Anberlin

Lead singer Stephen Christian met bassist Deon Rexroat while they were both in high school, and they formed a punk band called SaGoh 24/7. Drummer Sean Hutson and guitarist Joseph Milligan joined the group as well.[9][dead link] The band released two albums, Servants After God's Own Heart (1999), and Then I Corrupt Youth (2001), both under Rescue Records.[10] After the albums sold only 1,300 units,[9] Hutson left the band to start a family, and Nathan Young was brought in as a replacement.
Christian, Milligan and Rexroat began working on a side project, marking the beginning of the end for SaGoh 24/7. The side project's sound transformed after a suggestion from Milligan to develop more of a rock sound for Anberlin.[10] They used money left over from shows SaGoh had performed and teamed up with producer Matt Goldman to record five demos. The demos that were then posted on PureVolume (which was mp3.com at the time). On the advice of friends, including Chad Johnson, and Timmy McTague from Underoath, the band signed with Tooth & Nail Records.[11]
First two albums (2002–2005)[edit]


Bassist Deon Rexroat performing at Purple Door in August 2007
Out of the five demos Anberlin recorded with Matt Goldman, three were eventually chosen to be reworked for the band's debut album, the lead single "Readyfuels", "Driving" (later renamed "Autobahn") and "Foreign Language". Another song, "Embrace the Dead", was also recorded as a demo track and is often mistaken as an Anberlin song, however, the song didn't make it onto the band's debut album as it didn't constitute the stylistic direction the band wanted to head in.[11]
After hearing demos from the band Acceptance, Anberlin chose to record their debut album with the same producer, Aaron Sprinkle, creating a relationship that would last the entire duration of their time with Tooth & Nail Records.[11] Barely a year after their formation, their first album as a new band was entitled Blueprints for the Black Market (2003). It failed to chart, but spurred on by their debut single, "Readyfuels", the album sold over 60,000 units.[12] They toured steadily with other bands in their label.[citation needed]
Rhythm guitarist Joey Bruce was eventually ejected from the band. According to Christian, he was "all about sex and drugs", and was going in a different direction than the rest of the band.[9] After several failed replacements, Nathan Strayer from The Mosaic took over rhythm guitar duties.
Anberlin released their follow-up to Blueprints, Never Take Friendship Personal, in early 2005, again produced by Aaron Sprinkle. Charting at No. 144 on the Billboard 200,[5] the album brought the band closer to the mainstream. NTFP was generally more well received by critics than Blueprints for the Black Market.[citation needed] Before its release, the band promoted the album by releasing a track per week on their PureVolume and MySpace website accounts, as well as on their own website. Two singles were released from the album: "A Day Late" and "Paperthin Hymn". Both were reasonably successful on alternative rock radio, with the latter peaking at the No. 38 position on the Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart.[13]
Anberlin participated in a number of compilations during this time, recording covers of Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone", Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence," and the song "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)".[citation needed]
Cities and Lost Songs (2005–2007)[edit]


Performing in Las Cruces, NM at the 2007 Warped Tour
Anberlin's third album produced by Aaron Sprinkle was released in early 2007 under the title Cities. It sold 34,000 copies in its first week of release, debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 chart, and, like their previous album, received fairly positive reviews from critics. Before the release of Cities, the band released Godspeed EP exclusively on iTunes in late 2006 to give a preview to the new album. In support of the album, Anberlin held their first headlining tour, supported by Bayside, Meg & Dia and Jonezetta.
In an interview about the album, Christian commented that the lyrics throughout the band's discography are progressively becoming more mature. "The first CD (Blueprints for the Black Market) was childish in the manner that it was Man vs. World in the lyrics. The second (Never Take Friendship Personal) was Man Vs. Man. Cities is more adult in the manner that it's Man Vs. Self.[14][15] Cities was the most anticipated album on Jesus Freak Hideout's Most Anticipated Albums of 2007.[16]
Three to four weeks before the release of Cities, it was announced that guitarist Nathan Strayer amicably left the band to go back to The Mosaic and that Christian McAlhaney, formerly of the band Acceptance, would take over as the new guitarist.[17]
A compilation album of unreleased material, called Lost Songs, was released on November 20, 2007. It features B-sides, demos, covers, and acoustic versions of their previous songs as well as other tracks recorded at Sessions@AOL.[18]
Universal Republic signing and New Surrender; Blueprints... (2007–2009)[edit]


