After reviewing all of their albums (not their EPs, sorry but I don't have any of them. If you want me to review their EPs I will do so my requests blog) I can say they are an interesting band with a unique sounds. However,they also have a couple of quirks.
The quirks are in every album they wrote they had hard to understand lyrics, as the songs were written more about blending with the music, and not for creating a story like in Folk music. Another quirk is the way the signer swears sometimes, in his accent it sounds a little funny, and he also tends to rush the swearing sometimes. That and its just that Ben sounds funny when he says words sometimes. Also, the band tends to use the same song structure and subjects a lot of the time of soft verse and hard chorus, with a climax, solo, and conclusion (the subjects being about struggle, suffering, bad relationships, and breaking up.) Lastly, for some reason this band has been through a total of six drummers, which is two more people than how many bass players Metallica has been through. lol
Quirks aside, they have a very unique kind of sound that involves a balance between all of the instruments all it only eventually became focused on guitar and vocals (which are good in their own right, Ben has a very unique voice). At the start with Saturate they were full of energy eager to let every instrument have an intro or a solo. However, when We Are Not Alone came out they cut back on the solos, but they were still pretty prominent. In W.A.N.A. the band took a much heavier approach to the song writing (but also made sure to add in some soft songs). In Phobia there were few solos, but the band members played pivotal parts together in creating the band's best sounding album to date. It was only in Dear Agony where the guitar and vocals took center stage, but it was written and executed poorly. This is most likely because of the emotion of the songs, and because Breaking Benjamin had thrived off a healthy balance for so long. I'd say every musician in their group is very skilled at what they do, even the latest drummer (though each drummer has had their own distinct style.)
For years I was proud to say that there was a modern alternative metal band that wasn't "Emo", but unfortunately Dear Agony fits in that stereotype (minus the post-pop punk feel). Though Dear Agony has disappointed me, it does make me happy to say that they only had one week album. (Ratings of albums at the bottom of the page.)
Another interesting thing that I noticed back in 2007 was how often Breaking Benjamin was used in Animae Motion Videos as a soundtrack, and how perfectly their music fits in with video games. I know for a fact that Ben is an avid video game player, which is probably why they did Blow Me Away for Halo 2. To me it is not unlikely that he choose to write his music in a similar style to most game compositions (see the guitar cover of "The Diary of Jane" below and see what I mean).
For me personally, it may just be the audience that Breaking Benjamin targets, but I can relate a lot to some of their songs and lyrics as they have been here helping me through the years.
Overall, even if Dear Agony was a disappointment, I am proud to say that Breaking Benjamin was my first rock band that I truly got into.
Ratings:
Saturate: *****
We Are Not Alone: ****
Phobia: *****
Dear Agony: ***
Just try and tell me you CAN'T hear this as the boss music in a Megman X Zero game!
Diary of Jane Guitar cover:
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Breaking Benjamin- Dear Agony
2009 was a very hard year for me, the summer in particular held a series of painful events that made me mature and shattered the remaining hopes from my childhood (like thinking the world revolves around me. lol). 2009 is also the year Dear Agony came out. Kind of funny how fate (and target audiences) work some times, eh? This album represented my emotions down to a T. However at the time I was hoping for this album to lift my spirits, not cast me down. Today I am looking at the latest installment in the Breaking Benjamin discography: Dear Agony.
Note: I can't give the names of the people who helped produce and mix the album because Breaking Benjamin never added this album to their discography for some reason on their website, Shallowbay.com
Title: Dear Agony
Year: 2009
Genre: Emotional Metal, Techno Rock
Artist(s): Breaking Benjamin
Copyright: © 2009 Holly Wood Records
Songs:
1. Fade Away
This track pretty much sets the mood of the album. The lyrics subjectively are similar to Next to Nothing, in that it tells of a broken up relationship from the perspective of both partners. It ends with the heart broken person saying they will fade away from this life, rather than the person moving on like in Next to Nothing. It is dramatic and very whiny in tone and emotion, which fits the lyrics. There is a slight guitar solo, but it doesn't really impress me or carry me anywhere. This song sounds pretty standard in terms of modern rock music with nothing truly noteworthy, and it tends to drag on. 1 out of 5 stars.
2. I Will Not Bow
This is the main single of the album, and it is also the song that set my expectations high for the album (what better way to follow Phobia than to write a hard rock album with awesome songs like this?). It is a very intense hard rock song that grabs your attention and puts you in a triumphant mood, like you could beat Ninja Gaiden without cheats. The lyrics tell of a man in a struggle who wishes to become victorious and forsake the world to live life on his own terms, one of my favorite songs off the album. My only complaint is that the contrast between this song and the rest of the album it barely fits in. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Crawl
A very angst driven song, but not exactly like Topless. The lyrics tell of a couple in an abusive relationship, with lyrics from the perspectives of both people. The lyrics end with the victim becoming as evil as the abuser. The mood of the instruments fits the emotion of the lyrics well, but I get the feeling the instruments are being there purely for support to just let Ben's voice do all of the emotional styling. Better than Fade Away, but still nothing special. 3 out of 5 stars.
