“Harbinger” by Anberlin, Monday, August 16, 2021
























"Harbinger" was supposed to be the last song we ever heard from Anberlin. In 2013, the band agreed that they would release one last album and tour the world one last time. Stephen Christian talked openly about that dark hour in the band and the recording industry at the time, and because he was the only one speaking, many fans wondered if there was bad blood. However, in 2017, which was certainly not "forever" after their "final show" in December of 2014, the band announced a reunion supporting their good friends Underoath, who had also gotten back together. Since that reunion show, the band has toured off-and-on again, and most recently, performed all seven of their studio albums on livestreams. Yesterday, the band performed the album they never intended to play live, Lowborn. But right after the band's final movement in their requiem, they premiered a new song called "Two Graves," along with the announcement that a new record is in the works. If only all deaths worked this way.

I DON'T WANT TO GO NOW, BUT I'VE GOT TO FOR YOU TO REMEMBER ME IN THIS LIGHT. For long-term fans who noticed a change in Anberlin's music toward the end of their career, thank their drummer, Nate Young. When the band began in 2002, Nate was a high school student. Seven years junior to the other bandmates, Nate's youthful energy helped to push the band to finish strong. He composed music on Vital and selected the artwork for the packaging of Dark Is the Way Light Is a Place and Vital. However, in the band's livestream for Lowborn, the band members (sans. Stephen who was home sick with COVID) revealed that Nate was responsible for the moody pop sounds on Lowborn. However, while Young oversaw the band's production and vision for their final album, it was a blending of the band's instrumentals, Stephen's lyrics, and the oversight of three producers. The band returned to Atlanta for preproduction and drum production with Matt Goldman, who was known for his production on several Underoath albums and had also recorded Anberlin's earliest demos that helped them get their first record deal. Next, the band worked with Aaron Marsh of Copeland to record the instrumentals. Finally, Stephen Christian recorded vocals in Nashville with Aaron Sprinkle, the producer they had worked with for all but two of their records. The final product was what some fans and critics complained about being disjointed, and that is true in some places. The track listing, for one, could have been better arranged. However, it was the band throwing everything they had left into an Anberlin record, without much filter. 

WE'LL LIVE FOREVER. The band announced in January 2014 that it was their final year as a band. They promised a world tour and a new album in July. They released "Stranger Ways" as the first single, and then "Dissenter" was leaked and circulated online. "Was that Stephen screaming? Is this really Anberlin?" everyone wondered. However, the bridge in which Stephen sings "For so long I've waited for this" the album's theme was clear: the ending of a labor of love. The songs "Atonement" and "Harbinger" explained different reasons for the band's split up. "Atonement" talked about band members' individual obligations to their families and the strain of being a touring band. "Harbinger" talked about not wanting to be an aging band that fades out of popularity. Anberlin wanted to be seen in the best light possible. This message resonated with Allan back in 2014. Lowborn is a breakup album, but goes much deeper than a human relationship. Six days a week, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., plus about a Sunday a month, he was devoted to the company. But the bags under his eyes were swelling. He was losing weight as his stomach was reacting to everything with any spice dairy or complex. It became clearer and clearer that money was the root of the company and that he could continue in his personal piety or fake it. Either way, the company needed compliance to take in as many students as possible, to open as many classes as possible, and to not complain to the labor board. To suck it up, and if you can't stand it just go home. But what was left for him at home?




 

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