JuicyBands.com: Breaking Benjamin

Breaking Benjamin was formed when a few members of up-and-coming alternative band Lifer split to form their own group. The gamble paid off and Breaking Benjamin has proven to be the best career choice they could have made, largely due to the songwriting talents of vocalist Ben Burnley. After being discovered by a Philadelphia DJ in 2001, the band signed with Hollywood Records and released their debut, Saturate, in 2002. Opening for Evanescence on tour raised public awareness of Breaking Benjamin significantly, and the group's singles "Sooner or Later" and "So Cold" performed well on the charts. Since then, the group's popularity and talent has been steadily growing, as each successive release has arguably improved upon the last, from their 2004 effort We Are Not Alone to their just-released 2006 album, Phobia, led by the angst-ridden and melodic single "The Diary of Jane." The group will be touring in support of the album.
Grunge bands out there can be a dime a dozen, but Breaking Benjamin stands apart from the pack due in large part to their gift for moving melodies and complex songs that tackle serious themes. All of this may sound a bit heavy, but vocalist Ben Burnley manages to keep the songs from getting bogged down under their own weight. Hits like "So Cold" and "Sooner or Later" have certainly helped the band gain nationwide attention, but it's more to the band's radio sensibilities that their popularity should be attributed than the songs themselves. Breaking Benjamin has talent and staying power-two things that all the popularity in the world can't necessarily buy. Their latest effort, Phobia, is arguably their best yet, packed to the brim with soaring melodies and a certain upbeat attitude that ensures the group will remain on top of their game for some time to come.