4. Give Me a Sign
This is the second single on the album. Somewhat slow, and very minimalistic, this song has a very whiny tonality to it as well. The lyrics tell of someone who is near death and feels no hope anymore, and someone else who is a loved one who wants to save the dying person. I recognize that the rhythm guitar is trying to make the same hypnotic echo effect like it did in Phobia, but it just comes off as mellow dramatic. The only real thing I like about this song are the lyrics in the "God help me I've come undone" and "There's something buried in the words" parts (the latter of which is the climax.) Somewhat enjoyable, but fails to be enjoyable as a whole. 3 out of 5 stars
5. Hopeless
It starts off with a slow and somewhat promising intro, but breaks into generic guitar riffs. The emotion goes from feeling somewhat lively, then to the person realizing his fate. The lyrics tell of someone who drowned themselves out of guilt and their spirit is starting their descent into hell. The instrumentation bothers me at parts, but I really like Ben's singing in this song, I can tell he actually cared about this one, plus there is a good balance between the screaming and clean vocals. Overall a decently enjoyable song 4 out of 5 stars.
6. What Lies Beneath
The tonality of this song is very fight filled, you can tell they wrote this about a struggle. The meaning of this song is yet again about an abusive relationship from both perspectives, except the victim is calling their partner the devil. This song is the closest I can hear to Phobia and We Are Not Alone, albeit a tiny bit whiny. This is the best hard rock song on the album next to I Will Not Bow. Overall a very enjoyable piece. 4 out of 5 stars.
7. Anthem of the Angels
This song starts off low key with a violin and a cello playing together, then breaks into heavy guitars. It returns to the classic style of Breaking Benjamin of soft and hard parts, and building up to a climax. The lyrics tell of someone who is near a dying loved one, and at the start of the song the caring person says they wish to join to the dying person, but later in the song the caring person accepts that their loved one is going to die. I like how clearly the bass comes through and how good the string section sounds, along with how good Ben's singing is. Overall this track is probably the best on the album so far. 5 out of 5 stars.
8. Lights Out
This is the third single on the album. The emotion and sound in this album are very angst driven and very threatening. The lyrics in this song tell of the Devil commenting on how is going to kill someone by corrupting their life then poisoning their body while saying he can't afford to care for the person because it would make him stop trying to kill the person. The opening of the song is a little weak, though they do switch between heavy and soft. I think they do a good job of painting the picture of the lyrics, and the song becomes highly repetitive. The only really enjoyable part of this song is the short guitar solo. Overall an annoyingly repetitive song. 2 out of 5 stars.
9. Dear Agony
This song reminds a little of Here We Are, but a bit heavier. The emotion is very sincere and passionate. The lyrics describe the singers struggle with a lung infection in how he wishes to fight it but he feels highly threatened by death. The song is beautiful sounding, but perhaps too beautiful, as one might expect the song to be more desperate then going into triumph and hope. Instead it goes from passion into triumph, and then desperation in the chorus, which doesn't make much sense to me. The song is repetitive and has no climax, but is overall enjoyable, albeit somewhat confusing. 4 out of 5 stars.
10. Into the Nothing
Yet another very angst driven song, the song goes from heavy to soft. From what I can gather of the lyrics the song is about a couple where one of the partners is evil, and the other partner is trying to redeem the other partner as they are trying to escape something evil coming into their lives. I like how the bass manages to be prominent but not overpowering (the bass is a bit reminiscent of Iron Maiden in sound.) The song remains interesting and actually caries me like their older songs do, so this song is effective at creating a good mood and picture. Overall very enjoyable, albeit a bit whiny. 3.5 out of stars.
11. Without You
This song has a very desperate and hopeful sound to it. The lyrics in this song tell of a partner in an abusive relationship who wants to make their partner see the error of their ways, but as the song ends the person realizes it is best to let the abusive one go. In the end the victim forgives the abuser. There is a slight hypnotic sense to this piece, and you can really tell Ben is emoting well in this song. Also the last chorus is very convincing, the climax is great and it leads into a very well written string section. My favorite song off the album, it is a great choice to close the album with. It's only shortcoming is that it doesn't really feel solid to me, just like all of the songs on this album. 5 out of 5 stars.
Audio Mixing:
The mixing in this album is a bit traditional and generic, but it works. The instruments come through very clearly, and the bass in songs like in Anthem of the Angels and Into the Nothing is very prominent but not overpowering. The guitars go from a kind of muddy distortion to a crystal clear reverberation, which is a strange contrast. The drums remain consistent in volume, but the volume is turned down at parts to bring the guitars and string sections (which works, but it is still unfortunate for the drummer.) From what I can tell the instruments remain in both speakers, and they only bring up volume for dramatic effect. I'm pleasantly surprised at parts by the mixing, though I feel the mixing on Phobia was a bit better.
