Review Summary: Exactly what you would expect, for better or worse
Five years may not be that long of a time span, but a lot can happen within it. Breaking Benjamin had originally gone into hiatus due to Ben Burnley’s illness, however it became worse when Aaron Fink and Mark Klepaski were not only fired but sued after the release of the greatest hits album
Shallow Bay and the awful remix of ‘Blow Me Away.’ Not only that, but drummer Chad Szeliga ended up leaving due to “creative differences” leaving Burnley as the sole remaining member as the fate of Breaking Benjamin was in question. However a new lineup was announced with four new members as well as a new album,
Dark Before Dawn, and with three new guitarists at the helm many were wondering if Breaking Benjamin were going make to attempt at doing something different, or if they were going to remain the same band that many people knew.
Those expecting Breaking Benjamin to change their sound are going to be disappointed for the most part.
Dark Before Dawn never really breaks any barriers for the band in general. The chorus for lead single ‘Failure’ feels recycled compared to other BB singles like ‘Diary of Jane’. It will most likely please the fans but it’s not going to win over any converts. The heavier moments on ‘Breaking the Silence’ and ‘Bury Me Alive’ don’t do the album any favors either as Burnley’s growls feel forced and the songs' attempt to develop a catchier rhythm feels nothing more than typical clichéd radio fodder. The production, while not bad by any means, does have a lack of originality. Sound-wise,
Dark Before Dawn continues to where
Dear Agony left off, which will most likely reflect on your opinion of the latter.
However, if there is one thing that Breaking Benjamin had to prove it would be that they will still be the same band that their fans have come to know and love, and they certainly achieve that goal. The “recycled” bits on ‘Failure’ and ‘Defeated’ will certainly win over fans as it gives listeners the nostalgic feel of
Dear Agony and perhaps even
Phobia. While there’s nothing particularly surprising in the instrumentation, the guitar melodies deliver an emotional tone throughout most of
Dark Before Dawn and are executed well. Melodically, this is Breaking Benjamin’s best album. ‘Angels Fall’, ‘Hollow’, ‘Close to Heaven’, and ‘Ashes of Eden’ contain some of the band’s strongest material to date as the choruses shine through thanks to Burnley’s great vocal performance. ‘Ashes of Eden’ is especially notable as it has a more atmospheric tone and the guitar work shines through while Burnley delivers arguably his best vocal performance in the record. It’s the most unique song, making it the best track on the album.
Dark Before Dawn isn’t too much of a huge achievement for the band overall, but that’s probably what the band tried to go for. There isn’t a real change of sound on the album because it doesn't need one. While it would certainly be nice to have an overall difference in pace and production, the one thing that Breaking Benjamin were able to successfully pull off is winning the hearts of their fans once again.
Dark Before Dawn isn’t meant to be an “epic” or “ground-shattering” comeback by any means and that’s perfectly okay. It may not change your opinion of the band, but it is a welcome return to those for those who have been waiting a long grueling five years for Breaking Benjamin to release something worthwhile. Hopefully, they’ll attempt to deliver something different next time.
