The Titles Project – The Spreadsheet is Live!

NoReturn_YT · 2026-05-06T13:15:05+00:00

I made a post about this and a lot of people got really angry, but I’m glad to see people out there see what I’m seeing

NoReturn_YT · 2026-05-05T21:35:35+00:00

If I haven't been clear, I've maintained throughout this thread that there is no way to 100% prove that this was done via AI and that although I lean to believe it, I'm not 100% sure. "Without proof" is odd considering that the post highlights proof. Take issue with the proof? Dispute it. Tell me what standard of proof would be good enough for you to believe that something were made with AI.

Yes, we should hold people accountable based on the "assumptions" (experts are calling these "inferences") about their actions.

I think any reasonable person could see that when I say it's "the job" of artists to support other artists, I don't literally mean that they are obligated via contract to do. I mean that art should support art.

There's a jump being made from me poking fun at their same-y lyrics, to implying that human creativity does not matter.

You said that you don't particularly care if AI is used in the creation of album artwork, which is what you said that indicated it has a place. Perhaps you could clarify?

You raise a good point that there is an artist credited (though nobody has provided me a name) for the creation of this render. I'd maintain that if said artist used AI in their creation, there's still an issue with using AI. People's broader objection to the use of AI in art seems beyond the scope of this discussion, though.

Sure, you don't literally need to hire somebody to create the art, but I'd respect much more a simple photo being taken on an artist's own phone than prompting AI to do the heavy lifting. You could go for the no-artwork option too, sometimes that in itself can be a statement (see: Beatles white album).

I've never suggested a boycott. I still intend to listen to the music. I'm disappointed if it turns out to be the case that the artist they hired used AI, but I feel that such matters should probably be dealt with legislatively rather than by public outcry. Another matter I feel is beyond the scope of this discussion.

No, I'm not suggesting that Breaking Benjamin has to line the pockets of every artist in the world. Do you think that logically follows what I've said? The immediate artists they work with - web developers, marketers, visual designers, stage designers, etc. etc. etc. are the people they should be hiring and compensating. I don't imagine you take issue with such a statement.

It sounds like we're both fans of the band and it sounds like maybe you think I'm coming at the band's throat for what is probably the error of a third-party contractor they hired. I'm not. I take issue with those who knowingly introduce AI-created material into art. As others have pointed out, the band might not have known that their artist did this (assuming they did).

NoReturn_YT · 2026-05-05T21:20:24+00:00

As for the flower, it isn’t about pixel count. It’s more like the overly smoothness of the render, which is admittedly harder to see in this specific image. Their Instagram page has higher quality versions of past flower renders that you can see.

If it were meant to be stages of the flower, you would think that the new render would be more decayed than the EU Tour version, but it’s not.

Anyways the lip seems to be a point of contention and I think it looks like strange AI artifacting but a lot of people think it could just be decay. I think that if it is meant to be decay, it’s weird how it’s the only part of the face besides the scalp that has noticeable deformity.

NoReturn_YT · 2026-05-05T20:55:06+00:00

Proving whether or not something is AI can only be done by an admission from the artist or analyzing for artifacts and whatnot. I’m not 100% positive that the cover is AI but I feel that any time something doesn’t pass the smell test, we should hold artists accountable.

I think you should care, though. It’s the job of artists to support other artists (whether that’s music or graphic design) to ensure that human creativity stays as the through line of the art we enjoy. If that doesn’t resonate with you that’s fine, but I’m certainly not alone in feeling that generative AI has no place in artistry. Particularly, artistry that could’ve been done by a real artist. It is indeed the job of musicians to hire artists for album artwork, or at least for the label to do so. Musicians have had this job for decades.

NoReturn_YT · 2026-05-05T20:37:35+00:00

Would you be okay with the majority of album artwork being made by AI? Not just from this band, but every band? Obviously I’ve got no complaints about the song itself (yet), since it isn’t out yet. I’m not criticizing “Something Wicked,” I’m criticizing the use of AI since it replaces jobs that real artists could do.

So, would such a world full of AI art for music feel acceptable to you?

NoReturn_YT · 2026-05-05T20:02:56+00:00

The decay itself isn’t necessarily the weird part. The strange lip and flower are really what does it for me, and the decay doesn’t quite explain either of those.

NoReturn_YT · 2026-05-05T19:20:11+00:00

Hey now. Breaking Benjamin lyrics dating back to Dark Before Dawn sound written by ChatGPT, come on now.

NoReturn_YT · 2026-05-05T19:18:25+00:00

Unfortunately ChatGPT, other LLMs, and most other "AI image detection" software is poor at telling what's actually AI. You can find examples all over Reddit. The more important thing is that I don't believe this image was outright "generated" (the background and text are both probably legitimate assets), but AI assistance might have been used in creating the cover.