Singing:
The singing is a bit lacking on this album. Ben's scream sounds more tired now rather than filled with energy like it used too. I guess this is bound to happen after so many years of touring and screaming at the top of his lungs (probably with out protecting his voice), I mean just look at Robert Plant and James Hetfield these days. That and his voice is bound to change as he gets older. My other issue is that Ben doesn't really emote as well as he did in Phobia, though he did a good job with With Out You. Ben's natural tone is good, but you can tell he's been smoking and that he is struggling with a lung infection. He does manage to sound good on songs like Hopeless and Anthem of the Angels. Lastly, Ben has finally enunciated his words well enough to create understandable phrases that don't sound awkward or out of time.
Instrumentation:
This is where the album truly suffers. I feel like in every song the instruments were only there for support of the vocals (which are lacking in there own way.) Plus the only solos are for guitar, no bass or drums. The structure is generally the same with their previous albums with the soft and heavy verse to chorus and building to a climax, but without many memorable climaxes. The tonality is generally miserable and very canned in.
What I didn't like:
The songs feel incomplete and canned with unconvincing singing. Plus there was an overall generic feeling to the album.
What I did like:
The string arrangements were very beautiful, and a couple of the songs are worth hearing.
Who would enjoy this album:
Fans of music about personal suffering, and people who like music with implied themes of Christianity.
Overall:
I know I may be sounding a little harsh here, but the album has managed to surprise me with a few of the songs being enjoyable to listen too (I was intending to give the album only one star). I think the album sounds the way it does is because of the singer being at risk of dying from a lung infection and the band almost breaking up (no pun intended). Breaking Benjamin is now on hiatus due to Ben being sick. I would rather have a mediocre album than the group splitting up, but that is what happened with Metallica's St. Anger (though this album is much similar to Re-Load), which shows that change isn't always a good thing. The events behind the writing doesn't excuse the song writing when comparing this album to Phobia because its like we went straight from Master of Puppets to Re-Load (a big unwanted change that feels incomplete and has a lot of filler). Overall the album is okay on its own that may grow on you eventually, but a let down when compared to Phobia because of the incomplete and generic sound. Next time I will start my requests blog by reviewing Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin.
Rating: ***
I Will Not Bow music video:
Give me a Sign music video:
Lights Out unofficial video:
Note: I can't give the names of the people who helped produce and mix the album because Breaking Benjamin never added this album to their discography for some reason on their website, Shallowbay.com
Title: Dear Agony
Year: 2009
Genre: Emotional Metal, Techno Rock
Artist(s): Breaking Benjamin
Copyright: © 2009 Holly Wood Records
Songs:
1. Fade Away
This track pretty much sets the mood of the album. The lyrics subjectively are similar to Next to Nothing, in that it tells of a broken up relationship from the perspective of both partners. It ends with the heart broken person saying they will fade away from this life, rather than the person moving on like in Next to Nothing. It is dramatic and very whiny in tone and emotion, which fits the lyrics. There is a slight guitar solo, but it doesn't really impress me or carry me anywhere. This song sounds pretty standard in terms of modern rock music with nothing truly noteworthy, and it tends to drag on. 1 out of 5 stars.
2. I Will Not Bow
This is the main single of the album, and it is also the song that set my expectations high for the album (what better way to follow Phobia than to write a hard rock album with awesome songs like this?). It is a very intense hard rock song that grabs your attention and puts you in a triumphant mood, like you could beat Ninja Gaiden without cheats. The lyrics tell of a man in a struggle who wishes to become victorious and forsake the world to live life on his own terms, one of my favorite songs off the album. My only complaint is that the contrast between this song and the rest of the album it barely fits in. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Crawl
A very angst driven song, but not exactly like Topless. The lyrics tell of a couple in an abusive relationship, with lyrics from the perspectives of both people. The lyrics end with the victim becoming as evil as the abuser. The mood of the instruments fits the emotion of the lyrics well, but I get the feeling the instruments are being there purely for support to just let Ben's voice do all of the emotional styling. Better than Fade Away, but still nothing special. 3 out of 5 stars.
4. Give Me a Sign
This is the second single on the album. Somewhat slow, and very minimalistic, this song has a very whiny tonality to it as well. The lyrics tell of someone who is near death and feels no hope anymore, and someone else who is a loved one who wants to save the dying person. I recognize that the rhythm guitar is trying to make the same hypnotic echo effect like it did in Phobia, but it just comes off as mellow dramatic. The only real thing I like about this song are the lyrics in the "God help me I've come undone" and "There's something buried in the words" parts (the latter of which is the climax.) Somewhat enjoyable, but fails to be enjoyable as a whole. 3 out of 5 stars
5. Hopeless
It starts off with a slow and somewhat promising intro, but breaks into generic guitar riffs. The emotion goes from feeling somewhat lively, then to the person realizing his fate. The lyrics tell of someone who drowned themselves out of guilt and their spirit is starting their descent into hell. The instrumentation bothers me at parts, but I really like Ben's singing in this song, I can tell he actually cared about this one, plus there is a good balance between the screaming and clean vocals. Overall a decently enjoyable song 4 out of 5 stars.
