Breaking Benjamin have roared back with a new album. And it’s good, really really good. Honestly, it’s their second best album out of six. Nothing will ever beat 2004’s ‘We Are Not Alone’. But this one comes close. 2018’s ‘Ember’ is the second album since leading man Benjamin Burnley revamped the once broken up band. And this time around he isn’t the sole songwriter on the album. There’s input from the other members. The result? One heavy as album. Probably Breaking Benjamin’s heaviest. And it’s just one slammin’ track after another this time around.
The album opens and closes with short instrumental tracks: ‘Lyra’ and ‘Vega’. The former opens the album with a very Breaking Benjamin appropriate piano bit that leads into the killer ‘Feed the Wolf’. Which is just pure Breaking Benjamin. Heavy heavy groove riffs with lots of post grunge melody. ‘Red, Cold River’ keeps the momentum up. A perfect, modern mixture of melody and metal. This band was flying the melodic metal flag when no one else was and now it’s paying off big time. ‘Red, Cold River’ is quintessential BB. Then the record slows down a pinch with ‘Tourniquet’. It’s a typical BB ballad. With a softer, yet grooved verse that builds into the epic chorus, followed by a great riff. ‘Psycho’ is one of my personal favorites on the album. Who couldn’t love that classic BB breakdown midway through? And the classic, sing along chorus? C’mon!
‘The Dark of You’ takes a step back in pace. It’s more of a pure ballad than ‘Tourniquet’. Not to say that it isn’t bad or anything. I don’t think there’s a bad song on the album. But with all the great tracks on it ‘The Dark of You’ kind of takes a back seat. Then ‘Down’ sort of keeps that mood alive. There’s a phatter groove and of course, the obligatory BB riff after the chorus. And the verses are strong. But the chorus itself I can take or leave. ‘Torn in Two’ is one of the strongest tracks on the album. A great groove and riff/bass line saunter under Benjamin Burnley’s voice on the verses. One of the albums centerpieces ‘Blood’ is next. Another strong track. If it doesn’t get you up and going I don’t know what will. ‘Save Yourself’ keeps up the bad asserey. The drum tom beat on the verse is a nice change of pace. BB sometimes gets into a valley of sound if you will. And sometimes that results in songs and albums sounding a little too similar. It’s a good thing that their signature sound is so excellent. The album then closes with ‘Close Your Eyes’ before the postlude ‘Vega’. It’s an excellent closer. A raging, Pantera like riff. Some of the phattest drums I’ve ever heard. This is how you want to end a record. On a major high note. And this album does that tenfold.
Overall this not only a strong Breaking Benjamin album, it’s a great melodic metal album. Sure, it’s not perfect. There are some moments when the BB formula seems a little repetitive. But that’s just part of the package with this band. You get the albums for the phat grooves and breakdown riffs. Which are always a step above. This is the heaviest the band has done for sure. So if you like the heavy side of Breaking Benjamin I would highly recommend this album. It’s one of their best. Easily their second best. Four out of five stars. Be sure to catch BB on tour this year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu5o84GFA24
