This album is likely to be the 'dark' before the 'dawn'
It has been a grueling 6 years for Breaking Benjamin. Since the release of Dear Agony, the band has gone through what would honestly tear most groups apart. Benjamin Burnley's recurring illnesses forcing the band to cancel many many shows, then there was the lawsuit between Ben and his ex-bandmates. It felt unlikely we would hear from the group again. However, Breaking Benjamin have survived despite the turmoil, and have returned with an album that is far better than most would expect considering the circumstances.
Dark Before Dawn marks a departure for the band, despite the album sticking to the formulaic lyrical content and production values of prior albums. But bare in mind, this entire album was written before the band's current lineup was brought in. Ben has always been the bands primary composer and songwriter, so this album was bound to stay close to the band's roots. However, now that the band has four new members, it is likely we will see more experimentation in future.
The album has its highs and lows, as does any album. But in this case, the highs outweigh the lows. By far the album's standout track is 'Ashes of Eden', a slow, soft ballad that truly stands apart from the rest of the albums heavy chugging alt rock sound. Lyrically, it is nothing new. Burnley, while certainly talented, isn't the best when it comes to the songwriting. His lyrics aren't terrible, but they are often recycled album to album. The instrumentation is something to behold however, with every instrument playing its part and creating a soundscape of soft guitars, with Bens soft singing layered on top. The song is easily the most beautiful and elegant Ben has written, and is going to be the song the album is noted for.
The rest of the album is what you would expect from Breaking Benjamin; Heavy alt rock with chugging guitars, pounding drums and Burnleys vocals. Some songs like 'Failure' and 'Defeated' are so similar to songs we've had in the past (So Cold and Had Enough respectively) that it feels as though Ben didn't put much effort in. However, the songs are decent, and worth listening to for longtime fans. Tracks like 'Bury Me Alive' and 'Hollow' go for more of an alt metal sound, with heavier breakdowns, and some screamed vocals.
Dark Before Dawn will please fans of Breaking Benjamin, and is definitely worth listening to. For anyone else, there is likely to be something here for you to enjoy, but it will not change how you feel about the band. Hopefully, with the next release, we'll get something a bit more experimental.
[It is worth noting the chord progression in 'Bury me Alive' sounds similar to that in Korn's 'Justin', and with Korn being one of Benjamins influences, it is entirely possible 'Justin' was the inspiration for this track.]
It has been a grueling 6 years for Breaking Benjamin. Since the release of Dear Agony, the band has gone through what would honestly tear most groups apart. Benjamin Burnley's recurring illnesses forcing the band to cancel many many shows, then there was the lawsuit between Ben and his ex-bandmates. It felt unlikely we would hear from the group again. However, Breaking Benjamin have survived despite the turmoil, and have returned with an album that is far better than most would expect considering the circumstances.
Dark Before Dawn marks a departure for the band, despite the album sticking to the formulaic lyrical content and production values of prior albums. But bare in mind, this entire album was written before the band's current lineup was brought in. Ben has always been the bands primary composer and songwriter, so this album was bound to stay close to the band's roots. However, now that the band has four new members, it is likely we will see more experimentation in future.
The album has its highs and lows, as does any album. But in this case, the highs outweigh the lows. By far the album's standout track is 'Ashes of Eden', a slow, soft ballad that truly stands apart from the rest of the albums heavy chugging alt rock sound. Lyrically, it is nothing new. Burnley, while certainly talented, isn't the best when it comes to the songwriting. His lyrics aren't terrible, but they are often recycled album to album. The instrumentation is something to behold however, with every instrument playing its part and creating a soundscape of soft guitars, with Bens soft singing layered on top. The song is easily the most beautiful and elegant Ben has written, and is going to be the song the album is noted for.
The rest of the album is what you would expect from Breaking Benjamin; Heavy alt rock with chugging guitars, pounding drums and Burnleys vocals. Some songs like 'Failure' and 'Defeated' are so similar to songs we've had in the past (So Cold and Had Enough respectively) that it feels as though Ben didn't put much effort in. However, the songs are decent, and worth listening to for longtime fans. Tracks like 'Bury Me Alive' and 'Hollow' go for more of an alt metal sound, with heavier breakdowns, and some screamed vocals.
Dark Before Dawn will please fans of Breaking Benjamin, and is definitely worth listening to. For anyone else, there is likely to be something here for you to enjoy, but it will not change how you feel about the band. Hopefully, with the next release, we'll get something a bit more experimental.
[It is worth noting the chord progression in 'Bury me Alive' sounds similar to that in Korn's 'Justin', and with Korn being one of Benjamins influences, it is entirely possible 'Justin' was the inspiration for this track.]