6. What Lies Beneath
The tonality of this song is very fight filled, you can tell they wrote this about a struggle. The meaning of this song is yet again about an abusive relationship from both perspectives, except the victim is calling their partner the devil. This song is the closest I can hear to Phobia and We Are Not Alone, albeit a tiny bit whiny. This is the best hard rock song on the album next to I Will Not Bow. Overall a very enjoyable piece. 4 out of 5 stars.
7. Anthem of the Angels
This song starts off low key with a violin and a cello playing together, then breaks into heavy guitars. It returns to the classic style of Breaking Benjamin of soft and hard parts, and building up to a climax. The lyrics tell of someone who is near a dying loved one, and at the start of the song the caring person says they wish to join to the dying person, but later in the song the caring person accepts that their loved one is going to die. I like how clearly the bass comes through and how good the string section sounds, along with how good Ben's singing is. Overall this track is probably the best on the album so far. 5 out of 5 stars.
8. Lights Out
This is the third single on the album. The emotion and sound in this album are very angst driven and very threatening. The lyrics in this song tell of the Devil commenting on how is going to kill someone by corrupting their life then poisoning their body while saying he can't afford to care for the person because it would make him stop trying to kill the person. The opening of the song is a little weak, though they do switch between heavy and soft. I think they do a good job of painting the picture of the lyrics, and the song becomes highly repetitive. The only really enjoyable part of this song is the short guitar solo. Overall an annoyingly repetitive song. 2 out of 5 stars.
9. Dear Agony
This song reminds a little of Here We Are, but a bit heavier. The emotion is very sincere and passionate. The lyrics describe the singers struggle with a lung infection in how he wishes to fight it but he feels highly threatened by death. The song is beautiful sounding, but perhaps too beautiful, as one might expect the song to be more desperate then going into triumph and hope. Instead it goes from passion into triumph, and then desperation in the chorus, which doesn't make much sense to me. The song is repetitive and has no climax, but is overall enjoyable, albeit somewhat confusing. 4 out of 5 stars.
10. Into the Nothing
Yet another very angst driven song, the song goes from heavy to soft. From what I can gather of the lyrics the song is about a couple where one of the partners is evil, and the other partner is trying to redeem the other partner as they are trying to escape something evil coming into their lives. I like how the bass manages to be prominent but not overpowering (the bass is a bit reminiscent of Iron Maiden in sound.) The song remains interesting and actually caries me like their older songs do, so this song is effective at creating a good mood and picture. Overall very enjoyable, albeit a bit whiny. 3.5 out of stars.
11. Without You
This song has a very desperate and hopeful sound to it. The lyrics in this song tell of a partner in an abusive relationship who wants to make their partner see the error of their ways, but as the song ends the person realizes it is best to let the abusive one go. In the end the victim forgives the abuser. There is a slight hypnotic sense to this piece, and you can really tell Ben is emoting well in this song. Also the last chorus is very convincing, the climax is great and it leads into a very well written string section. My favorite song off the album, it is a great choice to close the album with. It's only shortcoming is that it doesn't really feel solid to me, just like all of the songs on this album. 5 out of 5 stars.
Audio Mixing:
The mixing in this album is a bit traditional and generic, but it works. The instruments come through very clearly, and the bass in songs like in Anthem of the Angels and Into the Nothing is very prominent but not overpowering. The guitars go from a kind of muddy distortion to a crystal clear reverberation, which is a strange contrast. The drums remain consistent in volume, but the volume is turned down at parts to bring the guitars and string sections (which works, but it is still unfortunate for the drummer.) From what I can tell the instruments remain in both speakers, and they only bring up volume for dramatic effect. I'm pleasantly surprised at parts by the mixing, though I feel the mixing on Phobia was a bit better.
Singing:
The singing is a bit lacking on this album. Ben's scream sounds more tired now rather than filled with energy like it used too. I guess this is bound to happen after so many years of touring and screaming at the top of his lungs (probably with out protecting his voice), I mean just look at Robert Plant and James Hetfield these days. That and his voice is bound to change as he gets older. My other issue is that Ben doesn't really emote as well as he did in Phobia, though he did a good job with With Out You. Ben's natural tone is good, but you can tell he's been smoking and that he is struggling with a lung infection. He does manage to sound good on songs like Hopeless and Anthem of the Angels. Lastly, Ben has finally enunciated his words well enough to create understandable phrases that don't sound awkward or out of time.
Instrumentation:
This is where the album truly suffers. I feel like in every song the instruments were only there for support of the vocals (which are lacking in there own way.) Plus the only solos are for guitar, no bass or drums. The structure is generally the same with their previous albums with the soft and heavy verse to chorus and building to a climax, but without many memorable climaxes. The tonality is generally miserable and very canned in.
What I didn't like:
The songs feel incomplete and canned with unconvincing singing. Plus there was an overall generic feeling to the album.
