On the second outing with a revamped lineup, hard rock outfit
Breaking Benjamin
stick to their tried and true formula, continuing the legacy of early-2000s post-grunge/nu-metal with album number six,
Ember
. On this set, frontman
Ben Burnley
relinquished songwriting control, allowing input from band members
Jason Rauch
,
Keith Wallen
Aaron Bruch
, and
Shaun Foist
. For better or worse, the results of that team-building effort do not stray far from past efforts. Notes of
Chevelle
Disturbed
Shinedown
Evanescence
appear throughout, as pounding drums and beefy riffs are balanced with dour atmospherics and
Burnley
's pained, powerful voice. While his lyrics remain simplistic, they are relatable, which should not surprise faithful listeners familiar with these themes of despair, hopelessness, anger, and frustration. Like 2015's
Dark Before Dawn
is bookended by a pair of conceptual instrumentals, the celestial "Lyra" and "Vega." In between,
deliver ten no-nonsense rock blasts that roar ("Red Cold River") and pummel ("Feed the Wolf"), providing cathartic release with cinematic build-up ("Down") and desperate urgency ("Blood"). Additional highlights include the brooding "The Dark of You," which features celebrity dancer and longtime fan
Derek Hough
on guest vocals, and the frenetic "Close Your Eyes," the de facto closer that is so rhythmic it could be a late-era
Korn
song. As far as variety goes, this is a fairly standard collection of tunes from a band that is mainly concerned with giving fans what they want and expect. ~ Neil Z. Yeung