Late-’90s/early-aughts Judas Priest aside, it’s exceedingly rare that a fan gets to be the lead singer for one of their favorite bands. But that’s exactly what Matty Mullins got to do with Anberlin when vocalist Stephen Christian split in late 2023 and personally asked Mullins to step into the role. Of course, it helps that Mullins also fronts another successful group—namely the Texas metalcore crew Memphis May Fire. Mullins made his debut with Anberlin on two songs on their 2024 release Vega, but CURRENCY marks his first full album with the Floridian emo squad. While many will no doubt mourn Christian’s departure, the high-energy, uplifting themes and catchy choruses of “NEVERAFTER,” “HIGHSTAKES,” and the bass-forward “AFTERMATH” may just convince fans that Anberlin has plenty to offer in their new era.