SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ANBERLIN – CONVINCED

Anberlin
Convinced
Equal Vision Records

Florida-based rock band Anberlin have released their latest EP, Convinced, a six-track follow-up to 2022’s Silverline, and the second release since returning from their four-year hiatus. Convinced proves to be a very thrilling commitment to what works best for the group, as well as a testament to their growth as musicians.

The first track and lead single “Lacerate” is an enormous and anthemic warzone, complete with impassioned screams from lead singer Stephen Christian and guitarist Christian McAlhaney, and wailing guitars that evoke warning sirens. It’s unquestionably one of their heaviest entries since the 2000s.

Other highlights include “Banshees”, a cool homage to 80s new wave (the chorus seems to be an affectionate nod to Talk Talk’s “It’s My Life”), and “Nothing More”, which closes out the album in a cloud of arpeggiators and synth pads. While most of the songs are spent ruminating on wounds and destruction, we end with a promise of infallible affection, the sound of waves, and a half-minute of silence.

Much of the template of previous Anberlin records is adhered to on Convinced, and the result is something of a “reduction” of their LP format. There’s not quite enough room for all of its concepts to breathe as much as they may want to, but the music is undeniably polished to perfection. There’s enough innovation to see the band isn’t running out of steam, but it gives ride-or-die fans exactly what they return for.

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