Skillet Awake

As rich of history as Skillet’s makes it near impossible for an article or cover story to do them justice. The grammy nominated four-some have been pumping out music for nearly fifteen years, and are just now beginning to be noticed outside of Christian rock circles. Never bounded by genres, they’ve experimented with neo-hippie rock, electronica laced rhythms, industrial metal tech fests, grungy hard rock, and a more top-40esque sound on their latest Comatose.

While the band garnered quite the fanbase with previous albums, Comatose worked to catch the ears of many new listeners with its mainstream sensibilities. Spawning multiple headlining tours, a re-released deluxe edition, and a DVD of their live performance, Comatose was extremely successful.

Awake looks to pick up where the band left off, however feels a little premature. Only two years have passed since the incredibly successful album, and a project looking to fill such shoes would seemingly require a fair amount of time. Regardless Awake is here, and ready for the store shelves.

Perhaps nothing characterizes Awake more than the words straight from John Cooper’s mouth, “[Awake] is even more immediate than Comatose.” In a musical sense, the album takes their new sound to the next level. While Comatose had power ballads, Awake has several. While Comatose inched on radio friendly territory (think Shinedown), Awake runs into at blazing speed. While Comatose could have been perceived as geared toward at a new audience, Awake undoubtedly is.

And this isn’t inherently bad. Teaming up with famed producer Howard Benson, Skillet has never sounded so… “large.” Songs are loud, catchy, memorable, and fun. “Hero” is a hook heavy anthem, “Monster” would feel at home on rock radio, and “One Day Too Late” is easily top-40 material. Gone however are the days of the band’s signature gritty heaviness, metaphorical lyrics, and perhaps more original songwriting.

It does feel slightly odd to hear Cooper singing some of the lyrics. The married thirty-six year old sings of broken dating relationships in “Should’ve When You Could’ve” and teen driven angst in “It’s Not Me It’s You” shouting in the chorus “It’s not me it you! It’s not me its you! It’s not me its you! All the lies and stupid things you say and do. It’s you!” However, the album is not without its highlights. “Awake and Alive” takes the brilliance of Comatose’s title track and almost reinvents it perfectly, “Don’t Wake Me” is one of their best ballads, “Lucy” will undoubtedly pull at the heart strings bound to have listeners thinking about life in a way much music doesn’t.

The album feels specifically branded for a younger audience, but at times this tends to make the album fun. Some are the songs are just great to rock out too. Awake stands on its own, but does fall in comparison to their previous material. Unfortunately many longtime pinheads may be disappointed, but Awake will undoubtedly pull new ones in.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Street Date: August 25th
Label: Atlantic Records

Track Listing:

1.) Hero
2.) Monster
3.) Don’t Wake Me
4.) Awake And Alive
5.) One Day Too late
6.) It’s Not Me It’s You
7.) Should’ve When You Could’ve
8.) Believe
9.) Forgiven
10.) Sometimes
11.) Never Surrender
12.) Lucy