Album Rating: 3.5

At least no one seems to hate the album. I can handle an overall "decent" rating. The reasons are valid for why people may not like this, lacking the variety of their past albums and whatnot.

Album Rating: 3.0

its in no way a disappointment, but it isnt a triumph.

Album Rating: 3.5

I can live with people rating this 2.5-3, even though I think there are more strengths to this album than people here say.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Absolutely agree, I think people are kinda overlooking it.

Album Rating: 3.5

I just see the progression that they've made with this album, some people see it as playing it too safe, but I think it shows the maturity in their sound. They've found a sound that works for them, and they stick with it.. The consistency on this album IS progression to me.

Album Rating: 3.0

Tiesthatbind, thanks for the rec. A heavier version of Phobia sounds good, so this will probably be the next album I buy

Album Rating: 3.5

Sweet. You won't regret it.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Many people also argument that their lyrics suck. I don't get it. Either this people are talkin' about

the themes which no doub tend to be overcovered, or they're just ignorant and can't understand what

the guy is trying to say. Ben is one of the best lyricists I've seen around. He uses lots of figures

of speech that I don't see in other's lyrics that much. People need to know how to distinguish between

bad lyrics and overcovered lyrics. It's a very diferent thing.

Album Rating: 3.5

"People need to know how to distinguish between

bad lyrics and overcovered lyrics. It's a very diferent thing."



^ This. Ben's lyrics are part of the draw here, he may have reused themes, but his lyric-writing has gotten better. Just look at Give Me A Sign and Anthem of the Angels, those are probably the best lyrics on here, not because they use a lot of "new" words, but because the lyrics help deliver Ben's emotional performance in these songs.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

In this album all the lyrics are awesome, but I think that the best one is Dear Agony, even if

musically might be one of the weakest. Also Into the Nothing, my favorite of the album, even if

(you're right) it could be easily placed in We Are Not Alone. Oh , I almost feel bad for choosing a

favorite in here, all the album is spetacular !

Album Rating: 3.5

Lyrics on Dear Agony work to create the overall effect of the song, I just think overall the song is a bit overdramatic, too much of a "power ballad" for Breaking Benjamin. It's quite good for a weak track though. Nothing has bad lyrics, there's just a little repetition of themes and words.



And when I said Into the Nothing could fit on WANA, that wasn't a bad thing, I just meant it had similar structure to songs from that album.



DarkShowstopper, is this your favorite Breaking Benjamin release? If so we agree on a lot here.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Dear Agony? Yeah, absolutely. I think it improved in a lot of way, not only in lyrics, but also in riffs, in melodies, they even brought more solos, and Ben's voice is better than ever. Just because they didn't put some catchy intros, doesn't mean the album sucks.



Yeah, that's what I meant, it has a similar structure to songs in WANA, but that doesn't make it a bad thing. It is my favorite, the lyrics say a lot to me, his voice is good, the riff is catchy. It's awesome xD





I can't decide between Phobia and WANA (even if I rated them differently), but Dear Agony is certainly my favorite and Saturate my least favorite xD

Album Rating: 3.5

Glad to see someone that thinks as highly of this as me. And I agree with just about everything you've said. I'm surprised people don't see the progression on here. "More of the same." Seriously? The atmospheric sound of Anthem of the Angels? Show me a song like that on their previous albums.



And the only songs that I find to be weak songs on here are darn good for weak songs.

I found this album to be boring as all hell.

Album Rating: 3.5

This album keeps the focus on Ben, which I think is a good thing. Although Aaron Fink could be given a bit more spotlight on guitar, Ben's vocals have improved so dramatically that keeping more focus on melody works here. This album was only disappointing on first listen for me, after that I found it only got better.

like this cd

Album Rating: 3.5

I thought you would, theacademy.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

As usual, I don't agree with fromtheinside. As I said, that's usual, so I'm not wasting my time arguing about it.





Vocally, I noticed a great evolution. If other's can't see that, I don't know. That's why music, as any art, is very subjective.



But for example go to Sooner or later. Look at the first verses: "I want a normal life/ Just like a new-born child/ I am a lover hater/ I am an instigator (...)" Look at his voice here.



Now go to, for example, Into the nothing. "Screaming on the inside/ I am frail and withered (...)". Or Without you. "Search for the answers I knew all along/ I lost my self/ We all fall down (...)".



How much better is Ben's voice in the verses? C'mon. -.-

Album Rating: 3.5

Yep. I could see a case made for why Phobia is a little better, diversity and all that, but Ben's vocals are the main appeal to this album, and the tight structure of the songs only works to benefit that. The riffs are better, and the solos are well-placed, even if there could be more. (Hopefully there will be in the future.)

Album Rating: 3.5

It's not the same album 3 times. The ballad material on this album is way different (and better) than anything they've ever released, Ben's vocals are better, the only album this is comparable to is Phobia, and that's only because Ben's vocal style is similar. This album has elements of the other albums, but uses them to its advantage i.e. combining the band's aggressive and melodic elements in Hopeless and Lights Out.



And yes, I will continue to argue this, there IS progression. Just because they're not making 8 minute epics doesn't mean there's no progression. The simplified structure of the songs, the improved song-writing and vocals and better riffs, the atmospheric sound they started developing on Phobia, the strings on Anthem of the Angels and Without You, the murky semi-progressive sound of What Lies Beneath, etc...



The only problem I see is that this album runs together a bit, and has moments that are almost copied from Phobia. But I don't find that to drag down this album at all. This isn't coming from a fanboy, this is coming from someone who has observed the change throughout BB's discography. Like it or not, this is NOT the same as their last albums. Not even close.