Breaking Benjamin: Phobia [CD/DVD] [Explicit]

by Breaking Benjamin

Overview

Breaking Benjamin are nothing if not consistent. Phobia finds them picking up exactly where they left off with 2004's We Are Not Alone, mixing heavy hard rock dynamics with a moody demeanor that never slips into full-on dejection, thanks in part to their proficient grasp of the accessible melody and ever-rousing chorus. Darkness permeates Phobia's tracks (bookended by a useless intro and outro), but the quartet always remembers the silver lining hanging in its oft-cloudy skies. Songs like "Until the End" exhibit this resilient attitude, affirming that while life can be tough, "Why give up? Why give in?â?¦So I will go on until the end." Breaking Benjamin mix urgent up-front vocals with dense underside riffing ("The Diary of Jane," "Topless"), while still being able to effortlessly pull off songs with vulnerable edges ("Here We Are," "Breath"). This is heard even more in the gentle acoustic version of "The Diary of Jane" not listed on the back cover; it sounds natural and not just like a strained bonus novelty -- featuring Dropping Daylight's Sebastian Davin, the version may even be better than the original. As is often the case, certain tracks work out much better than others, as in the tough angst of "Dance with the Devil" versus the forced warbling of "Unknown Soldier." The main problem with the guys has always been that while everything is pulled off capably, there isn't always much to distinguish them from the rest of the post-grunge/alt-metal pack or really, each of their songs from one another. But what Breaking Benjamin lack in distinctiveness, they make up in a certain charm that makes them 100 times more appealing than most of their testosterone-clogged peers. Phobia will not win over any skeptics still holding out on the band, but for those already happily settled in the Benjamin camp, it makes for another satisfying listen. [The 2007 CD/DVD edition added a DVD of live bonus material (the band's first one) recorded at a hometown show in February 2007.] ~ Corey Apar

Product Details

Release Date:	04/17/2007
Label:	Hollywood
UPC:	0050087103330
Rank:	33523

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Intro
2. The Diary of Jane
3. Breath
4. You
5. Evil Angel
6. Until the End
7. Dance with the Devil
8. Topless
9. Here We Are
10. Unknown Soldier
11. Had Enough
12. You Fight Me
13. Outro
14. The Diary of Jane
15. [CD-ROM Track]

Disc 2

16. Polyamorous
17. Home
18. Shallow Bay
19. Breakdown
20. Topless
21. Away
22. The Diary of Jane
23. Dance with the Devil
24. Until the End
25. Had Enough
26. Sooner or Later
27. Break My Fall
28. So Cold
29. Breath
30. Evil Angel

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Breaking Benjamin   Primary Artist
Sebastian Davin   Primary Artist,Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Dim-E   Mixing Assistant
Billy Corgan   Composer
Breaking Benjamin   Composer
Ben Burnley   Composer
David Bendeth   Mixing
Keith Armstrong   Mixing Assistant
Chris Lord-Alge   Mixing