Anberlin on the road with new album

Anberlin's new and final album, lowborn, is out now via Tooth & Nail, the first record label to which Anberlin was signed. It has charted at #1 Alternative and #6 Top 10 overall on iTunes. 

Instead of recording the album together, the musicians did their parts with separate producers they each selected. Drums were recorded with Matt Goldman in Atlanta and later combined with bass and guitar in Lakeland, FL with Copeland's Aaron Marsh. Vocals were recorded with the band's longtime collaborator Aaron Sprinkle in Franklin, TN.

Consisting of Stephen Christian (vocals), Joseph Milligan (guitar), Deon Rexroat (bass), Nathan Young (drums), and Christian McAlhaney (guitar), Anberlin have been a band for 12 years. The rock group formed in central Florida in 2002 and have released six albums.

"Usually breakups happen quickly and suddenly, an implosion of sorts," McAlhaney says. "What is unique about the end of Anberlin is that we discussed where people were at in their lives, what that meant for the band, and then made plans for the end on our own terms." lowborn reflects true artistic freedom for the band, who felt liberated from any sort of expectation or pressure. "I wanted to enjoy the creative process one more time, with no restrictions, no one breathing down my neck for a single," Christian says. "Just unadulterated creative freedom."

The musicians started collecting new material at the end of last year. The idea was not to crank out as many songs as possible but to actually focus on crafting solidly good ideas that melded each musician's individual tastes and influences.

"We were really honest with each, probably more so than in the past," Young says. "You have to come to a point where, with different opinions, there's no right or wrong. There was a fearlessness which was really freeing and exciting for all of us. To just not have to think about anything else except what's the best thing for the song."

Some of the album's lyrics address the band's end and history.

"I know there are going to be a lot of questions as to why we decided to break up and I explain it all in the song 'Atonement,'" Christian says. "And I want to make sure that the our fans and friends know that we will always remember them, and the moments spent with them were some of the greatest of my entire life. I tried to convey that in the song 'Harbinger.'"

Another track, "Stranger Ways," first appeared in demo form in the band's farewell video earlier this year.

For everyone, this is a celebration of what has been achieved rather than the mourning of a loss.

"This is the end of an era of my life," Rexroat says. "A long and great era. It also means a new beginning. It's overwhelming to think about filling all my time with something new, but it's also exciting."

Track Listing:

We Are Destroyer
Armageddon
Stranger Ways
Velvet Covered Brick
Atonement
Birds Of Prey
Dissenter
Losing It All
Hearing Voices
Harbinger

Tour Dates:

Vans Warped Tour 2014:

8/2 Utah Stage Fairpark Salt Lake City, UT
8/3 Sports Authority Field At Mile High Denver, CO

The Final World Tour:

8/6 Cathouse Glasgow, UK
8/7 Manchester Academy Manchester, UK
8/8 Electric Ballroom London, UK
8/9 Frizon Festival Kumla, Sweden
8/29 Bar Opiniao Porto Alegre, Brazil
8/30 Music Hall Curitiba, Brazil
8/31 Carioca Club Sao Paulo, Brazil
9/3 Metropolis Fremantle, Australia
9/4 The Gov Adelaide, Australia
9/6 The Hifi Brisbane, Australia
9/7 The Roundhouse Sydney, Australia
9/9 The Forum Melbourne, Australia
9/10 170 Russell *NTFP In Its Entirety* Melbourne, Australia
9/12 Tab Singapore, Singapore
9/13 SM Skydome Quezon City, Philippines
10/6 The Press Room Phoenix, AZ
10/7 House of Blues San Diego, CA
10/9 House of Blues Los Angeles, CA
10/10 House of Blues Anaheim, CA
10/11 The Regency San Francisco, CA
10/13 Showbox Market Seattle, WA
10/14 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR
10/15 Knitting Factory Spokane, WA
10/20 Varsity Theater Minneapolis, MN
10/21 House of Blues Chicago, IL
10/23 Emo's Austin, TX
10/24 House of Blues Dallas, TX
10/25 House of Blues Houston, TX
11/3 St. Andrew's Hall Detroit, MI
11/10 Newport Music Hall Columbus, OH
11/11 Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
11/12 House of Blues Boston, MA
11/13 Irving Plaza New York, NY
11/15 Theatre of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA
11/16 Irving Plaza New York, NY
11/18 Phoenix Concert Hall Toronto, Canada
11/19 House of Blues Cleveland, OH
11/26 House of Blues - FINAL SHOW Orlando, FL
* more dates TBA  
anberlin.com.