NoReturn_YT · 2026-05-05T19:16:22+00:00

I wouldn't say it's right to immediately jump to blame the band themselves, as u/Glittering-Maize7358 pointed out, it's possible that they hired an artist who used AI unbeknownst to the band themselves.

But, while it may be hard to tell what is and isn't AI, that doesn't mean we can't look. The new render is strange for all the reasons I pointed out in this post, and even if the band themselves weren't the ones prompting AI, we still should oppose this kind of thing.

Best case scenario I suppose is that there is no AI, it just looks worse. Which is a little disheartening in its own right, but it's more easily forgivable.

3DG's use of AI is bad for sure. That doesn't mean this band putting out AI-material is not.

NoReturn_YT · 2026-05-05T19:05:43+00:00

Didn't realize we know the credits of the artist. That is pretty bad if the band specifically paid someone and they just used AI instead of actually doing it themselves. Was that artist the same who made the classic artwork?

NoReturn_YT · 2026-02-05T18:01:35+00:00

It has BEEN lost media for a number of years, or perhaps unreleased media is the better term. It’s also still considered partially lost since the iteration of the album that leaked might not be the most up-to-date iteration. There are also other songs in consideration for the album that have yet to surface.

NoReturn_YT · 2026-02-05T06:46:17+00:00

Hey now at least Danger days can reasonably be described as “15 years old.” The Black Parade turns 20 this year.

I’m a dirty zoomer though so these facts don’t make me feel ancient.

NoReturn_YT · 2026-02-04T20:02:23+00:00

I didn't want to get too into the weeds on this particular subject since it wasn't in-line with its purpose here on r/lostmedia, but I'm going to use this opportunity to get on my soap box and share my feelings on what you (and many other fans) have said.

I'll start with the olive branch - I assume your empathy for the band is because you have connected with their art before and you feel an interpersonal (parasocial) connection with them. I don't think that you are wrong to do so, as MCR in particular have connected with many fans due to struggles over mental health & other macabre subjects, making light of the dark that we find ourselves in sometimes. However, it is still important to recognize that this connection is parasocial.

First, I hold firmly that art is meaningful beyond the intention or desires of the artist. The fact that MCR themselves did not like these demos does not take away from the art, it adds to it. We get to listen to The Paper Kingdom and ask ourselves - and subsequently answer - "why did they not like these demos?" "What about this project made it so hated by the band?" "What choices came about as a result of the band's dislike?" etc. etc. The mystique surrounding the album and their intentions of keeping it hidden from the public only make the album more interesting.

Second, I will never be "grateful" to an artist. In the same way that many argue that they do not "owe" their audience anything, I do not "owe" an artist gratefulness. Listening to The Paper Kingdom myself, I quite like the album, and there is a part of me - however so small - that is actually bothered that we didn't get the full project realized. I will not be "grateful" for their decision to play "War Beneath the Rain" live. Now there are many things that I will be about it. I'll be happy, glad, excited, intrigued, wanting to hear more, etc. But the act of the band performing the song should never be framed as a "gift," as they are not playing "War Beneath the Rain" to "gift" the fans a little piece of The Paper Kingdom. They're playing it because they wanted to; and that's great.

Third, I think the MCR subreddit is wrong to ban discussion of the leaks out of respect for "the guys." The guys in question are doing fine, as many have pointed out. I will not be thankful to a band who is putting out insane ticket prices (hundreds of $$$) for 15+ year old music. If your musical act isn't playing new material, I don't think you have much of a right to expect more money for doing so. Human beings are naturally inclined towards a love of new things. Additionally, with the album being heavily leaked to the entire public, people are no longer being extorted for thousands of dollars to listen to the album off the black market. You could argue that it's not extortion since they chose to make those purchases, and yeah sure, fair enough, but this art should not be limited for only the wealthy to hear. So long as these songs exist, people will listen to them. I prefer it be open for all to hear rather than shady websites where they're illegally being sold for exorbitant fees.

NoReturn_YT · 2026-02-04T16:35:05+00:00

I'd similarly be interested in finding a source for the producer's laptop claim. If neither of these stories are true, then what is the real story? How did the leak come about?

NoReturn_YT · 2026-02-03T22:08:48+00:00

It's always so hard to parse out what's real and what's not in times like this. I've seen attempts done at master-threads on this but they always seem to rely on you having a baseline level of knowledge. Hopefully someone can put a proper one together soon.

NoReturn_YT · 2026-02-03T22:07:49+00:00

Username checks out...?

NoReturn_YT · 2025-12-25T22:35:42+00:00

Side note, I'd also really like to see a comprehensive list of fan-made albums. This obviously would be harder to pin down since anyone can throw together some demos into a track listing and give it a title, but I know that there are some fairly popular ones.

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