Reviewed by Stephen Luff

Even before I write this, the American public have already made their opinion known, as 'Vital' has reached 16 in the mainstream Billboard 200 charts and also topped the Christian Album charts. There is good reason as there are some truly outstanding tracks here. "Little Tyrants" with its engaging drum opener is a good example with vocals which to my ears are pitched somewhere between Tree63 and Relient K. "Other Side" showcases the synth side of the band, giving the track a great '80s feel. Lyrically the album reflects a longing that resonates with the soul. This is reflected in part in a rare ballad for the band, "Innocent", where "We were all born the innocent/We were all born to run care free." This track is only a temporary pause in the pace, as the following track ("Desires") starts with high octane rock guitar. The album also features two female guest vocalists to great effect, Julia Marie on the opener "Self Starter" and Christie DuPree (one half of the band Merriment) on "God, Drugs And Sex". Anberlin and producer Aaron Sprinkle (Kutless and three other Anberlin albums) have delivered a gem of an album.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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