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Review Summary: As competent & inoffensive as ever, Dear Agony is unlikely to change your opinion of Breaking Benjamin. The general perception towards post-grunge outfit Breaking Benjamin has always been an interesting one. For a band that often gets compared to critically panned groups such as Nickelback, Seether & Three Days Grace, the quartet from Pennsylvania appear to get off lightly. Is it due to their relative technical proficiency, consistent competency, or simply as they have yet to break worldwide with a smash hit single like those other performers? Do not feel too sorry for them however, since previous LP ‘Phobia’ still sold over a million copies, so they are sure to be living comfortably enough.
With ‘Phobia’ consolidating on 2004’s ‘We Are Not Alone’, one could have been forgiven for thinking that the band’s 4th album may have been looking to stretch their boundaries. Unfortunately, that is not the case as Breaking Benjamin predominantly play it safe with another inoffensive and consistent release. There is no outlandish experimentation, hardly a foray into metal, no side-step into pop-punk catchiness, not even some offensive lyrics a’la Hinder & Nickelback. They know what they are good at doing and appear comfortable enough to continue following that formula.
In truth, there is not a great deal more to say about ‘Dear Agony’. As always, there are a handful of standouts (lead single ‘I Will Not Bow’, the catchy duo of ‘What Lies Beneath’ & ‘Without You’, and the heavier ‘Crawl’ & ‘Lights Out’) that are complemented by a solid batch of tracks that a little too often blend into each other. Aaron Fink’s guitar-work is rather impressive, the rhythm section capable, and Ben Burnley’s vocals are as strong and melodic as ever.
Burnley’s lyrics (occasionally assisted by Red’s Jasen Rauch) are also sufficient, if a little disappointing considering his neurotic nature. For someone that fears flying, is a recovering alcoholic, believes he has countless disorders and has plastered a scan of his brain on the album’s front cover, one would think he could have explored a wider variety of subjects than what he does here. In general, it is just a shame that the album does not include a little more imagination… Even a differentiating stripped back acoustic cut would have been nice, since it is something the band have nailed in the past.
To a point, Breaking Benjamin’s strength and weakness are one and the same. They are competent in almost every area of making their music and can be relied upon to deliver a solid collection of songs every couple of years. However, that same competency seems to also hold them back from breaking out of their comfort factor to distinguish themselves from their peers. Whether you judge the glass as half full or half empty is an individual choice, but either way, ‘Dear Agony’ is unlikely to change your opinion of Breaking Benjamin… Or for that matter, mainstream rock in general.
Recommended Tracks: I Will Not Bow, Without You & What Lies Beneath.
| other reviews of this album |
Simon K. STAFF (4)
An effort so good it leaves you to ponder on what could have been....
tiesthatbind (4)
Breaking Benjamin combine the strengths of their previous albums to create what is surely ...
marshal46 (4)
"Dear Agony" is an excellent album that has been unjustly ignored and forgotten because it...
Dylan620 (2)
Dear Agony is a disappointing step backward from Phobia....
thatdudeud0ntknow (2.5)
Here we go again…...
UnnamedOcean (2.5)
Dear Agony is the result of an album designed to do exactly what its predecessor did. You ...
Nikichan004 (3)
Solid musicmanship, tight riffs and too perfect to be true vocals create an album that wil...
sularetal (3)
Puntuación: 6/10
Lo mejor: El single “I Will Not Bow” (hasta a mi hijo de 10 meses l...
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Album Rating: 3.0
I didn't have a chance to do sound-offs for their other 3 albums after listening to them in the lead-up to this release, but I basically would rate them chronologically as 3, 3.5 & 3.5. This is definitely a step down from their last 2 (We Are Not Alone & Phobia).
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150! congrats
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Why thank you Sir Rudy. Is it worth a klap?
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Have to agree with fromtheinside. The band didn't progress or grow at all.
Do we have to wait for the release date to post our reviews since this is up, or what?
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
That's probably our main point of difference fti. I like the lead single. Sometimes I think lead singles get a bad rep just because they are lead singles.
When I was waffling on about consistency, I almost added a line about it being difficult to decide which is the least effective track. I actually came to the conclusion that it was the opener 'Fade Away'. So we are there or thereabouts on that one.
Fair call on the "too safe" thing. It's all a matter of individual interpretation of how much to punish them (ratings-wise) for it. I definitely couldn't fail the album for it like you appear to be doing.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
I had expected this to be a lot worse
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meh
I'll still buy this...
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Use to LOVE Saturate and We Are Not Alone back in the day. Is this album worth checking out at all. I didn't like their last one all that much.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Gregory, you still have to wait until Tuesday mate.
Thanks Jom. And yep, I almost totally agree with you. In fact, I think a 'Best Of' from them would be an excellent listen. There is one song I do disagree with you on though and that is 'Had Enough' from 'Phobia'. I really like that song & especially it's chorus. The fact that he sings the word 'bastard' in the chorus is what stopped that from being released imo.
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Alright thanks. I always thought "You Fight Me" was a great track from their last album. Quite different for them, and it worked well.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
LisbonGirls, unless you simply think mainstream rock is too bland, then these guys won't make a bad album since they do what they do rather well & don't push themselves to take risks.
"Is this album worth checking out at all. I didn't like their last one all that much." Sneasy, I'm gonna presume you didn't like the softer moments on 'Phobia'. My answer would depend on that. If so, there may be something for you to like here. Ben even pulls out some pretty ordinary attempts at death growls on 3 or so songs. There is an overall slightly heavier feel to this than 'Phobia'.
"i don't necessarily disagree with cussing on records but with these guys it seems like just do it to try to be edgy" While I agree with you re: 'Topless', this is a generalization. I don't think they cuss at all on this album.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Always loved 'Dance With The Devil' Sadly I did not find a song similar to it on this album. Oh no I like mainstream rock, its just their last record kinda bored me except for a few songs.
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I used to like this band, but really this is just pathetic. I was seeing them get a little better after each release, but it's more of the same and it got boring already.
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I am going to be hearing about this endlessly from my friend, who is an avid fanboy, from your description it might not be as bad as I thought.
Well, hopefully not.
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review is definitely worth a klap. band/album? not so much
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You really think this is heavier?
hmm, it seems more mellowed out and slower in a few tracks. Even Ben's topics aren't as angry this time around. Just my opinion.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
I call 'Dance With The Devil' the barometer of 'Phobia'. I don't mind it, but it's nothing too flashy... & definitely not a patch on 'Diary of Jane', which is still their best song full stop.
Relinquished, I can't really argue with anything you state, apart from the use of the word 'pathetic'.
"...this is a more realistic side of the band..." So you think they should have been making albums that failed all along? Yes, your review will have to explain.
Eclectic, from memory you are in Oz. These guys hardly get any airplay here. If he doesn't find out it has been released, you may get saved.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
I've always enjoyed this band, so I'll listen to this. Not expecting anything to be better than Evil Angel though.
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Oh no, he knows, he was going crazy over the single the other day.
| | | Album Rating: 3.0
Come on Rudy, band is mainstream, you're mainstream, you're obliged to like it. LOL. Just kidding. Can't wait for your Mariah review btw.
"You really think this is heavier?" Sort of. It's difficult to explain. There are no out & out ballads on here (there should have been). Even 'Anthem of the Angels' & 'Give Me A Sign' are strongly guitar-based... Especially if you play them on a hi-fi out loud. In fact, that really hit home when I did. Plus, there are those attempts at death growls. LOL.
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