MUSIC VIDEO: Breaking Benjamin is ‘Torn in Two’ as dark story continues and new album arrives
As the real-life story of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s biggest band continues today with the release of their sixth studio album, “Ember,” so does the dark tale Breaking Benjamin began telling in the “Red Cold River” music video released in January from Emmy Award-winning director Kyle Cogan.
Just after midnight, the video for the new song “Torn in Two” debuted online, serving as a direct continuation of the “Red Cold River” video (seen below) about a man who searches for his missing daughter, only to discover through supernatural means that his friend murdered her. He exacts his revenge but pays the price – just as he is reunited with the spirit of his daughter, they are both pulled into hell. The man, still warped into a zombie with sunken eyes, wanders around the afterlife looking for her, only to run into demons and other evil creatures.
Eagle-eyed fans will also spot visual references to past Breaking Benjamin music videos like “Never Again” (also directed by Cogan), “Diary of Jane,” and even their first single, “Polyamorous.” As the man and his daughter are separated and “Torn in Two” once again, it begs the question, “Will there be a part three?”
That’s something fans can ask the multi-platinum-selling quintet in person tomorrow when they return to their hometown of Wilkes-Barre for a meet and greet at the Gallery of Sound (186 Mundy St., Wilkes-Barre). The store is hosting the event on Saturday, April 14 starting at 4 p.m., and priority entry is given to those who buy the new album there in advance.
“Ember,” which features the songs “Red Cold River,” “Feed the Wolf,” “Blood,” “Psycho,” and “Save Yourself,” has a heavier sound that has generated a lot of positive feedback from longtime listeners.
“People have always really liked the heavier side of the band,” vocalist/guitarist Benjamin Burnley said in a press release. “I think that’s what they sort of gravitate towards. But we also make sure to explore our melodic and softer side too. On ‘Ember,’ we just tried to make it more extreme – the softer side on this album is really soft, and the heavy side is really heavy. We decided to give everybody what they want to the furthest degree.”
According to the band, the album also features their “most advanced and challenging music yet.”
“It’s difficult to play some of the songs,” Burnley noted. “They’re not something somebody could just pick up and play.”
While he has always been the group’s main songwriter through various lineup changes, Burnley said that this album has been his most collaborative effort yet.
“They’ve really contributed a lot more than anybody else has in the past,” he said of his current bandmates. “And they’re more like-minded, musically, than people I’ve ever played with, and so everything that they gave me fit into songs that I already had.
“I wrote the majority of our last five albums, and so I’m good with that – you know, that’s enough for me. Five albums pretty much by myself; I’m ready to pass it along. It’s more fun when you’re not doing everything by yourself.”
This self-produced album is the first new music that Breaking Benjamin has released since 2015, so anticipation has been high. They’ve been producing nothing but crowd-pleasing hits for years, delivering chart-topping singles and albums in an era where rock music is struggling for sales. Their last album, “Dark Before Dawn,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and had three No. 1 rock radio tracks – “Failure” “Angels Fall,” and “Never Again.” It was certified gold last year and may eventually go platinum, as 2009’s “Dear Agony” did as well as 2006’s “Phobia” and 2004’s “We Are Not Alone.” Their 2002 debut, “Saturate,” was also certified gold by the RIAA.
The group is taking their recently announced co-headlining summer tour with Las Vegas metal band Five Finger Death Punch back home to The Pavilion at Montage Mountain in Scranton on Friday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m., featuring special guests Nothing More and Bad Wolves.
Tickets, which range from $34-$119, are on sale now through livenation.com and the Live Nation app. For the first time ever, The Pavilion at Montage Mountain will offer Ticket to Rock bundles to see three concerts this summer, including this show, Slayer with Lamb of God and Anthrax on Tuesday, July 31, and Godsmack and Shinedown on Friday, Aug. 31.
Lawn ticket bundles for all three shows are $59, while reserved seating bundles for the three shows will cost $79. These bundles are on sale now at livenation.com and will be available to purchase in limited quantities while supplies last.
Read NEPA Scene’s exclusive review of Breaking Benjamin’s surprise November show in Luzerne with photos and video here and another review of their last concert at Montage Mountain with Disturbed here.
Stream the entire album on YouTube and see full tracklist below:
Breaking Benjamin – “Ember” tracklist:
1. “Lyra”
2. “Feed the Wolf”
3. “Red Cold River”
4. “Tourniquet”
5. “Psycho”
6. “The Dark of You”
7. “Down”
8. “Torn in Two”
9. “Blood”
10. “Save Yourself”
11. “Close Your Eyes”
12. “Vega”
