Anberlin – Vital Floridian quintet Anberlin has been around for a fair few years now, and they’re currently gearing up to release ‘Vital’, their sixth studio release. With a decade of experience under their belt, they’re ready to show everyone just how good they truly are. Opening track ‘Self-Starter’ is deliciously dark from the start. Tough and unyielding drum work sets the pace, layering Stephen Christian’s smooth, mighty vocals on top. Slick and twisting riffs make tracks such as ‘Someone, Anyone’ and ‘Intentions’ roar to life. Anberlin show how much experience they truly have during ‘Vital’. During ‘Innocent’, they slow the tempo – a melodic bass underlies soothing vocals, lulling listeners into a false sense of security. Why is it false? It’s due to the fact that Anberlin launch another (excellent) assault on our ears with ‘Desires’, another rip roaring song that sets veins on fire. As Anberlin wind down with ‘God, Drugs & Sex’, this Floridian quintet have effortlessly proven why they have legions of fans; a dedicated quintet, Anberlin have produced a champion album that will cause people to be hitting the re-wind button for a very, very long time. JT
The Undivided – Safety When people think of Wales and its music scene, most automatically think of bands such as Funeral For a Friend, Lostprophets and The Blackout to name but a few such groups. However, one group that people should really start talking about is The Undivided, an indie-rock quartet that formed in 2009. Playing gigs with Ash and The Excerts, and releasing their EP ‘Machines’ in 2011, this young quartet have been creating waves within the music industry. Having released ‘Safety’ this October, it’s high time to see what the fuss is about with these boys. Kicking off with ‘7 Hours’, the quartet explodes with burning energy. A quiet bass line gives way to loud and big riffs, complimented with tightly tuned drumming. With a two-pronged vocal attack, courtesy of Joe and Lew, this South Wales group have already started to sweep us away. Tracks such as ‘Panic’ and ‘Open Eyes’ highlights their young talent; a whirlwind of harmonies, The Undivided use catchy hooks and bouncy choruses to swell the ranks of their fan base, relying on their blistering energy. But they also know when to slow things down a notch. Title-track ‘Safety’, which features Welsh singer Just Harrie, is a perfect example. Sweet, gut-wrenching vocals slide beautifully over a poignant piano score; delicate feminine vocals mix incredibly well with the rougher, male vocals. As they finish with ‘Together-Alone’, yet another rousing track that contains saucy guitar licks and a melodic bass line, The Undivided have definitely caught our undivided attention. And it’s time that you gave them your attention and time too. JT