Album Rating: 3.0

You're looking for "identical" by the sound of it DarkShowstopper. We said "similar".



To me, it's in the pacing, music & also the lyrics. Take the 2 or 3 slower songs. They are all around the same pace with the same type of music (exclude the closer on the music part). There should have been an even slower acoustic piece which would have differentiated both pace & music. Just something small like that... in just 1 track... would have made the world of difference.



'Hopeless' sounds like a wannabe 'Crawl'.



'Into The Nothing' sounds like bits & pieces of prettty much every song before it.



And as I said in the review, Ben has such experiences to use for his lyrics, but the spread of themes does not go far enough.

If you want identical check out Scouting For Girls ;-)

Album Rating: 3.0

Did I tell you that I listened to that album Ross? The problem was that I never rate an album on only 1 listen & I really don't want to listen to it again. LOL.

Haha, thats similar to how I was with Brokencyde and Short Stack. In the end I succumbed and gave them both 1's as I couldn't bear to listen to either album fully.

Album Rating: 3.0

Haha. I have better self-control than you Ross.



Speaking of Short Stack, I guess I should give them a listen... Being all patriotic and all.

Good luck

Album Rating: 3.0

Oh come on, there's a track called "Shimmy A Go Go". I won't need luck!

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Well, you're right I guess.. I said I agree with you about the lack of the acoustic parts and the intros ..



The lyrics.. huh.. I think he, Ben, is an amazing writer.. He really is..

but again, maybe you're right and he needed to look for other themes..

But if you talk about quality lirycally, I think he keeps improving..

Lyrics are perhaps the most important thing in the music for me ..



And, believe me, I really like Rise Against.. but I do have a problem with some of their (forgive me if I'm too though on that) senseless lyrics. Remember i said "some" and not "all".

Album Rating: 3.0

Haha. I like your last line clarification there. I think it's fair to state that Rise Against digressed lyrically on 'Appeal To Reason', but they set themselves such a high bar on their previous 2 albums. Some of the relatable stuff that was on 'SSotCC' & 'TS&TW' was so darn good. The fact that it was free from bull$hit metaphors actually made it more real & honest imo.

Hey DaveyBoy,

Thanks. I agree about your comment on an acoustic track. That would have worked a lot better.

By the way, I'm a terrible music reviewer. I thought I was gonna get a lot of crap for that track-by-track to tell you the truth.

Dear Agony feels a little different from Breaking Benjamin's other albums. Even though many will say they don't sound different, I'm not talking about on terms of how the music sounds. I'm talking about the way the music is presented and what the lyrics are saying. Really, Dear Agony is more emotional than the other albums. Songs like Anthem of the Angels and Dear Agony, both good songs, make you feel something in that moment.

Also, when you listen to the song, you hear Burnley talking about himself, and his torments. As someone said about the album in their review, if Phobia was about Burnley's fears, Dear Agony is about what he deals with day by day. It also has some Christian elements in songs; for example, the song "Give Me A Sign" has the verse "God, help me, I've come undone." Does it mean Burnley is becoming a Christian? I'm not sure, but still, there are little points where it does sound a little like a Christian band, which doesn't bother me.

Also, I was surprised this had no f-bombs in it, since all they're other albums were explicit. Just wanted to point that out...

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Ben is not a Christian and is not becoming one. He believes in God in the way that [acording to his

beliefs] there is a higher power behinh all of this..

This album is the most mature and the most emotional in my view.



Yeah Davey, they got some good lyrics

And Alter Bridge ? The "Blackbird" album has awesome lyrics ! I can hardly wait for the new album..

but it's only released next year -.-

Album Rating: 3.0

You 2 are confusing me with your "dark" user-names! Haha.



Does this feel different to their other albums? Yeah, sort of. In a way, it's more streamlined, but I don't think it's necessarily a good thing to be honest. That's getting back to the lack of variety factor again, so let's not go there.



Oooh, Alter Bridge are still going? I thought they may have bit the dust since Creed just released a new album. If so, that's good, because I also liked 'Blackbird'.

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

Noooo...

Don't even say that.... I mean they're really one of my favorites..



Well, they're gonna release a new album after this Creed thing (the tour and the album).. so maybe in the begining of 2010 we'll hear from them..



Davey, I think one thing you can't deny is that Ben improved a LOT vocally this album. vocals are really great in my view :b

Album Rating: 3.0 | Sound Off

By the way:

[this is about an argument quite a lot behind]

Ben is generic ? Ben is whinny? Ben forces into things ?

Generic is Nickelback, whiny is Tokio Hotel and the music style I know that forces into things for sure is death meal and black metal. Not Ben Burnley for sure -.-

Album Rating: 3.0

I like Ben's voice. Never said I didn't. Did he improve here? Hmmm, I'm not so sure. Definitely not a "LOT". Maybe marginally, but it's negated by the other factors I mentioned in the review.



I dislike using the word "generic". If I use it at all (see my Editors review, it's usually used sarcastically). I understand what the word means, but feel it can be overcome if you're just really good.

Did he name the band after himself? How lame.

Keep your eyes peeled for Breaking Romgsom

Album Rating: 3.0

Yeah, he did Romulous. Read the sentence in my review about his various fears, etc... That should sum it up.



I prefer the band name Breaking Super Grover.

So I tried reading the page of this thread, and got so confused by the number of Dark.... usernames I gave up.