Ember
Breaking Benjamin · 2018
38 min · 12 tracks · alternative rock
A dynamic blend of heavy riffs and introspective lyrics that encapsulates the struggles of resilience and self-discovery.
Top tracks — play these first
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Red Cold River — This track combines haunting melodies with powerful themes of loss and struggle, exemplifying the album’s overarching narrative of perseverance.
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Feed the Wolf Start here — With its aggressive energy and introspective lyrics, this song captures the internal battle between vulnerability and strength, making it emblematic of the band's style.
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Tourniquet — The emotionally charged delivery in this track highlights the desperation of seeking help while also exploring themes of self-reliance, reflecting the album's duality.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Ember showcases strong songwriting and production but follows familiar patterns within its genre.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features high-energy tracks with heavy guitar riffs, while the second half shifts to more introspective and melodic pieces.
- Several tracks incorporate dynamic shifts in intensity, alternating between quiet verses and explosive choruses.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady emotional intensity throughout
- reflective moments between heavy riffs
- engaging narrative through track order
- short bursts of cathartic release
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer standalone singles over cohesion
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and relevance following a successful comeback.
- Career context
- By the release of Ember in 2018, Breaking Benjamin had solidified their status as a key player in alternative metal following their 2015 comeback album, Dark Before Dawn. This album marked their sixth studio effort, showcasing a maturation of sound and lyrical depth after a five-year hiatus from new material.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Three Days Grace· Seether· Shinedown
Tracklist
- 1 Lyra 0:29
- 2 Feed the Wolf Start here 3:18
- 3 Red Cold River 3:20
- 4 Tourniquet 4:09
- 5 Psycho 3:20
- 6 The Dark of You 4:12
- 7 Down 4:02
- 8 Torn in Two 4:17
- 9 Blood 3:09
- 10 Save Yourself 3:06
- 11 Close Your Eyes 4:01
- 12 Vega 1:22
What to play next
Aurora
2020
It reimagines songs from Ember with fresh arrangements, enhancing the introspective themes.
Dark Before Dawn
2015
It sets the stage for Ember's sound and lyrical depth, creating a cohesive listening experience.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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