Breaking Benjamin seemed to come out of nowhere with their 2002 debut, "Saturate." Their seemingly effortless knack for combining larger than life riffs and beautiful melodies were enough to win over anyone who was willing to listen. And now, just two years later, they follow up with an album that, shockingly, improves upon what was already in place with their debut. Everything you liked about Breaking Benjamin is still here, just taken to the next level; The anthems are more powerful and the ballads more potent. The first single, and opening track, the slow-burning "So Cold" gets "We Are Not Alone" off to a good start, as all eleven tracks go by with ease. "Sooner Or Later," "Break My Fall" and "Simple Design" are the standard for Breaking Benjamin, heavy but sensitive, while other riff rockers like "Breakdown" and "Believe" take things up a notch. Also of note is the band's collaboration with Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins/Zwan) on three tracks: "Follow Me" and the two stand-out ballads "Rain" and "Forget It." Maybe I'm biased, being a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan for so long, but these three songs are easily the high-points of an already incredible album. I really can't say anything bad about this release. Breaking Benjamin did nothing but improve. Their debut was extremely mature for a new band, and the fact that they can put out something even better for their sophmore release means that the next album from these guys will blow everyone away. If you loved their debut or just rock music in general, you owe it to yourself to pick up "We Are Not Alone."

Now this CD is just as good if not better than the debit album 'Saturate'. I'm an alt rock, heavy rock and nu-metal fan and this album 'We Are Not Alone' is a smashing hit. This CD has 1 flaw but the rest is refreshingly good. The first song 'So Cold is one of the best alt rock songs I have heard since Fuel's 'Bittersweet'. The video clip that is enhanced on this CD once you play it on your CD-ROM is breath-taking and a winner. I am now hooked on Breaking Benjamin and a fan. Wow. Another good song is 'Firefly' which is sung perfectly. The song 'Sooner or Later' was my personal favourite of this CD with a pure rock sound and the guitar in this song was exceptional. The only song I didn't like and I felt didn't suit this album was the last track 'Rain'. That was the only flaw in an otherwise wonderful sophmore album.

Well, wadd'ya know. After one promising album, Breaking Benjamin tighten up and refine their sound for a superb second album, and befriend Smashing Pumpkin Billy Corgan. Although "Saturate" had the occasional lighter musical touch, "We Are Not Alone" find the BB's really getting into the dynamics of recording. Even the rocking first single "So Cold" shows that they have figured out how to use the studio as an instrument. It still rips like a locomotive, but has a solid sense of texture. So does "Breakdown," which rocks hard but also includes a seriously catchy chorus.

Most indicative of this band's growth are "Forget It" and "Rain." Two of the songs co-written by Corgan, they are the ballads that find lead singer Benjamin Burnley jettisoning his nu-metal growl and actually singing. (They're also 10 times better than anything on Corgan's over-hyped Zwan project.) It makes for a grandiose touch to "Rain" and makes "Forget It" sound like a hit single. It also helps guitar hero in the making Aaron Fink show off his range on both the electric to acoustic leads. Breaking Benjamin beat the sophomore jinx here, and remain a band to watch.

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This album is a prime example of what a band should be...dynamic and not static. With all four members of the band contributing to the music, with some help from Billy Corgan formerly of Smashing Pumpkins, you can hear the band coming into their own. While not as hard and edgy as their first album "Saturate", the melodic heaviness on WANA leaves the listener wanting more. There is certainly nothing lacking from album to album. It shows the true talent of vocalist/guitarist/lyricist Ben Burnley as he explores new options in his vocal range. Aaron Fink shows off his writing ability in the hard driving "Believe". Jeremy Hummel and Markus James, drummer and bassist respectively, keep the bass section as a part of each song, not as a backdrop. The songs "Simple Design", "Breakdown" and "Away", the three other heaviest songs, speak for themselves. "Rain" and "Forget It", the two slow songs co-written by Corgan, show a unique sensitive side not normally associated with Breaking Benjamin. The remaining songs are "So Cold", "Follow", "Firefly", "Break My Fall" and "Sooner or Later" are all somewhere in between as far as decibal wise, but they are all amazing songs reflecting the band's showmanship. In fact, listening to "Saturate" and "WANA" back to back makes for interesting listening.

First off, I have to say that the person that claims that Breaking Benjamin are instructing you to swallow scissors and rob liquor stores needs to invest in a life. Anyway, I didn't know before I came onto this site that We Are Not Alone isn't the band's first album, but at any rate, it ain't bad.

Before hearing this album, the only song I was familiar with was "So Cold". That song is still a highlight, as is "Firefly". But even better than that is when you get to the middle of the album, where you get a great three-in-a-row: "Break My Fall", "Forget It", and my favorite, "Sooner or Later".

The only really negative thing to say about this album is that there are some otherwise good songs that have okay choruses, like "Simple Design" and especially "Rain". But those things don't stand in the way of this great album, and avid fans of hard rock shouldn't regret discovering Breaking Benjamin if they haven't already.

Anthony Rupert