Written by Andrew Hart

So Breaking Benjamin finally screwed up, their latest album Dear Agony being a colossal failure on the part of a band that has screamed consistency for the better part of eight years now.  How you say?  Well, it took three years to release Dear Agony after 2006’s Phobia, as opposed to the usual two.  Quality-wise it is still very good though, I can guarantee this.  In fact, Dear Agony has enough moments of classic Breaking Benjamin mixed with a little bit of new stuff, that it may be the best part in a well-oiled Breaking Benjamin catalog.

Per usual, I’ll mention the instantly accessible opener, “Fade Away.”  Breaking Benjamin has developed a reputation for hooks, and this song is no exception.  Dare I say, it’s one of the only songs on this album that makes good on the promise of strong, easily noticeable tracks.  Something about the cool and mellow way frontman Ben Burnley coos out the opening words just pulls the listener right into a hard-hitting Breaking Ben song of old.  It’s not as powerful as past openers like “So Cold” and “Diary of Jane” but it still does it’s part in kicking off the disc right.

As mentioned though, hooks on Dear Agony are hard to come by.  Though first single “I Will Not Bow” is fun and catchy too, most of the album lacks these big standouts.  This can be interpreted as good or bad, and I’ll call it good since Breaking Benjamin seems to be playing around with their other skills more on this album, trying to make strides from the usual write-catchy-radio-friendly-rock formula.  Listen to songs like “Crawl” and “Hopeless” and you’re treated to some classic guttural screams from Burnley, a rare treat on the last few albums.  Meanwhile, “Anthem of the Angels” and “Without You” toy with beautiful string arrangements, creating incredibly immersive songs through atmosphere alone.  Dear Agony may take more time to process than some albums, but it’s worth it to dive into some of these great songs.

All that said though, Breaking Benjamin has failed at one thing they’ve been good at their whole career, memorability.  Sure, it’s hard to forget the moment in “I Will Now Bow” when the drumming breaks down to a whole new level, or the ending seconds of “Without You” when Ben screams “I forgive you, forget you, the end,” leading into a slow, smooth outro, but there’s a lot of Dear Agony that just blends together.  “Into The Nothing” and “Lights Out” practically bleed into one another towards the end of the disc, unusual due to their separation by the title track.  Breaking Benjamin essentially shifts between ballad and rocker through the whole disc, but the formula wears out it’s welcome by the end, nearly spoiling the beauty of the title track’s uplifting chorus.

Minor gripes aside, every song on Dear Agony is a great listen.  Some like “Lights Out” are good for just that and little else, while others will be stuck in your brain for hours on end.  This album is without a doubt worthy of the Breaking Benjamin catalog, but these few flaws may make the band question if the experimentation of the disc was worth it.  The answer is a definitive yes, as unconventional Breaking Benjamin tracks such as “Without You” and “Dear Agony” are more than worth the price of the album, and make this one go down as smooth as any album of 2009.

8 out of 10 – Download “Without You”

Breaking Benjamin is | Benjamin Burnley – Vocals, Rhythm Guitar | Aaron Fink – Guitar | Mark Klepaski – Bass | Chad Szeliga – Drums

Written by Andrew Hart

Listening to A Broken Silence’s All For What… is one of the most invigorating experiences I’ve encountered in years.  The moment the album kicks off is an exhilarating one, with a few distinct piano chimes leading into the explosive chorus of “Are You Not Entertained.”  The moment the track hits is a rush, one unlike any other disc has created for me in some time, and it’s just the beginning.  Yes, All For What… is an absolutely one of a kind experience that no fan of rock music should miss.

Allow me to clarify something immediately, A Broken Silence is a half-rap, half-rock hybrid from Sydney, Australia, but don’t be put off by the rap in this band’s sound.  Much like early Linkin Park, A Broken Silence backs up their rhythm and rhyme with intense backing from several instruments, whether it be the conventional guitar and drums, or some heavy-duty electronics.  Even those who think that rap is not for them should be giving A Broken Silence a chance, because this band is anything but conventional.  While most artists in both rap and rock lean heavily on cliches and ridiculous lyrics far too often, A Broken Silence speaks out with words that can dig deep and hit hard.  For evidence of this, look no further than “The Road Is Lost” and the bridge that sees lead rapper Torcha cry out “We’re caught up in the pictures that they have shown us and not the millions of innocents that been blown up, cold hearts disconnecting us from our own blood  for their objectives it’s best that they blindfold us.”  A Broken Silence doesn’t care about hot rides and dope bitches, instead they choose to speak out on the problems that plague the world, and therin lies much of the appeal.  A Broken Silence is a breath of fresh air.

