Premiere: Anberlin's 'Atonement'

Anberlin frontman Stephen Christian looks at the timing of the band's breakup as the difference between "why" and "wait."

"I would rather somebody ask, 'Why are they breaking up?' than 'Wait, are they still a band?' " says Christian, who formed the band with guitarist Joseph Milligan, bassist Deon Rexroat and drummer Nathan Young in Florida 12 years ago. Rhythm guitarist Christian McAlhaney joined in 2007.

In January, Anberlin announced that its seventh studio album, lowborn, due July 22 on Tooth & Nail Records, would be its last. Atonement, premiering at USA TODAY, explains the band's decision.

"None of us are angry, there's no chaos within the band," Christian tells USA TODAY. "I wanted to show the fans and the listeners, 'Here's what I'm thinking, here's the logic behind calling it a day.'

"My passion has shifted, has changed to being with my family and living a different life. If I continue going on with Anberlin, when the winds have already shifted, I feel like I'm ripping them off, that I'm not putting my heart and soul into my performances on the stage."

The band will continue performing through lowborn's release and into November. Anberlin is currently part of this year's Warped Tour lineup. It has shows planned in Brazil, Europe and the United Kingdom before returning to the States for a two-month fall tour.

Christian says that seeing the end of the road for the band, playing in cities for what they known will be the last time, feels a little like a living wake. "You're taking in every moment with your brothers, talking, sharing, dreaming. It feels like it has totally revitalized the passion we have in the band.

"I want to be able to show the fans how much they meant, the incredible impact they've had on this life I've graciously been given, how appreciative I am."