Music : New Surrender

Rating: - Surrender To Anberlin!
Anberlin after a while away since cities Cities was released - which is another brilliant album from them - check it out if you don't believe me! When the Universal deal was announced I was so excited as a fan of Anberlin since Blueprints for the Blackmarket - In my view Anberlin's music has improved & matured with each release & new surrender is no different.
It starts with the rocking the resisitance - which is a brilliant opener to the album & hooks you along for the rest of the ride (only 13 songs - but hey who's complaining which each is as good as the next!)
Musical hightlight favourites for me are the catchy blame me, blame me!; the improved feel good drag (re-recorded from Never Take Friendship Personal [Us Import] album - great track & updated version sounds just as good as original - I must think why universal wanted anberlin to re-record an old song - but I'm not complaining!); Disappear, breathe & burn out bright are great - trust me when i tell u you will be singing along to the na-na-na on the chorus of younglife! soft skeletons is potentially a brilliant song & the album closer sends shivers up my spine when i hear it - miserabile visu - is all about the end of the world - cheery subject matter I know! but the guys from Anberlin pull off a masterstroke with this song - could bea classic for me!
Now you have finished reading my review what are you waiting for? explore this album, buy it, love it - i know i did! Going to see them in concert in November & can't wait! Hopefully this album will introduce Anberlin's music to an UK & European market & they finally get the recognition for all the hard work they have put into a brilliant, catchy & thought provoking masterpiece

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Rating: - Surrender To Brilliance! Anberlin Are Back!
This album has to be one of the most long awaited albums for me all year, and to give it to you simply, this album is absolutely fantastic! I was slightly concerned when they announced that they were leaving 'Tooth and Nail Records' and going 'Universal' but nonetheless, Anberlin have been in this business to know what good music sounds like and with their stunningly produced debut 'New Surrender' they totally shatters any preconceptions from their past and new label! They're back! They're new and improved and have probably produced one of the most catchiest and rockiest album this year! Possibly in they're entire career? In my opinon I think it might just snatch the crown from NTFP!

Compared to previous albums, this is their strongest and probably their most confident album yet and is an (almost) flawless record by my standards with some personal issue's about the re-release of 'The Feel Good Drag'. I'll give them credit where it is due, the music is faultless and definately shows they have improved and developed a maturer sound, however the scream on the bridge should have stayed simply because in the original from NTFP, it provided the raw emotion which fuelled the song. In the re-release you dont see this raw emotion and to be fair makes the song somewhat boring, especially Christian's singing which is practically impossible. Of course this is my opinion and some may prefer the new sound but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. you dont like mine thats fair enough =]

Right getting back on track, the opener 'The Resistance' shows they still got some fight left, crushing guitars, impressive drumwork again by Nate, simply a perfect beginning the album! 'Breaking' is also another amazing song, even better than the acoustic version and definately delivers and you can tell Christian's voice has improved from previous records, especially on the wonderful track 'Burn Out Brighter (Northern Lights)' which is one of the most poppiest records on here, yet it bedazzles you with it technical guitars as well as Christian's voice soaring, hitting you hard in the face with lyrics "Live, I wanna live inspired, Die, I wanna die for something higher than myself, live or die for anyone else"

Softer tracks such as 'Breathe', 'Retrace' and 'Younglife' truly showcase how versatile Christian's voice truly is and these remain to be the main highlights of the album as well as an incredible 'Soft Skeletons' which shows the contrast between a rock bombast chorus and the delicate undertones which is just incredible to listen to as Christian's voice soar yet again! I think my favourites on the album have to be 'Blame Me! Blame Me!', 'Disappear' and 'Haight St' Simply because these songs are the most upbeat tracks on the entire album and have hooked me like a ADHD child in a sweetie shop! They are just the most rockiest songs on the album and 'Haight St' reminds me of 'The Darkness - I Believe In A Thing Called Love' Haha! Not sure why but its a fantastic song non the less! =D

And the closer is needless to say epic! I really dont have any words to describe 'Miseabile Visu (Ex Malo Bonum)', it is just so beautiful. Beautiful piano parts with a very atmospheric tone which leads into a rock chorus with one of the most bone-chilling guitar solos ever. This and Christian's voice yet excels far beyond 'Dance, Dance Christa Paffgen' and 'Fin' to deliver a truly breathtaking end to a brilliant album.

This album is the best ive heard this year by far! End of! So sit back and enjoy =]

Top Tracks: 'Haight St', 'Soft Skeletons', 'Miseabile Visu (Ex Malo Bonum) [Translates roughly as 'Terrible Sight (Good Out Of The Bad)']