What I did like:
The string arrangements were very beautiful, and a couple of the songs are worth hearing.
Who would enjoy this album:
Fans of music about personal suffering, and people who like music with implied themes of Christianity.
Overall:
I know I may be sounding a little harsh here, but the album has managed to surprise me with a few of the songs being enjoyable to listen too (I was intending to give the album only one star). I think the album sounds the way it does is because of the singer being at risk of dying from a lung infection and the band almost breaking up (no pun intended). Breaking Benjamin is now on hiatus due to Ben being sick. I would rather have a mediocre album than the group splitting up, but that is what happened with Metallica's St. Anger (though this album is much similar to Re-Load), which shows that change isn't always a good thing. The events behind the writing doesn't excuse the song writing when comparing this album to Phobia because its like we went straight from Master of Puppets to Re-Load (a big unwanted change that feels incomplete and has a lot of filler). Overall the album is okay on its own that may grow on you eventually, but a let down when compared to Phobia because of the incomplete and generic sound. Next time I will start my requests blog by reviewing Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin.
Rating: ***
I Will Not Bow music video:
Give me a Sign music video:
Lights Out unofficial video:
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Breaking Benjamin- Phobia
I apologize for how long it has taken for me to write a follow up to We Are Not Alone, school has been hectic as of late. This is by far my favorite Breaking Benjamin Album in their discography. It has remained in my heart, soul, and mind since it came out in 2006 (has it really been five years already? Jeez, I'm getting old. lol) This is their third studio album and it has many fan favorite songs. This album is different from the previous two in the way it sounds, and today we will see if that change truly was for the better.
Title: Phobia
Year: 2006
Genre: Alternative Metal, Hard Rock, Alternative Blues, and Techno Rock
Artist(s): Breaking Benjamin
Copyright: © 2006 Holly Wood Records
Songs:
1. Phobia (Intro)
Truly something that sets this album apart from the previous two is the instrumental opening. We get to hear the band jamming out on their instruments to sounds like planes moving buy and flight stewardesses speaking in numerous languages (though that is ironic if we remember the meaning of Break my Fall.) We hear the noise of a door opening to signify the start of the album. A unique way to start an album that shows they can be very experimental. 5 out of 5 stars.
2. The Diary of Jane
This is one of Breaking Benjamin's most popular songs. This song fits well in the alternative metal genre because it is heavy, but isn't angry, rather it sounds very exciting. The lyrics tell of a man who is trying to win the heart of a woman he loves but she isn't paying attention to him, he eventually becomes so devoted he realizes just how much of his life has been ruined by the unrequited love. This song has a slow build up and a heavy introduction, it switches from light to heavy in verse and chorus from with the chorus being the heaviest. In this song he screams when appropriate, and the climax is right at the last chorus with the backing vocals making a quiet but interesting melody with Ben until we get a soft outro. A very enjoyable piece that sounds unique and builds nicely to a climax. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Breath
The second single off the album, this song is more low key than The Diary of Jane. This song has a very dark and serious feel to it. The lyrics tell of an ex couple who fight with each other very often and the singer is saying it is better if they stay apart. It starts with a slow build up in the intro and then goes to a heavy intro, followed by a soft verse heavy chorus pattern. The climax comes in on the "I'm waiting" lyrics. This piece is more relaxed than the previous song, but it remains just as enjoyable. 5 out of 5 stars.
4. You
This song is very low key with a soft verse and heavy chorus. It has kind of a depressing but mysterious feel to it. The lyrics are hard for me to decipher, but from what I can understand the singer feels like he has hit rock bottom but does not want to drag his lover down with him. This song is different from the previous two in the sense that in the sense that the climax is at the very end and even that is pretty low key. Musically simple, but still very enjoyable and very haunting. 5 out of 5 stars.
5. Evil Angel
This song has a very hopeful sound to it, which makes sense since the song is about the singer wishing for a savior to take him to a happier place. The song goes from soft to hard, and has an interesting guitar solo as the climax. This song is very exciting to listen too, and Ben's singing is very enjoyable in it. 5 out of 5 stars.
6. Until the End
This is the third single off this album. This song's emotion fits the tittle perfectly in that it is very triumphant against harsh odds. The lyrics tell of two people who fight very often, but the singer wants to win no matter what. This song manages to pull off being very hard rock oriented but also sounding happy at the same time, and it also has the first time I have heard this band swear on tempo so perfectly. A truly enjoyable and inspiring song. 5 out of 5 stars.
7. Dance With the Devil
This song is very different from the previous song. It is very low key but heavily dramatic at the same time. The lyrics tell of a man who is with a bad girlfriend and he is dancing with the devil by giving her another chance, at the end of the song he gives up on her and moves on. I used to dislike this song, but it has really grown on me. I like how hypnotic the guitars sound on the chorus, and how perfectly the entire band sets the mood musically. 5 out of 5 stars.
