Review Summary: Not a largely successful album in an attempt to burst out into the music industry, yet it is an excellent attempt.
When you think of successful debut albums, you’d think of bands such as Metallica, Bullet For My Valentine or Megadeth, and Breaking Benjamin’s
Saturate would surely not come to mind. That’s because-for the most part- it wasn’t. The singles that managed to weave their way onto mainstream radio received a largely negative review, and Breaking Benjamin remained unknown. But look aside from the petty critics and picky public, and take a peek at what Breaking Benjamin really created with their first album.
Saturate is one of the decades better rock albums, and this is for many reasons. Benjamin Burnley’s vocals-although lacking in certain areas- have a very melodic touch to them, yet in songs such as
Sugarcoat he demonstrates his ability to growl out vicious, harsher vocals. In choruses throughout the album his singing bleeds with emotion and creates a memorable finish. Burnley further proves that he has the ability to sing with his hushed, poignant vocals on
Forever, and this track would really be close to unbearable if it wasn’t for Burnley’s singing to save its ass. The lyrics seem rather incoherent and based on nothing in particular, yet they are catchy enough for the average listener to be singing it on their way to school.
Saturate is unlike many other alt rock efforts, due to the fact that the crunch of the guitars add an extra kick to an already fairly heavy album. The tone used by the guitarist really provides some good head-banging material. Even though
Saturate isn’t close to the heaviest album released, the character of the guitars makes it a respectable listen for those metal-heads that reign among us. If anything, some songs really lack a solo to put the icing on the cake. However some of the melodies played during the choruses
Skin and Medicate are very attractive and certainly add to the atmosphere that Benjamin’s vocals generate. The use of acoustic guitars (
Next to Nothing and Home) really enhances the sweetness within the song and often completes the eventual product. The ensemble of strings that are added to the song
No Games are a valuable asset, adding an extra layer of feeling to the ballad-like verse of the track.
Fast-paced, loud and snappy, the drums on
Saturate are absolutely exemplary. Where the song seems to dry out (ironically,
Water is a good example), it is quite often revived by the raw energy of the drums which add an extra punch to the track, much like guarana adds a punch to ‘V’. The triggers used on the bass kick truly boost and support the bass-line of the songs in
Saturate. Every time the Breaking Benjamin drummer slams his heel onto the pedal, you can hear the kick pounding away with the rest of the song. In the introductions of certain songs, the bass drum stands out more than ever, creating a perfect fist-pumping experience. These brilliant moments where it all clicks is in the songs
Skin and the eventual beginning of
Phase.
Saturate will most likely not go down in history as one of the greats, but for a debut album, it is a very solid effort and worth a listen too.
3.8/5
Recommended Tracks
Phase
Medicate
Home
Next to Nothing
