By Mike Newford

Universal Republic rockers Anberlin will release their much-buzzed about fifth studio album, Dark Is The Way, Light is a Place, on September 7. The band recorded it at Nashville’s renowned Blackbird Studio with Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Rage Against the Machine), who won the GRAMMY® award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical earlier this year. “Impossible” ~ the driving lead single that soars with an exhilarating pop Foo Fighters vibe as it captures love’s tug of war ~ went to radio in mid-July. “We Owe This To Ourselves,” another track from Dark Is The Way, Light is a Place, will be the main song used on ESPN’s X-Games this summer.

Dark Is The Way, Light is a Place ~ which takes its title from a line in Dylan Thomas’s “Poem On His Birthday” ~ examines the battle implicit in life and in love. “Love is a friction, a chemistry,” says Anberlin’s front man, Stephen Christian. “We need to fight it out in a good way, not with threats of leaving, but to, in love, find an understanding.”

If such an understanding isn’t reached, the consequences can be shattering, as detailed in the hypnotic “The Art of War,” which veers from slow burn to full sonic assault and the heart wrenching “Take Me As You Found Me.” The cathartic “To The Wolves” tackles betrayal head-on while in the gentle, acoustic “Down,” the protagonist puts the blame squarely on himself (“…feel like a shell of yesteryear gone by/bad decisions like ghosts that just won’t die…”). The way may be dark, but a powerful vision of light permeates the album. The anthemic “We Owe This to Ourselves” is a resounding call to action: “We owe this to ourselves/to fight, to lead/we owe this to ourselves/we just can’t let this go.” This deeply rooted conviction speaks not only to Anberlin’s view of romantic love, but also to the band’s belief that we’re accountable for our relationship with the world at large.

To that end, Anberlin has been involved in numerous humanitarian efforts. They’ve spent time in Africa, working with a local charity to meet the needs of a small community, and traveled to Calcutta, India with Faceless International, where they helped to raise awareness about the dangers of human trafficking. Co-founded by Stephen Christian (lead singer), Faceless International (www.facelessinternational.com/) aims to defend the plight of exploited people worldwide who have gone faceless and unknown for far too long. The organization raises awareness about social issues happening throughout the global community, providing first hand experience and education through trips around the world and solution-based opportunities through regional resources.

Anberlin is Stephen Christian ~ Vocals, Joseph Milligan ~ Lead guitar, Devon Rexroat ~ Bass, Christian McAlhaney ~ Rhythm guitar, Nathan Young ~ Drums

The track listing for Dark Is The Way, Light is a Place is:

1. We Owe This To Ourselves
2. Impossible
3. Take Me As You Found Me
4. Closer
5. You Belong To Me
6. Pray Tell
7. The Art Of War
8. To The Wolves
9. Down
10. Depraved

Catch Anberlin on 10/28 at the Paradise Rock Club.

www.anberlin.com
www.myspace.com/anberlin