Performing at the Commodore Ballroom in May 2009
The band signed to Universal Republic on August 16, 2007, and soon after began to write material for their major-label debut, entitled New Surrender, which was released on September 30, 2008.[4] This is the band's first album to not be distributed through Tooth & Nail Records or produced by Aaron Sprinkle. The first song to be heard from the new album was tentatively titled "Bittersweet Memory" during its initial live performances; it was later renamed to "Breaking" with an acoustic remix of the song included on USB wristbands sold exclusively during the 2008 Warped Tour. On July 11, 2008, the band showcased a second new song called "Disappear" on their MySpace profile.[19] The first actual single from the album was the re-recorded "Feel Good Drag" which was set to go to radio on August 18[20] - eventually being released on August 26.[21]
The band booked eight weeks of recording sessions with noted producer Neal Avron (New Found Glory, Yellowcard, Fall Out Boy) in early February 2008. Stephen Christian stated in an interview, "We're very excited about working with Neal; I think our fans are going to be pleased when they hear the final result."[22] Christian also discussed the difficulties in writing this record. "When you try to write 29 songs lyrically you find yourself topically working in circles; I only go through so much in one year, but needlessly I have dedicated myself to begin searching books, art, and friends for new directions."[23] During the recording process, the band set up a live webcam in the studio so fans could watch them record the album via the band's MySpace profile. New Surrender was placed at the No. 2 spot on Jesus Freak Hideout's 25 Most Anticipated Albums of 2008.[24]
In the week of its release, the album sold 36,000 units, entering the Billboard 200 chart at No. 13.[25] It also placed at No. 5 on the Top Current Rock chart, according to a Universal Republic press release.[26] In support of the album, the band embarked on a fall headlining U.S. tour alongside Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Straylight Run, and There For Tomorrow. Kyle Flynn, formerly of the band Acceptance, joined the band while on tour doing keys, loops, acoustic guitar, and background vocals. The band then traveled to the United Kingdom where they supported Elliot Minor and played a handful of headlining shows with Furthest Drive Home and Data.Select.Party.
Anberlin went into the studio to record several tracks, including a cover of the New Order song "True Faith", which was made available online. The band also recorded a cover of the Danzig song "Mother", which they performed during an interview with Billboard.[27] After supporting Taking Back Sunday throughout May and June 2009, the band planned to start writing the follow-up to New Surrender in the summer, but the release date is undetermined, as the band would give the new material the time and effort that it needs.[28] They also undertook an Australian tour in August, alongside The Academy Is....[29] A b-side from New Surrender, "A Perfect Tourniquet", was released on the soundtrack for the TV show 90210. The cover of New Order's "True Faith" was released to radio airplay on November 17,[30] the same day as the Tooth & Nail release Blueprints for City Friendships: The Anberlin Anthology. Blueprints... is a 33 song, 3-CD set including all the songs from their Tooth & Nail studio albums.
Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place (2010–2011)[edit]
In an interview with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in December 2009, it was revealed by lead singer Stephen Christian that the band were tentatively due to enter the studio in the beginning of 2010, with a release probable later in the year. He said "it looks like we are going to go to the studio in January, February or March, right around that time".[31] Drummer Nathan Young stated that the album would be "less poppy" and "darker".[32] Christian posted on his Twitter account in December 2009, that his choice for an album name was "a go" but did not reveal the name.[33]
The band entered Blackbird Studios, Nashville, to begin recording the album in March 2010.[34] It was announced on March 3 that the band would be working with Grammy Award winning producer, Brendan O'Brien.[35] The tracking of the album was completed on April 9,[36] with mixing commencing on April 13, 2010.[37] In an April 2010 interview with MyMag, Christian stated that the album's release date is "looking like late July or early August" 2010.[38] However, in a May 2010 interview with Spin Magazine, McAlhaney stated that the album would be released in September 2010.[39]
In early June 2010, the album's release date was confirmed to be September 21, 2010.[40] The band also began exposing their new music, with videos of live performances of the album's songs appearing online.[41] A press release revealed on June 17 that Anberlin's fifth studio album would be titled Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place, taking its title from a line in Dylan Thomas’ "Poem on His Birthday". Along with the disclosure of a track listing, the press release also announced the album's lead single, "Impossible",[42] which went to radio play on July 12, 2010.[43]
When asked about the possible impact of the new album, Stephen replied 'I feel like we're on the brink of something... either world domination or destruction, but either way we're on the brink'.[44]
Anberlin supported Thirty Seconds to Mars on their Closer to the Edge Tour with CB7 during April and May 2011.[45]
Vital and Devotion (2012–2013)[edit]
In an interview with Common Revolt, Stephen Christian stated that the band has begun work on their next album. A few songs have been written, including one with the working title "Control" (later renamed Orpheum), and a song influenced by the events in Egypt.[46]
The band announced via Facebook and e-mail in February 2012 that they would be returning to Aaron Sprinkle to record their upcoming album.[citation needed] The band recorded their first three albums with Sprinkle; not only is he a good friend of the band but also a fan favorite. The band will begin recording around the start of March, and are not expected to be finished until May.[47] In a recent interview, Stephen Christian announced their new album is finally done.[46] On June 11, during the Nashville show of their acoustic tour, Stephen Christian announced that the title of the new record would be Vital, calling the record "their most aggressive to date" and also announced a fall release date.[48] On July 31, the band announced on their official website that Vital will be released on October 16.[citation needed]
"Self-Starter", the track from Vital was shared on Billboard.com by the band and is available for free listening.[citation needed] This song, and the album's second single, "Someone, Anyone", have so far been met with positive feedback.[citation needed] Infectious Magazine reported on October 26, 2012 that the band had already "made a lot of headway writing for the next record".[49]
The band released "City Electric" on September 20, 2013.[50] It is the first of three new and previously unreleased tracks from their rework of Vital, Devotion which was released on October 15, 2013.[51]
Return to Tooth & Nail and seventh studio album (2014)[edit]
On the January 16, 2014, the band posted a video in which the band confirmed that this year would be their last and that they will release their seventh, and final, studio album in mid-2014 on their original label, Tooth & Nail Records. They also stated that they will do their last set of tours this year to celebrate what that band has become.[8]

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