Review Summary: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Six years and we finally get a new album from Breaking Benjamin, one of the better hard rock bands around. This time around, they have a whole new lineup after all the drama that occurred in between albums that includes Jasen Rauch, former RED guitarist--ironic considering how similar the two bands are. Some people were probably hoping for a somewhat new sound/feel with this new group.
In some ways, there is a little bit of new territory. But for the most part, this is just like any other Breaking Benjamin record we've heard before. Is that a good thing or bad thing? It depends. If a band can continue to execute the same sound well over and over and it works, then that's fine. If it begins to sound tired, then they have to start thinking about doing something different before they're left in the dust. It's risky business sometimes not changing, but so far BB has been avoiding it and still remained as one of the best in their genre.
The record begins off with lead single "Failure," which is a song we've pretty much heard before. It's actually quite similar to "The Diary of Jane." It works pretty well as a lead single, and is a good song despite its familiar territory musically. The album continues onward with "Angels Fall," which is a personal favorite due to its ethereal melodies. Of course, some will be dissatisfied with recycled lyrics like "I carry you and we live forever," but that can be overlooked because of the strong performance of the band. Another personal favorite is "Never Again," in which Ben Burnley shows off his vocal abilities to near perfection, and the new lineup shows some of their full potential with brilliant melodies and guitar work in the chorus.
Breaking Benjamin does continue to throw songs at us that we've heard before in one way or another, for better or for worse. We've heard "Hollow" and "Defeated" before. But even songs like those are very well done, with sharp rhythms and acceptable lyrics. We do hear something slightly different as "Breaking the Silence" (another album highlight) and "Bury Me Alive" both employ some of the new backing vocal growls/screams, and that works out very well. "Ashes of Eden," however, is completely new territory for Breaking Benjamin--the ballad is completely devoid of the rock guitars, and relies completely on Burnley's vocals and more quiet melodies. It's a beautiful song that will be a breath of fresh air for those demanding some experimentation.
Ultimately, your opinion of Dark Before Dawn will depend on just how well you handle a lack of change. Those who were hoping to see them explore more new territory than for just one or two songs will be disappointed. But really, this album is a perfect example of the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Breaking Benjamin has been executing their sound brilliantly for multiple albums now, and they continue to do it on this album. The execution is still there, and they pull it off without becoming boring for what is a fantastic album. To be fair, they may have to think about experimenting more at some point, because eventually they'll have to run out of gas. However, it didn't happen on this album. Like it or not, Breaking Benjamin still hasn't really changed after several years, and they probably never will. As of right now, it's still working quite well for them.
Highlights: "Angels Fall," "Never Again," ""Close to Heaven," "Breaking the Silence," "Defeated"
