Top 15 Best Breaking Benjamin Songs
From the heart of Pennsylvania comes one of America’s favorite bands, Breaking Benjamin. Famous for their post-grunge sound, this beloved five-piece has released six studio albums and dozens of hit singles. From the raw emotion of “Breath” and “Angels Falls” to the heartbreak of “The Diary of Jane,” Breaking Benjamin have a long history delivering rock to the masses.
Let’s review 15 of the most popular Breaking Benjamin’s songs, looking at all the things that make this band so great.
#1
This track is among the most popular Breaking Benjamin songs, with over 500 million Spotify streams and counting. "The Diary of Jane" is an emotional ballad full of longing and loss, and it definitely pulls on the heartstrings. Released on the band's 2006 album Phobia, this song references fear, loneliness, and the desire to be remembered. You can hear the frustrations of life coming from singer Benjamin Burnley's voice, as he delivers lyrics with brutal honesty and aching emotion.
#2
This song also comes from Breaking Benjamin's 2006 album Phobia. It's another raw slab of emotion. But this time, it's focused squarely on grief. As Benjamin sings “You take the breath right out of me, you left a hole where my heart should be,” you feel the painful aftermath of profound loss. From a musical perspective, "Breath" is a successful blend of raw guitar, deep bass, and energetic drums. The voice and instruments blend together perfectly, as an uncompromising intro moves into an introspective verse and powerful chorus.
#3
The song "So Cold" comes from the band's second studio album We Are Not Alone. Released in 2004, it catapulted Breaking Benjamin into new levels of fame and fortune. "So Cold" was the highlight of the album for many, as the album's lead single and most memorable track. While it never reached the top of the Mainstream Rock chart, "So Cold" holds the record for the most time spent in the charts at 62 weeks. Like many Breaking Benjamin songs, this song has a dark atmosphere full of isolation and introspection. The accompanying video features a man carrying a heavy burden, as the lyrics reflect on the weight of being human.
#4
Released on Breaking Benjamin's 2009 album Dear Agony, "I Will Not Bow" is a defiant and raucous battle cry against despair. This track has a raw primal energy, with heavy guitar riffs combined with uncompromising lyrics. This song has more than 250 million Spotify streams, and it's become something of an anthem. "I Will Not Bow" was released at an interesting time for Burnley, who was recently sober but facing chronic illnesses due to heavy drinking. His soul-searching voice on this track showcases the desperate energy of a man who refuses to surrender.
#5
Released on the band's debut album Saturate, "Polyamorous" is a catchy throwback with a pop-metal vibe. This track features the raw energy and signature angst of the band's future output, along with rather memorable lyrics. "Polyamorous" doesn't present an idealized version of non-monogamy. Instead, it reflects on the emotional complexity of non-standard romances. This track had two music videos, with the first version featuring a voyeuristic couple and the second version featuring the band performing in an empty swimming pool.
#6
"Ashes of Eden" was released in 2016, on the band's fifth studio album Dark Before Dawn. This song is about big life questions, as the singer grapples with the eternal unknown. It's about searching for meaning beyond our own lives, by looking in the mirror and staring doubt in the eye. "Ashes of Eden" failed to reach the commercial heights of the band's previous work, peaking at No. 18 on the Mainstream Rock chart. While it was the band's fifth lowest-charting single so far, it was still certified Gold by the RIAA in 2020.
#7
This track is another standout on Breaking Benjamin's album Dark Before Dawn. The song spends time immersed in the depths of despair, but it ends up rising high with strength and determination. "Angels Fall" is about not giving in and not giving up no matter what life throws your way. Musically, this track introduces new elements to the band's well-established sound. While it's still based on raw guitars and energetic vocals, "Angels Fall" also has an underlining vulnerability.
#8
This song comes from the 2007 album Phobia, one of the band's most beloved and critically acclaimed albums. It was the third single from the album, and the first Breaking Benjamin song to be certified gold by the RIAA. This track is another defiant anthem, a style now synonymous with the Breaking Benjamin sound. It features a blend of crunchy guitars and soaring vocals, with Benjamin Burnley once again fighting for survival in a cold dark world. On this track, the band uses its signature voice to ignite emotions and bring people together.
#9
Like many of the most popular Breaking Benjamin songs, this track is about the complexity of being human. Released on the band's 2009 album of the same name, it explores despair and solace through raw guitars and gut-wrenching vocals. With lyrics like “I have nothing left to give," Burnley uses his voice to paint a stark picture of personal struggle. While the words in this song are not joyful in any traditional sense, the intense delivery certainly makes you feel alive.
#10
This song comes from the 2006 album Phobia, a record dedicated to the many fears of Benjamin Burnley. The front man has a phobia of flying, driving, and death. And this album represents these fears through an introspective voice. "Dance with the Devil" is about the destructive impulses of humanity. It paints a portrait of our weakness, and shows how temptation can easily lead to disaster. Despite being so bleak, however, the anthemic quality of this track makes it truly memorable.
#11
It may not be one of the most popular Breaking Benjamin songs, but "Red Cold River" is among their very best. This track was the lead single from the band's sixth studio album, Ember. "Red Cold River" has a moody vibe and dynamic energy that certainly gets your attention. Burnley's voice screams and shouts during the pre-chorus, before delivering a clean and memorable melodic hook. "Red Cold River" is an atmospheric number full of emotion, and it was accompanied by a memorable music video.
#12
This song comes from Breaking Benjamin’s second studio album, We Are Not Alone. Released in 2004, this full-length album also featured much-loved songs like "Rain" and "Forget It." "Firefly" features a brilliant energetic intro, which is followed by a powerful and somewhat angry voice in the chorus. It features one of the band's boldest hooks, and the musical outro is also rather special. This song was included in the soundtrack for two related video games: WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw, and WWE Day of Reckoning.
#13
"Torn in Two" has been described as the sound of a divided soul. It comes from the band's sixth studio album Ember, as the second and most successful single release. This track topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in September 2018, outperforming the album's first single, "Red Cold River." "Torn in Two" is about the eternal battle between light and dark that affects us all. Like most Breaking Benjamin songs, the lyrics of this track are incredibly powerful but not particularly subtle.
#14
late noughts, with band members parting ways due to personality differences. In August 2014, they announced a very different lineup. Other than Benjamin Burnley himself, the other four members of the band were all new. The first album with the new band was Dark Before Dawn, and "Never Again" was the fifth single from the record. While Burnley wrote 95% of this album alone, "Never Again" was a collaborative effort that perfectly represented the sound of the new band.
#15
their new lineup. This song has a familiar style, however, with metal-driven riffs coupled with catchy hooks and masculine angst. Sitting somewhere between alternative and mainstream rock, it was loved by fans but had a mixed critical reception. "Failure" was Breaking Benjamin's third single to reach No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart, after "Breath" from 2006 and "I Will Not Bow" from 2009.
A Legacy of Rock and Resilience in a Top 15
Breaking Benjamin have enjoyed a long and successful musical career. From their origin at the turn of the century to more than two decades of releases, they have been responsible for dozens of great tracks and albums. If you like raw energetic rock with powerful anthemic hooks and emotional delivery, why not add some of these songs to your next playlist?
Their newest single “Awaken” is out now and coupled with a limited-edition collection of merch. Find their list of tour dates and cities here to grab your tickets.
