What makes Red Cold River by Breaking Benjamin notable?

The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart, reaffirming Breaking Benjamin's status in the post-grunge scene. Its lead single 'Red Cold River' received significant airplay, further establishing the band's influence in alternative metal and nu metal genres. Red Cold River marks a significant return for Breaking Benjamin, being their first album since 2015's Dark Before Dawn, which solidified their commercial success. This release showcases a more mature sound while reflecting on personal themes, demonstrating the band's evolution after lineup changes and a three-year hiatus.

How many songs are on Red Cold River?

Red Cold River has 1 track, running approximately 3 minutes.

Red Cold River

Breaking Benjamin · 2018

3 min · 1 track · alternative rock

A haunting blend of atmospheric melodies and heavy riffs that encapsulate the struggle between despair and hope.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Red Cold River — This track serves as both the album's title and its most prominent single, combining introspective lyrics with powerful instrumentals that represent the album's overarching themes of struggle and redemption.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

45 /100

Lowland

Higher than 5% of albums we've rated

The song combines atmospheric elements with heavy riffs, showcasing solid craft but limited depth for repeat listens.

What we noticed

The track features a dynamic contrast between soft, atmospheric verses and heavy, driving choruses that create an emotional push and pull.
The song structure follows a traditional verse-chorus format but incorporates a bridge that shifts the mood before returning to the final chorus.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 3/10

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.

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality after a long break, reaffirming their status in the post-grunge scene.
Career context: Red Cold River marks a significant return for Breaking Benjamin, being their first album since 2015's Dark Before Dawn, which solidified their commercial success. This release showcases a more mature sound while reflecting on personal themes, demonstrating the band's evolution after lineup changes and a three-year hiatus.
Stylistic neighbors: Three Days Grace· Seether· Shinedown