Dear Agony

for BB addicts only
There's some Ok stuff on here, but overall this album doesn't hold up as well as PHOBIA. The title track is the best, IMO. The songs just seem to be lacking direction and focus. I love this guy's voice, but the music is just OK at best. If you're dying to hear some more Breaking Benjamin, maybe someday we'll see/hear some more demos and b-sides get spewed toward the public...

"I don't want to change the world, I just want to leave it colder"
Dear Agony came out around the time that Three Day's Grace's latest, Life Starts Now, was released. I bought TDG's CD first because I'm a big fan of that band, but was disappointed in the album. I then bought Dear Agony. If there is some sort of emo competition between those two bands, Breaking Benjamin won this round! "Lights Out," alone, is awesome! One of the best songs I've heard in a while. The brutality of the lyrics, the power of the music; it's great! The CD is also pretty solid, for the most part. It has a fresh, accessible sound that does not lose its edge--well, except maybe during the title track which, surprisingly, is the weakest song on the album. I hope it won't be getting a ton of radio play. Currently "I Will Not Bow," a much better song, has been dominating the airwaves. BB reminds me of Ill Nino with the screaming vocals within the catchy tracks. The packaging is also superior to Life Starts Now. There are glossy, color photos of all the band members. Benjamin Burnley and Aaron Fink are good-looking guys. There is a photo of Burnley's late grandfather to whom the album is dedicated. He is wearing a uniform and there is at least an indirect soldier theme with some of these songs with lyrics like "carry the wounded and shut your eyes" (Into The Nothing), "leave the lost and dead behind" (I Will Not Bow), and "Live! Fight! Crawl back inside" (Crawl). 1. "Fade Away"--Killer opening with a futuristic sound. 2. "I Will Not Bow"--I've been hearing this on the radio a lot lately. It has a blistering heavy opening but then tones down to become more accessible. 3. "Crawl"--Ill Nino-esque with blood-curdling screams in between catchy heavy rock riffs. Actually, I could hear Ill Nino doing this track. 4. "Give Me A Sign"--Slower rocker with a dark romantic side, I guess, ("I'll keep you alive if you show me the way"). It is rather repetitive. There's a line in the chorus where it sounds like it's going to end only to start up again. It is not one of my favorites. 5. "Hopeless"--Another blistering, screaming hard rocker like "Crawl." 6. "What Lies Beneath"--The lyrics belie the pleasant melody: "Your sick, twisted smile...your cold, jaded eyes...you're the devil in disguise." I like that. Still, even with all those faults, "I will always be here for the rest of my life." 7. "Anthem of the Angels"--As the title suggests, there is some pretty orchestration in this track. It doesn't lose its edge, though. I like the chorus and the guitar during the bridge. 8. "Lights Out"--Awesome! Powerful, angry lyrics and a brutal, yet catchy, melody. This song is definitely the highlight of the CD. Check out these lyrics: "After the lights go out on you / After your worthless life is through / I will remember how your scream." Wow! 9. "Dear Agony"--As incredibly powerful as the last track was, it is followed by a remarkably lame-sounding track. It is the title track so, since the band thought enough of it to name the whole CD after it, it should be the highlight, right? Well, IMO, it is actually the weakest song on the album. It reminds me of "Lost In You," the lamest song on Three Days Grace's latest CD. 10. "Into The Nothing"--Now, back to the program: a good, straight-forward, power rocker. 11. "Without You"--Nice ending. The usual dark, desperate emo lyrics but I really like the line "Sing something new / I have nothing left." Orchestra closes it out.

Dear Agony
Another great album by Breaking Benjamin! If you've liked their previous albums, you'll definately enjoy this as well! IT ROCKS!

Not Sure At First, Now Convinced It's Their Best Yet
I found this cd to be initially hard to get into (other than the first single "I Will Not Bow" and a few others), simply because I think I wanted this album to have the same sound from their Phobia album. However, on repeat listens it's clear to me that this cd is not only a worthy followup to a string of impressive albums-but Breaking Benjamin's best one yet. It's lyrically very raw and impassioned, while the music in my opinion has become paradoxically more melodic yet harsher. It's beautiful, edgy, soaring and still fist pumping/head banging awesome.

fitting title and cover art
How can I kill myself? Let me count the ways. After the great 'We are not alone' and 'Phobia', I found this album good, but relentlessly depressing. It drives into your brain and dwells in your subconscious. It did for me anyway. It is a great album and it does rock. Its just emotionally rough. I'm almost afraid to listen to it again. U OK Ben?