On
We Are Not Alone
,
Breaking Benjamin
's sophomore effort for
Hollywood
, the Philadelphia quartet still enjoys coursing the downcast dynamics and dour cerebrals of early
Tool
through
post-grunge
's more accessible melodics. Vocalist/guitarist
Ben Burnley
channels
Maynard James Keenan
throughout
"So Cold"
and
"Simple Design,"
and fills their shadows with scary roars. But the choruses are as uplifting and hopeful as anything from
3 Doors Down
, and the latter even features a quiet acoustic interlude. It's this baiting of the darker mental animal while realizing the power of a cool
hard rock
riff that drives
. "Why am I so pathetic?" asks
Burnley
in
"Sooner or Later."
"Help me break my conscience in," goes
"Break My Fall,"
"To free us from our innocence." Both cuts stick to the familiar formula of introducing huge chords before dwelling on the personal struggle in the verses, only to surge toward hopeful choruses. In this,
is quite capable. They understand that it can't be all gloom and doom all the time -- that the people need some light at the end of the tunnel.
Alone
's choruses offer that urgency throughout, but
"Forget It"
takes it to heart. With its whispering synthesizers, layered guitar effects (
Billy Corgan
guests), and filtered harmonies, the cut is a warm departure from the album's bruised push forward.
has its moments of genre-aping filler, and
's delivery does at times seem forced -- he just sounds so much like his peers. But
is still a solid second effort, with plenty of appeal for fans of groups like
Crossfade
Default
, and
Smile Empty Soul
. ~ Johnny Loftus