8. Topless
This song is very angst sounding, like if your stomach ulcer had a theme song. It is down tempo but still heavy. This all makes perfect sense considering the song is about a rapist and his victim talking to each other. This is the only song off the album that I don't really like, the instrumentation and the oddly harmonized singing I feel could have been a lot better if it were performed differently. That being said I do have to give them credit for making the music match the concept so nicely, that and I enjoy the instrumentation in the chorus. 3 out of 5 stars.
9. Here we Are
This song is another strong contrast to the previous one. This song is much more ballad like, meaning it is melodic and beautiful. The lyrics tell of an ex boyfriend who is talking to his former girlfriend about how pathetic he feels and how much of a drama queen she is. He wishes they could stop fighting and move on with their life. Well it uses the typical Breaking Benjamin song formula (soft to hard, build up to climax) it manages to really entrance me in the emotion of the song and feel for the character in it, it achieves this by again being very hypnotic. 5 out of 5 stars.
10. Unknown Soldier
This song is very triumphant, but not in a cheesy or typical way. Kudos to them for using a helicopter sound effectively. The lyrics tell of a soldier who is going to sacrifice him self to save someone he cares about, and that he looks forward to it. I like the overall feel of this song, the echo the guitar makes really helps to set the mood here. 5 out of 5 stars.
11. Had Enough
This is the angriest song Breaking Benjamin has ever written. Heavy and intense, the instrumentation lets you know that the singer is pissed. The lyrics tell of the singer being tired of fighting with an abusive con artist and that the singer will forever pity and hate the thief. I love this song because everything about it impresses from start to finish, with Ben screaming very convincingly "Heaven help you!" with the guitar solo in the background for the climax. If someone ever stole money from you, or if you had a greedy ex lover who broke your heart, this is the perfect song to dedicate to them. 6 out 5 stars
12. You Fight Me
This song is more down tempo and relaxed from Had Enough, but still very angst driven. The lyrics tell of two people, with one fighter loosing and the other dominating in a very menacing manner. This is where Breaking Benjamin got really experimental, it seems to me they wanted to do their own spin of combining rapping, techno, and hard rock. Or in other words their own original spin on Nu Metal, which makes me think Linkin Park served as an inspiration on this song. Some might say the lyrics are a little week and rushed during writing, but it flows nicely in the song so it doesn't matter to me. A very thought provoking piece. 5 out of 5 stars.
13. Phobia (Outro)
Similar yet different from the opening, this one plays more like a finishing climax in the sense that it is heavier as opposed to a slow build up with a very long guitar solo. It is similar in that there are noises and voices. The song ends with a an electric violin playing (the only time you would hear a bowed instrument if you have the Itunes version of this CD) and the door from the intro fittingly closing.
14. Diary of Jane Acoustic
If you have the hard copy CD or one of the early releases then you have this wonderful rendition of an otherwise great song. Featuring Sebastian Davin of Dropping Daylight on piano and David Eggar on cello, this piece is their most emotional and beautiful ballad to date as the combination of piano and cello along with Ben's heartfelt singing really help bring out the emotional nature of the unrequited love in this piece. The lyrics are the same as before, and the song is still very familiar sounding but different in a good way. 5 out of 5 stars.
Audio Mixing:
The band uses similar tricks as on their previous album, just with more noises and people talking this time around to help set moods and signify the beginning and end of the album. The sound quality is the best I have ever heard so far from this band. Again the audio quality changes to fit the mood of the song as it did in We Are Not Alone, but it retains a strong sense of consistency as well. I wouldn't say it sounds clear exactly, I would actually use the words shiny and warm to describe the sound because of the echo effects the guitars used along with the somewhat muddy and deep bass really makes me think of a crystal being held in front of a fire. I tip my hat off to audio engineers Ben Grosse and Paul Pavao for the job they did here.
Singing:
The singing on this album has improved greatly over the previous album. Ben emotes every line perfectly, and the swearing no longer comes off as awkward or off tempo. His singing on tracks like Evil Angel shows just how beautiful a voice Ben Burnely has, while every other song shows how proper emoting can make a voice very versatile. My only real complaint is that Ben still isn't pronouncing some of his words clearly which create moments similar to the swearing from We Are Not Alone in that they are somewhat off timing and sound strange. Otherwise the singing is top notch.
Instrumentation:
Four words this time: Versatile, emotional, hypnotic, and complex. Most of the songs follow the pattern of a soft verse and heavy chorus, but the band does change it up in a few songs. What really amazes me about the instrumentation is how in every song the instruments create the mood and picture of the lyrics so perfectly (I have yet to hear a song as angry as Had Enough, though to be fair I am going to review the Tool discography someday. lol) even in the song Topless. Another thing that is nice is that solos start to make a comeback in this album, though you need to know where to look (like the bass in You, or the Drums in the "Hold on" section in Dance with the Devil, and the guitar solo in the Outro.) The instrumentation is top notch and the best I've heard from this band.
What I didn't like:
The song Topless was not really my style.
