Review Summary: This is not an perfect album, but it is damn close to be. Read my review, and you know all of my opinions on this great CD.
Breaking Benjamin has always been one of my favorite bands, so I was of course eagerly awaiting Phobia when it was in the making.
Phobia is defently a great acomplisment by Breaking Benjamin, and is my personal favorite of there CD's by far. The production is clearly much better in this album, since the great improvement of the sound. Althogh i must admit that at first, I didnt really think much of it, but then after a second hearing I simply fell in love with it.
Intro: This consist entirely of instrumentals sounds, and no vocals what so ever. At first hearing this might be a song that you just wanna get over with so you can get to the "real" songs. But if you give the Intro a chance it actually sounds pretty cool, and have a nice melodi and tune to it, and really sets the mood of it in my opinion.
7/10
The Diary of Jane: This is a great first song (if you don't really wanna call an intro, a song) to start an album with. The song itself has a nice start of instruments, that slowly builds up to the part where "all hell breaks loose". The verses are alright, not great, but then the chorus is great and catchy, and you almost cant help singing along after you heard it a couple of times. The song has a great mood to it, great drum work (the new drummer is far superior to the old one in my opinion) has good lyrics, and is pretty moving. The vocalist, Ben Burnley are also very good in the chorus. The only real weak point (IMO) are the verses, but there are pretty short, and it is not like they are terrible, they are just okay. Over all I think that it is one of those songs you like the more you hear it.
9/10
Breath: This is reallly one of those songs you like instantly. The lyrics are great, catchy and something you really wanna sing along to. Ben is (as always) great. The chorus are something you could sing along to all day. The guitar solo is great. The song is actually very uplifting in my opinion. There isnt really anything to dislike about it, but it is not like you can never get tired of it, but it is overall a very good song.
9/10
You: This is more of a quiet song compared to the others, and at first you are kinda thinking: "mah....". But if you give it a couple of chances and such, you will realise it is quite a well made song that is rather good, and is very emoitinale. The lyrics are well done, a bit subtle, and is (as I already stated about the song) very emoitinale. It is spine chilling (in a good way of course) when Ben Burnley screams:" YOOOOU!!" again and again, near the end... All that said, it can seem quite dull, but if you let it grow on you, you will realise, that it is a rather good song.
7/10
Evil Angel: In terms of style it is really kinda like "Breath". First it goes into some wild and cool guitar stuff (I honestly don't know much about instruments, so I cant really go into further detail and explain more). Then suddenly it goes into some kinda soft vocals, which is performed greatly by Ben. Then comes the chorus, which is really what sells the song (like most of the Breaking Benjamin songs). Ben Burnley really screams his lungs out, and again you almost get chills down you spine (which is again, in a good way:p). Then comes a very clean transition to the soft voclas, in the second verse. This song, contains some of ther best lyrics yet, and which is very moving, and like "Breath" is kinda uplifting (IMO).
9.5/10
Until The End: This a good, solid song, with nice guitar riffs, and great drum work. It contains good vocals and lyrics. The chorus is good, and is something you can easily sing along to (perhaps not as good as the lead singer can, but still...). Like all the other it contains alot of emotions, and of course a good message, if you will: "never give up". Although it is a bit drag'd out in the end. All that being said, it is not one of ther best and greatest song, but it is defently a very good and solid song.
7.5/10
Dance With The Devil: This is probably one of ther more moody, and darkere songs. It also a bit slower in places, but is not always a bad thing. The slower pace helps bring up the tension in the song. The song's intro is altso vastly different (and slower in pace) than the others. The lyrics are interesting. The vocals is also good, and follows the mood of the song. Pre - Chorus is one of my favorite places in the song, cause after you hear the slow verse, the pre - chorus suddenly picks up a fast pace (while you hear lyrics with alot of tension), so it gets even more suspensefull, and then finally leading into the chorus.
8.5/10
Topless: I know its some people's favorite of the album, but this one has always been my least favorite of the CD, and still is to this day. This one is more in the style of ther previous albums, and I have nothing against the old style, in fact I really like the old albums (although Phobia is my favorite), I just really dont care for this song. There is nothing really wrong with the song, it just dosent do anything for me like all the others. I just in some way find it unispiring and a bit dull... there is really nothing in it that makes me think: "Oh, this is cool" or "That sounded great!". The chorus is alright, but that is about it. There is just nothing in this song that really apealls to me.
5.5/10
Here We Are: This one is a bit like "You" in the sence, that at first you might not think much of it, but it is actually rather good. This is probably the most quiet one, if you look past, The Diary of Jane Acoustic version (bonus track). It has some good, touching lyrics. Good verse and chorus. Good vocals. And a very good guitar solo, that follows the mood of the song, and with good resualt. This song suceseed in moving you, in a way that the other songs might not. A very good and underrated one, in my opinion.
8.5/10
Unknown Soldier: This is back in the style of "Evil Angel", and is pretty similiar. The formuluar is very much like "Evil Angel" with the the cool guitar stuff in the beginning, some soft vocals in the verse, although a bit more agressive, and a great, catchy chorus. And like "Evil Angel" this an awesome song. Great lyrics, great vocals, and so on...
9/10
Had Enough: A great, and defently ther most agressive song on this album. I heard it is about ther last drummer, trying to sue them, or something. The lyrics is agressive, cool, and clever. The vocals is as always, great, and Ben really screams his lungs out, at the end, which is awesome. The verse and the corus are all cool, and as always you cant help, but to sing along at the chorus. The song keeps going from a more quiet place, and then to a much more louder toune. The transition between loud and quiet, just last for an instant, but is still very fluid. Overall, this is a very cool and solid song.
7.5/10
You Fight Me: For a long time I never quite liked this song, but lately it has started to grow on me. I'm really starting to love the pre - chorus, and the chorus, and the vocals is amazing in those two things. The guitar play, however, is a bit dull, it is alright... but still kinda dull in the verse, although in the chorus pretty cool. The verse is nothing special. I also think the song could have been atleast thirty seconds longer, cause it ends right when you think: "This is actually pretty good!". But I cant get over, how cool the pre - chorus, and all that sounds...
7/10
Outro: The "Outro" is pretty much the same as the "Intro", although it does get alot wilder twenty seconds into it (the song last for about two minuttes). And it does sound pretty cool, for an so call'd "outro".
7/10
The Diary of Jane Acoustic: This is a bonus track. Although it is acuostic there is no guitar (or atleast what I know of), instead it is piano, which is performed very well. The vocals are of course beutifully performed by Ben Burnley, and he does an exellent work.
8.5/9
Overall this is an exellent album, that deserves more attention, and which is all the money worth! If you don't already have this album, I advice you to go get it as soon as possible, you will not be dissapointed. While it might not be perfect, it is some of the closest that I have ever heard getting close to it . This is by far one of my favorite CDs ever.
(Sorry if there is many mispelled words... but I'm danish, so...:p)