For those doubting this band’s ability to be remembered, just try and spin “Run a Check” or “There They Go” without getting caught up in the adrenaline rush each song creates.  The former is action-packed from start to finish, while the latter builds up slowly to one of the most intense final minute’s on any album in recent memory.  While the band themselves create plenty of solid material on their own, some of the album’s best work is brought together by some phenomenal guest work.  Tyron Woolfe provides some killer vocals that give “By Your Laws” an irresistable hook, Tim Freedman sets the entire tone of “The Road is Lost” with some low but passionate singing, and Ozi Batla brings the house down with his own incredible verse of “This Nation.”  You don’t have to recognize the names to appreciate the music, which brings relative unknowns together to create some fantastic sounds.

From the beginning, the ambient and powerful “Are You Not Entertained,” to the end, a slowed-down and melodic number called “Take This Mirror,” A Broken Silence cannot disappoint with their debut.  This album is not 100% rock, in fact the majority of the album is easily influenced by rap.  However, it cannot be ignored that when blended together, A Broken Silence has crafted some of the best music I have had the pleasure of hearing in some time, and the fruit of their labors is an album I’ve been unable to put down in four months now.  Take a second to move past any stereotypes you may have about rap, and give A Broken Silence a chance.  All For What… is too incredible to pass up.

10 out of 10 – Download “By Your Laws (feat. Tyron Woolfe)”

A Broken Silence is | Torcha – Vocals | B-Don – Keyboards, Electronics | Cactus – Guitar | Slim – Bass | Nathan – Drums

Written by Andrew Hart

If any band deserves the title of “most consistent band in hard rock,” Chevelle might win unanimously.  Lingering on the scene since “nu-metal” was still a popular phrase, the Illinois threesome has been kept no secret by rock radio.  From 2002 and onward, hits like “The Red,” “The Clincher,” “Well Enough Alone,” and “I Get It,” have brought Chevelle to the forefront of modern rock.  With their latest hit single “Jars,” Chevelle is determined to prove their longevity, and their newest album Sci-Fi Crimes may just do the trick.

Kicking off Sci-Fi Crimes with one of the biggest hooks on the album is a no-brainer, so it’s no surprise that Chevelle would start the engine with “Sleep Apnea.”  This slow-burning song starts with a steady beat and an unhurried pace as it constantly builds towards an epic climax.  As each chorus of “Sleep Apnea” passes, the track builds more and more momentum until it becomes just about the biggest standout on the album. First single “Jars” follows this trend with its hard-hitting, nonstop hook, reinforced by awesome lyrical content.  As Chevelle is well known for, “Jars” is just one of many songs that puts a lot of stock into powerful and unique lyrics.

“Mexican Sun” is sure to bring fans of harder Chevelle out in droves as well, with powerful screaming vocals setting up an intense, guitar-driven chorus.  Fans of the lighter side of Chevelle are in for a treat as well, as “Shameful Metaphors” is more than happy to demonstrate.  Oozing with radio potential, “Shameful Metaphors” carries an airy tone that simply feels more passionate than countless other songs, thanks in part to its late-song kick driven by melodic vocals side-by-side with some classic Chevelle screaming.  An even mellower slow jam is quickly uncovered in the mid-album gem “Highland’s Apparition.”  Joining a short list of acoustic Chevelle songs, “Highland’s Apparition” is a great chance for Pete Loeffler to show off his pipes in a calm manner, and the result is an empowering masterpiece sure to send chills down spines across the world.  Toss in the unique-sounding “Fell Into Your Shoes” and Sci-Fi Crimes has some of the most prominent eight tracks of 2009.

Many Chevelle fans would be quick to bring up that this band does not typically put together a first-listen masterpiece.  Like all of the band’s previous work, it will likely take a while to dig into each song completely and figure out all the nuances of Sci-Fi Crimes. Thanks in large part to the weak back-end, this album may take even longer to work its way into your brain.  Once “Highland’s Apparition” sadly concludes, the listener is left with three tracks that are barely up to par.  Throw in a poor man’s interlude (aptly-titled “Interlewd”) and Sci-Fi Crimes feels more stale than refreshing by the disc’s end.  While Chevelle can seemingly do no wrong through the first half of the album, the opposite can be said in the latter. “This Circus” is a passable closer and “A New Momentum” has the potential to grow with enough repeats, but each of the final four feels more like thrown together hodge podges of past Chevelle efforts, and thus they all come up short.  Toss in this minor gripe too, “Mexican Sun” is horribly misleading with its intro.  With those drumstick clicks and an inward breath, I swear I’m about to listen to “Well Enough Alone” every time.

