Anberlin

New Surrender

[3/5]

Anberlin have never failed to deliver on high expectations. 2007’s Cities was their boldest effort to date, exploring a wider range of tempos and emotions, and it landed the group a major-label deal. New Surrender plays similarly to the last effort, but feels slightly hollow in comparison. The re-recorded version of "The Feel Good Drag," despite nicer production, lacks the charm and passion of the original, and experimental tracks like the snappy "Younglife" and the band’s now-standard lengthy closer "Misearbile Visu (Ex Malo Bonum)" sound labored. Anberlin have tremendous ability to balance pop and power, and when they hit their stride (the rocking "Disappear"), you’re just left wondering why there aren’t more tracks like that on the record. There’s plenty to celebrate on this record (and certainly a handful of singles), but after a glistening track record of continued aural growth, New Surrender may leave diehards more often shaking their heads than their posteriors. (UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC) Kevin Wade