Breaking Benjamin have officially entered a new era with the release of their heavy new single “Something Wicked,” marking the band’s latest step toward their long-awaited next studio album. The track follows 2024’s comeback single “Awaken” and arrives as the group prepares for a massive 2026 touring cycle across the U.S. and Europe.
The song first appeared publicly during Breaking Benjamin’s set at the 2026 Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida, on May 9. Before launching into the track live, frontman Benjamin Burnley told the crowd that he normally refuses to play new material before release, but made an exception for “Something Wicked.” He introduced it by saying, “This is our new single.”
The official studio version followed shortly afterward, officially launching online on May 13 after days of teasing through a cryptic countdown website tied to the phrase “Something Wicked.” Fans quickly connected the teaser to Welcome To Rockville, where the band planned to debut the song live before its digital release.
According to the band, “Something Wicked” represents a more intense creative direction. Burnley explained that the group deliberately pushed themselves further than before while making the track, saying: “We pushed every boundary we’ve previously had… ‘Something Wicked’ was the result.” The statement immediately fueled speculation that the upcoming album may lean heavier and darker than much of the band’s recent material.
The release also continues Breaking Benjamin’s comeback momentum after “Awaken,” which dropped on October 16, 2024. That song marked the band’s first new music since 2018 and became a major rock-radio success, reaching No. 1 on the Rock Digital Songs chart while reportedly surpassing 131 million streams. “Awaken” also marked the band’s first release through BMG after leaving longtime label Hollywood Records.
Behind the scenes, the band has also undergone major lineup changes. Welcome To Rockville marked Breaking Benjamin’s first performance with touring drummer Brian Medeiros, formerly of Red and Otherwise. Medeiros officially replaced James Cassells, who had temporarily filled in after longtime drummer Shaun Foist stepped away due to health issues connected to Hashimoto’s disease.
Before introducing Medeiros onstage, the band publicly thanked Cassells for helping them “in a time of need” over the previous eight months. The drummer transition added another layer of significance to the festival performance, making the night feel like both a relaunch and a fresh chapter for the band.
The Welcome To Rockville appearance included more than just the debut of “Something Wicked.” During the set, Breaking Benjamin reunited with Lacey Sturm for a performance of their collaborative track “Dear Agony,” giving fans another major moment during the festival weekend.
Now the focus turns toward the band’s upcoming album, which still has not received an official title or release date. However, multiple reports confirm that “Awaken” and “Something Wicked” are both expected to appear on the project, which will become Breaking Benjamin’s seventh studio album and their first full-length release since 2018’s Ember.
The band’s touring schedule is equally ambitious. Breaking Benjamin are set to return to Europe and the UK in summer 2026 for the first time since 2017, performing alongside Chevelle at festivals including Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park, Hellfest, Graspop, Nova Rock, and Rock For People.
Following the European run, the group will head back to North America for a major fall 2026 tour featuring Chevelle, Starset, and Kami Kehoe. The tour announcement signals one of the busiest periods the band has had in years.
For a band that spent years mostly silent between releases, “Something Wicked” feels less like a standalone single and more like a statement. Between a heavier sound, a new drummer, major touring plans, and a long-awaited album finally approaching, Breaking Benjamin appear determined to remind rock audiences exactly why they remained one of the biggest active-rock bands of the 2000s and beyond.
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