Still, Chevelle has handed in another fantastic album to the kind folks who demand some good music, and fans of the band should find little reason to be disappointed here.  While not proving to be as wonderful from front to back like a few of Chevelle’s past works, Sci-Fi Crimes still has plenty to contribute to a diverse and interesting discography, and songs like “Shameful Metaphors” and “Sleep Apnea” will go down as absolute classics for this band.  With a better back end, Sci-Fi Crimes would have had album of the year potential.  As it stands, Chevelle will just have to settle for another damn fine album.

8 out of 10 – Download “Shameful Metaphors”

Chevelle is | Pete Loeffler – Vocals, Guitar | Sam Loeffler – Drums | Dean Bernardini – Bass

Marianas Trench – “Masterpiece Theatre”

Though it’s not the hard-rockenest of albums, you’d have a hard time convincing me that Masterpiece Theatre isn’t one of the strongest albums in recent memory.  From start to finish, Marianas Trench’s sophomore effort is exactly what it claims to be, a dazzling concept album that ranges from incredible hooks to brilliant and unique instrumentation.  The vocals are top-notch, the arrangements are unforgettable, the lyrics are sweet and simple, the album is unforgettable.  Though there was a fair amount of strong competition in 2009, the gripping Masterpiece Theatre simply would not be topped.

Joan Red – “Side Effects of You”

An inspiring album of the year contender, Joan Red’s debut album burst out of left field and shocked with it’s accessibility and depth.  From the immediately noticeable “Can’t Let Go” to the subtle and powerful “Sorrow List” to the hit-in-the-waiting “Show Me The Way,” Joan Red’s debut album is relentless.  Standing tall with one of the best albums of 2009, Joan Red has declared that they are here to stay.

]]> http://rawkfistmusic.com/2010/01/07/2009-newcomer-of-the-year-winner/feed/ 1 rawkfistmusic http://rawkfistmusic.com/2010/01/06/2009-surprise-of-the-year-winner/ http://rawkfistmusic.com/2010/01/06/2009-surprise-of-the-year-winner/#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:36:11 +0000 rawkfistmusic http://rawkfistmusic.com/?p=342 ]]>

Creed – “Full Circle”

Who would have guessed?  Given the supposed bad blood between Scott Stapp and the rest of Creed (also Alter Bridge), it was highly unlikely to think Creed would ever reunite.  Go figure though, because the band is back together and producing some pretty good music.  With a bit of the hard edge that makes Alter Bridge so great, not only did Creed release a new album, but it actually turned out pretty damn good.  What a surprise.

Marianas Trench – “Masterpiece Theatre Pt. 3″

It’s like all of your favorite songs in one.  Masterpiece Theatre is a hell of an album, and part 3 of the title track is a fantastic reminder as it seamlessly blends every song from the album into a near seven minute epic of high voices, unique instrumentation, and fun upbeat lyrics.  2009 was full of strong songs, but there was just no topping 12 songs rolled into one.

Considering they had never really disappointed during their nine year tenure as the leading men of nu-metal, I guess Papa Roach was due.  2009’s “Metamorphosis” was a mess of an album, coated in uninspired lyrics, bland tunes, and mediocre instrumentals.  Though it’s clear it is Papa Roach playing on this album, it doesn’t feel like the same band that constructed great tunes like “Scars” and “Forever.”

Shinedown – “Second Chance”

The 2009 song of the year winner had a big year in 2009, locking up some bigtime radio play for the Jacksonville quartet and making Shinedown a household name across the country.  The lyrics to the chorus have become etched in the American mind, and the album that “Second Chance” comes from, The Sound of Madness, has continued to sell like hotcakes.  Releasing “Second Chance” as a single may have been the best decision of the year for a rock band, and it was it’s biggest hit was born accordingly.  Congrats to Shinedown.

One of the seven Rawkfist Music Award winners will be revealed each of the next seven days.

A Broken Silence – “All For What…”

Daughtry – “Leave This Town”

Hurt – “Goodbye To The Machine”

Joan Red – “Side Effects of You”

Marianas Trench – “Masterpiece Theatre”

Our Lady Peace – “Burn Burn”

Red – “Innocence and Instinct”

Vaeda – “Unsafe At Any Speed”

The Veer Union – “Against The Grain”