What I did like:
To quote my self from my Saturate review, everything else especially since the lyrics are a a lot less vague now.
Who would enjoy this album:
Lyrics about rape and sex aside, I truly think this is an album everyone should have a chance to listen too.
Overall:
This album is radically different from their previous two albums (though some similarities remain), as such Breaking Benjamin is saying good bye to their Grunge roots. Also, after going over the album it is safe for me to say that in my eyes this is Breaking Benjamin's musical opus; their masterpiece. With beautiful singing, versatile and mood setting music, and great audio production Phobia is truly a wonderful album that everyone should have the chance to hear. Next time I will close their discography with their latest album, Dear Agony. Expect it to be less positive than the previous reviews and also shorter in style.
Rating: *****
Diary of Jane Music Video:
Breath Music Video:
Unofficial Unknown Soldier Music Video:
Title: Phobia
Year: 2006
Genre: Alternative Metal, Hard Rock, Alternative Blues, and Techno Rock
Artist(s): Breaking Benjamin
Copyright: © 2006 Holly Wood Records
Songs:
1. Phobia (Intro)
Truly something that sets this album apart from the previous two is the instrumental opening. We get to hear the band jamming out on their instruments to sounds like planes moving buy and flight stewardesses speaking in numerous languages (though that is ironic if we remember the meaning of Break my Fall.) We hear the noise of a door opening to signify the start of the album. A unique way to start an album that shows they can be very experimental. 5 out of 5 stars.
2. The Diary of Jane
This is one of Breaking Benjamin's most popular songs. This song fits well in the alternative metal genre because it is heavy, but isn't angry, rather it sounds very exciting. The lyrics tell of a man who is trying to win the heart of a woman he loves but she isn't paying attention to him, he eventually becomes so devoted he realizes just how much of his life has been ruined by the unrequited love. This song has a slow build up and a heavy introduction, it switches from light to heavy in verse and chorus from with the chorus being the heaviest. In this song he screams when appropriate, and the climax is right at the last chorus with the backing vocals making a quiet but interesting melody with Ben until we get a soft outro. A very enjoyable piece that sounds unique and builds nicely to a climax. 5 out of 5 stars.
3. Breath
The second single off the album, this song is more low key than The Diary of Jane. This song has a very dark and serious feel to it. The lyrics tell of an ex couple who fight with each other very often and the singer is saying it is better if they stay apart. It starts with a slow build up in the intro and then goes to a heavy intro, followed by a soft verse heavy chorus pattern. The climax comes in on the "I'm waiting" lyrics. This piece is more relaxed than the previous song, but it remains just as enjoyable. 5 out of 5 stars.
4. You
This song is very low key with a soft verse and heavy chorus. It has kind of a depressing but mysterious feel to it. The lyrics are hard for me to decipher, but from what I can understand the singer feels like he has hit rock bottom but does not want to drag his lover down with him. This song is different from the previous two in the sense that in the sense that the climax is at the very end and even that is pretty low key. Musically simple, but still very enjoyable and very haunting. 5 out of 5 stars.
5. Evil Angel
This song has a very hopeful sound to it, which makes sense since the song is about the singer wishing for a savior to take him to a happier place. The song goes from soft to hard, and has an interesting guitar solo as the climax. This song is very exciting to listen too, and Ben's singing is very enjoyable in it. 5 out of 5 stars.
6. Until the End
This is the third single off this album. This song's emotion fits the tittle perfectly in that it is very triumphant against harsh odds. The lyrics tell of two people who fight very often, but the singer wants to win no matter what. This song manages to pull off being very hard rock oriented but also sounding happy at the same time, and it also has the first time I have heard this band swear on tempo so perfectly. A truly enjoyable and inspiring song. 5 out of 5 stars.
7. Dance With the Devil
This song is very different from the previous song. It is very low key but heavily dramatic at the same time. The lyrics tell of a man who is with a bad girlfriend and he is dancing with the devil by giving her another chance, at the end of the song he gives up on her and moves on. I used to dislike this song, but it has really grown on me. I like how hypnotic the guitars sound on the chorus, and how perfectly the entire band sets the mood musically. 5 out of 5 stars.
8. Topless
This song is very angst sounding, like if your stomach ulcer had a theme song. It is down tempo but still heavy. This all makes perfect sense considering the song is about a rapist and his victim talking to each other. This is the only song off the album that I don't really like, the instrumentation and the oddly harmonized singing I feel could have been a lot better if it were performed differently. That being said I do have to give them credit for making the music match the concept so nicely, that and I enjoy the instrumentation in the chorus. 3 out of 5 stars.
9. Here we Are
This song is another strong contrast to the previous one. This song is much more ballad like, meaning it is melodic and beautiful. The lyrics tell of an ex boyfriend who is talking to his former girlfriend about how pathetic he feels and how much of a drama queen she is. He wishes they could stop fighting and move on with their life. Well it uses the typical Breaking Benjamin song formula (soft to hard, build up to climax) it manages to really entrance me in the emotion of the song and feel for the character in it, it achieves this by again being very hypnotic. 5 out of 5 stars.
