Format Digital download Label Hollywood | Genre Alternative metal | |
Released November 3, 2004 (2004-11-03)
February 23, 2010 (2010-02-23)
June 7, 2011 (2011-06-07) (feat. Valora) Length 03:26
03:09 (feat. Valora) Writer(s) Benjamin Burnley
Jeremy Hummel | ||
"Blow Me Away" is a song by American rock band Breaking Benjamin. The song is a non-album single, originally appearing on the 2004 video game Halo 2, also featured on the band's So Cold EP. It was later released in 2010 as a digital single. In 2011, a remixed version of the song was released on Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin, featuring vocals of Sydnee Duran from Valora. Written by vocalist and guitarist Benjamin Burnley and then-drummer Jeremy Hummel, the song is described as featuring "hard rock roots, ... a vocal-centric aesthetic, heavy electric rhythm guitars", and "an aggressive male vocalist".
Contents
Releases
"Blow Me Away" was first featured in the video game Halo 2 on November 9, 2004, encountered in the levels "Outskirts" and "Gravemind". It was later released on the first volume of the game's original soundtrack. The track did not feature any vocals in-game, though the studio recording was featured on the soundtrack. In 2006 and 2007 it was used as the theme song to Boost Mobile MLG Pro Circuit, the broadcast of the Major League Gaming Halo 2 Pro Circuit. On November 23, 2004, the song was released on the band's So Cold EP. On February 23, 2010, the song was released as an independent digital single. A remix of the song was recorded featuring vocals of Valora's Sydnee Duran, and was released as a single from the compilation album, Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin on June 7, 2011. The song did not return on the November 11, 2014 remaster of Halo 2, instead replaced by "Breaking the Covenant" by Periphery. An animated music video for the song was released on August 17, 2011, directed by Christopher Mills and produced by Geoff McLean.
Controversy
When drummer Jeremy Hummel filed a federal wrongful termination lawsuit against the band, he contended that he co-wrote the song but did not receive profits from its inclusion in the video game Halo 2. In March 2010, it was announced that Hollywood Records was seeking the band's permission to produce the remix with additional vocals from Sydnee Duran of Valora. In May 2011, while the band was on hiatus due to Burnley's health issues, guitarist Aaron Fink and bassist Mark Klepaski gave the label permission to remix the song after being offered $100,000. Burnley fired both two days later. In June, Burnley filed a lawsuit against Fink and Klepaski, seeking at least $750,000 in damages and the exclusive right to the band's name. He claimed that both members had made unilateral and unauthorized decisions on behalf of the band, though both of them denied these claims. On April 19, 2013, Burnley announced that the dispute between him and the other members had been resolved and that he retained the right to continue the band under the name Breaking Benjamin.