal boasted sharper production and better songs, although Stephen Christian’s lyrics often descended into sappy emo-sensitive platitudes. Still, Never Take Friendship Personal was a considerable sonic improvement, and the band’s minor hit “Paperthin Hymn” helped propel the album on the Billboard chart, peaking at No. 144.

Growing Commercial Clout:

Despite being on an independent label, Anberlin finally started making major commercial inroads on their third record, 2007’s Cities. Getting as high as No. 19 on the Billboard chart, Cities featured a harder-edged sound than Anberlin’s previous albums. Still, there were plenty of pop-punk hooks in attendance on Cities, as well as a more introspective bent to Christian’s lyrics.

Signing With a Major Label:

Before the release of their September 2008 album, New Surrender, Anberlin left Tooth & Nail and signed with the major label Universal Republic. In addition, new guitarist Christian McAlhaney joined the lineup, and the band took part in that summer’s Warped Tour. New Surrender showcased a broader sonic palette than the band’s three previous albums and a more mature outlook than the puppy-dog love songs of the past.

Current Lineup:

Stephen Christian – vocals
Christian McAlhaney – guitar
Joseph Milligan – guitar
Deon Rexroat – bass
Nathan Young – drums

Key Anberlin Songs:

“Readyfuels”
“A Day Late”
“Paperthin Hymn”
“Godspeed”
“Retrace”

Discography:

Blueprints for the Black Market (2003)
Never Take Friendship Personal (2005)
Cities (2007)
New Surrender (2008)

Anberlin Quotes:

Stephen Christian, on whether religion is a big factor in Anberlin’s music.
“I think the only ‘big factor’ religion could have on any aspect of any album would be on the lyrics. I don’t think Deon sat down to write a God-fearing bass line, or Nathan coming up with the perfect praise and worship beat. For me, though, I have never sat down and tried to write a ‘religious’ lyric in my life. I just write.”

Stephen Christian, on where to put his band’s music in context with other groups.
“I would ask to be sitting right next to AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses and pure rock ‘n’ roll.”

Stephen Christian, on how he would describe Anberlin’s live show.
“Energetic, intoxicating, as memorable as eating razors and washing it down with rubbing alcohol.”

Stephen Christian, on responding to negative reviews.
“Reviews don’t bother me, criticism from labels doesn’t really hurt, but if a longtime fan is let down by a new record it keeps me up well into the night.”

Stephen Christian, describing New Surrender.
“With this record I wanted to start thinking outside myself. Sure, there are songs on [New Surrender] that have a more personal experience, but as for the whole of the record I really wanted to get away from being so egocentric.”

Anberlin Trivia:

Anberlin have toured with Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance.

Stephen Christian has said that the band’s name came from shortening “And Berlin,” a phrase that he liked.

New Surrender contains a new version of “Feel Good Drag,” which originally appeared on Never Take Friendship Personal.

Stephen Christian co-founded Faceless International, which, according to its mission statement, “exists to raise awareness and education on social issues happening throughout the global community.”

In 2008, Stephen Christian published his first novel, The Orphaned Anything’s.