Red Cold River
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Red Cold River
| cover = Red Cold River by Breaking Benjamin.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Breaking Benjamin
| album = Ember
| released = {{Start date|2018|01|05}}
| recorded = 2017
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Hard rock{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/the-40-best-hard-rock-songs-of-2018/|title=The 40 Best Hard Rock Songs of 2018|date=December 3, 2018|website=Loudwire|language=en|access-date=December 18, 2018}}|alternative metal{{cite web |last1=Yadav |first1=Dylan |title=Breaking Benjamin Return To Form With 'Red Cold River' |url=http://www.immortalreviews.com/home/2018/1/5/breaking-benjamin-return-to-form-with-red-cold-river |website=Immortal Reviews |date=January 5, 2018 |access-date=11 April 2022}}}}
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=23}}
| label = Hollywood
| writer = *Aaron Bruch
- Benjamin Burnley
- Jasen Rauch
- Keith Wallen{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/red-cold-river-mw0003135720|title=Red Cold River - Breaking Benjamin - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|accessdate=January 18, 2018}}
| producer = *Aaron Bruch
- Benjamin Burnley
- Jasen Rauch
- Keith Wallen
| prev_title = Never Again
| prev_year = 2017
| next_title = Torn in Two
| next_year = 2018
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|2kCbFmjEi6A|"Red Cold River"}}}}
}}
"Red Cold River" is a song by American rock band Breaking Benjamin. It was their lead single from their sixth studio album Ember. The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.
Background
"Red Cold River" was first announced as the lead single for the band's sixth studio album, Ember, in December 2017.{{cite web|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2017/12/19/breaking-benjamin-announces-new-single-red-cold-river.html|title=Breaking Benjamin announces new single, "Red Cold River" - Music News - ABC News Radio|website=ABC News Radio|accessdate=January 18, 2018}} A short teaser clip of the song was released on January 1, 2018,{{cite web|url=http://www.theprp.com/2018/01/01/news/breaking-benjamin-tease-new-single-red-cold-river/|title=Breaking Benjamin Tease New Single "Red Cold River"|date=January 1, 2018|website=Theprp.com|accessdate=January 18, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://teamrock.com/news/2018-01-05/listen-to-new-breaking-benjamin-single-red-cold-river|title=Listen to new Breaking Benjamin single Red Cold River|date=January 5, 2018|website=Teamrock.com|accessdate=January 18, 2018}} while the full song was later officially released on January 5, 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/hear-breaking-benjamins-new-single-red-cold-river/|title=Hear BREAKING BENJAMIN's New Single 'Red Cold River'|date=January 5, 2018|website=Blabbermouth.net|accessdate=January 18, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.alternativeaddiction.com/AANewsArticle/breaking-benjamin-releases-trailer-for-red-cold-river-video|title=Breaking Benjamin Releases Trailer for "Red Cold River" Video - Alternative Addiction|website=www.alternativeaddiction.com|accessdate=January 18, 2018}} The song debuted number 38 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in its first week at radio, making it the biggest gainer on the chart of the week.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-mainstream-rock-tracks/2018-01-13|title=Rock Music: Top Mainstream Rock Songs Chart|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=January 18, 2018}} A music video was released on January 18, 2018, featuring alternating footage of the band performing, and scenes of an anguished father who finds his missing daughter dead near a creek.{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/breaking-benjamin-red-cold-river-video/|title=Breaking Benjamin Reveal Chilling Tale in 'Red Cold River' Video|website=Loudwire.com|date=January 19, 2018 |accessdate=February 3, 2018}} The man meets a Native American woman who helps him see a vision of the man who killed his daughter and was a part of the search party. The father transforms into a monster, hunts down the killer, and beats him almost to death, but stops upon seeing the angel of his deceased daughter.
Themes and composition
The song features a "dark and moody" guitar riff{{cite web|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2018/1/2/breaking-benjamin-shares-teaser-for-upcoming-single-red-cold.html|title=Breaking Benjamin shares teaser for upcoming single, "Red Cold River" - Music News - ABC News Radio|website=ABC News Radio|accessdate=January 18, 2018}} and quiet-loud dynamics, with sections of "lunging, low-slung rhythms juxtaposed by soaring atmospheric moments".{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/breaking-benjamin-new-song-red-cold-river/|title=Listen to Breaking Benjamin's Crushing New Song 'Red Cold River'|website=Loudwire.com|date=January 5, 2018 |accessdate=January 18, 2018}} The band's lead vocalist Benjamin Burnley employs screamed vocals in the pre-chorus, followed by clean, melodic vocals in the chorus, singing the dark lines "I can't feel anything at all / this life has left me cold and damned". The song's "heavy yet melodic" sound was compared to prior Breaking Benjamin songs "I Will Not Bow" and "The Diary of Jane".{{cite web|url=http://audioinkradio.com/2018/01/breaking-benjamin-red-cold-river-song-review/|title=Breaking Benjamin Get Heavy with 'Red Cold River' – Song Review - Audio Ink Radio|website=Audioinkradio.com|date=January 16, 2018 |accessdate=January 18, 2018}}
Reception
Initial critical reception of the song was mixed. Metal Injection praised the song for being "catchy" and having a "memorable enough hook" that takes effect after hearing the song three times.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalinjection.net/av/new-music/breaking-benjamins-new-song-red-cold-river-will-get-stuck-in-your-head-the-third-time-you-hear-it|title=BREAKING BENJAMIN's New Song "Red Cold River" Will Get Stuck in Your Head (The Third Time You Hear It) - Metal Injection|date=January 9, 2018|website=Metalinjection.net|accessdate=January 18, 2018}} MetalSucks was less enthusiastic, criticizing that it sounded too much like early 2000s rock music from the band and similar artists such as Seether and Theory of a Deadman.{{cite web|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2018/01/09/breaking-benjamin-still-a-band/|title=Breaking Benjamin: Still a Band - MetalSucks|date=January 9, 2018|website=Metalsucks.com|accessdate=January 18, 2018}}
In its first week of release, the song sold 22,000 copies in the US.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8095208/breaking-benjamin-red-cold-river-rock-charts|title=Breaking Benjamin Flows Onto Rock Charts With 'Red Cold River'|publisher=Billboard|accessdate=February 3, 2018}}
Personnel
- Benjamin Burnley – lead vocals
- Jasen Rauch – lead guitar
- Keith Wallen – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
- Aaron Bruch – bass, backing vocals
- Shaun Foist – drums
Charts
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=Weekly charts=
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=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (2018)
! Position |
|---|
| US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/hot-rock-songs|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=March 27, 2020}}
| style="text-align:center;"|32 |
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Breaking Benjamin}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Benjamin Burnley
Category:Breaking Benjamin songs
Category:Songs written by Jasen Rauch