10. Unknown Soldier
This song is very triumphant, but not in a cheesy or typical way. Kudos to them for using a helicopter sound effectively. The lyrics tell of a soldier who is going to sacrifice him self to save someone he cares about, and that he looks forward to it. I like the overall feel of this song, the echo the guitar makes really helps to set the mood here. 5 out of 5 stars.
11. Had Enough
This is the angriest song Breaking Benjamin has ever written. Heavy and intense, the instrumentation lets you know that the singer is pissed. The lyrics tell of the singer being tired of fighting with an abusive con artist and that the singer will forever pity and hate the thief. I love this song because everything about it impresses from start to finish, with Ben screaming very convincingly "Heaven help you!" with the guitar solo in the background for the climax. If someone ever stole money from you, or if you had a greedy ex lover who broke your heart, this is the perfect song to dedicate to them. 6 out 5 stars
12. You Fight Me
This song is more down tempo and relaxed from Had Enough, but still very angst driven. The lyrics tell of two people, with one fighter loosing and the other dominating in a very menacing manner. This is where Breaking Benjamin got really experimental, it seems to me they wanted to do their own spin of combining rapping, techno, and hard rock. Or in other words their own original spin on Nu Metal, which makes me think Linkin Park served as an inspiration on this song. Some might say the lyrics are a little week and rushed during writing, but it flows nicely in the song so it doesn't matter to me. A very thought provoking piece. 5 out of 5 stars.
13. Phobia (Outro)
Similar yet different from the opening, this one plays more like a finishing climax in the sense that it is heavier as opposed to a slow build up with a very long guitar solo. It is similar in that there are noises and voices. The song ends with a an electric violin playing (the only time you would hear a bowed instrument if you have the Itunes version of this CD) and the door from the intro fittingly closing.
14. Diary of Jane Acoustic
If you have the hard copy CD or one of the early releases then you have this wonderful rendition of an otherwise great song. Featuring Sebastian Davin of Dropping Daylight on piano and David Eggar on cello, this piece is their most emotional and beautiful ballad to date as the combination of piano and cello along with Ben's heartfelt singing really help bring out the emotional nature of the unrequited love in this piece. The lyrics are the same as before, and the song is still very familiar sounding but different in a good way. 5 out of 5 stars.
Audio Mixing:
The band uses similar tricks as on their previous album, just with more noises and people talking this time around to help set moods and signify the beginning and end of the album. The sound quality is the best I have ever heard so far from this band. Again the audio quality changes to fit the mood of the song as it did in We Are Not Alone, but it retains a strong sense of consistency as well. I wouldn't say it sounds clear exactly, I would actually use the words shiny and warm to describe the sound because of the echo effects the guitars used along with the somewhat muddy and deep bass really makes me think of a crystal being held in front of a fire. I tip my hat off to audio engineers Ben Grosse and Paul Pavao for the job they did here.
Singing:
The singing on this album has improved greatly over the previous album. Ben emotes every line perfectly, and the swearing no longer comes off as awkward or off tempo. His singing on tracks like Evil Angel shows just how beautiful a voice Ben Burnely has, while every other song shows how proper emoting can make a voice very versatile. My only real complaint is that Ben still isn't pronouncing some of his words clearly which create moments similar to the swearing from We Are Not Alone in that they are somewhat off timing and sound strange. Otherwise the singing is top notch.
Instrumentation:
Four words this time: Versatile, emotional, hypnotic, and complex. Most of the songs follow the pattern of a soft verse and heavy chorus, but the band does change it up in a few songs. What really amazes me about the instrumentation is how in every song the instruments create the mood and picture of the lyrics so perfectly (I have yet to hear a song as angry as Had Enough, though to be fair I am going to review the Tool discography someday. lol) even in the song Topless. Another thing that is nice is that solos start to make a comeback in this album, though you need to know where to look (like the bass in You, or the Drums in the "Hold on" section in Dance with the Devil, and the guitar solo in the Outro.) The instrumentation is top notch and the best I've heard from this band.
What I didn't like:
The song Topless was not really my style.
What I did like:
To quote my self from my Saturate review, everything else especially since the lyrics are a a lot less vague now.
Who would enjoy this album:
Lyrics about rape and sex aside, I truly think this is an album everyone should have a chance to listen too.
Overall:
This album is radically different from their previous two albums (though some similarities remain), as such Breaking Benjamin is saying good bye to their Grunge roots. Also, after going over the album it is safe for me to say that in my eyes this is Breaking Benjamin's musical opus; their masterpiece. With beautiful singing, versatile and mood setting music, and great audio production Phobia is truly a wonderful album that everyone should have the chance to hear. Next time I will close their discography with their latest album, Dear Agony. Expect it to be less positive than the previous reviews and also shorter in style.
Rating: *****
Diary of Jane Music Video:
Breath Music Video:
Unofficial Unknown Soldier Music Video:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)