Skillet released their self-titled debut album in 1996. Some of my favourite songs by them over the
years have been: ‘Whirlwind’, ‘You Take my Rights Away’, ‘Alien Youth’,
‘Collide’, ‘The Last Night’, and ‘Lucy’.
Current group members are: John L. Cooper (vocals, bass, only founding
member remaining), Korey Cooper (keyboards, programming, John’s wife), Jen
Ledger (drums/vocals), and Seth Morrison (guitars, newest member). Jonathan Chu plays violin, while Tate Olsen
plays cello. RISE (2013, Word/Atlantic
Records) is Skillet’s ninth album. The
producer is Howard Benson who has won two Grammy Awards and has worked with the
likes of Bon Jovi, Kelly Clarkson, and P.O.D.
RISE sold 60, 000 copies in the U.S. in its first week of release. It debuted at Number Four on the Billboard
200 and Number One on the Rock Albums and Christian Albums charts. I am reviewing the Deluxe Edition CD/DVD of
RISE. The CD has fifteen songs on it and
runs 61 minutes and 9 seconds.
Skillet performed the heavy rocking title track ‘Rise’ on
Conan’s late show. The song touches on
domestic violence, high unemployment rates, and a general loss of hope for many
in today’s society. Skillet is proactive
in addressing these problems: “Sound it off, this is the call!/Rise in revolution!/It’s
our time to change it all/Rise in revolution!/Unite and fight to make a better
life!/Everybody one for all/Sound off, this is the call, tonight we rise!” ‘Sick of It’ was the album’s first single. It is a pulsating rocker that could be
referring to the ills of society or a vice someone is struggling with: “Are you
sick of it?/Raise your hands/Get rid of it!/While there’s a fighting chance/Are
you over it?/Bored to death?/Have you had enough regret?/Take a stand, raise
your hands/If you’re sick of it.”
‘Good to Be Alive’ has more of a pop music feel to it, at
times sounding like Katy Perry’s ‘Last Friday Night’. Here are some of the words that praise human
companionship: “Driving down this highway/Soaking up the sun/Got miles to go
before we get home/And the journey’s just begun/We hold onto each other/You are
everything I need/You feel like forever/You’re a second chance for me/This life
could almost kill ya/When you’re trying to survive/It’s good to be here with
ya/And it’s good to be aiive.” John
Cooper and Jen Ledger trade off vocals on several tracks including ‘Not Gonna
Die’. This song seems to be about a
couple whose relationship is on the rocks.
They vow to save it: “No, not gonna die tonight/We’re gonna stand and
fight forever/(Don’t close your eyes)/No, not gonna die tonight/We’re gonna
fight for us together/No, we’re not gonna die tonight/Don’t you give up on
me/You’re everything I need/This is how it feels when you take your life
back/This is how it feels when you fight back,”
‘Circus for a Psycho’ starts off with an AC/DC style
electric guitar solo. It contains these
interesting lyrics: “Tonight, get ready for a fight/So now you know it’s
time/To ride my circus for a psycho/Round and round we go, look out
below/Because I want off this/Circus for a psycho.” ‘American Noise’ is a nice ballad that should
connect with audiences. It stresses the
importance of each individual in our chaotic society: “Times will be bad, times
will be good/Things I wish I hadn’t done and some i wish I would/Cutting
through the American noise/You’ve got a voice and a song to sing/Drink deep in
the morning (2X)/See what the day will bring/La da da da/Lift up your voice/Let
love cut through the American noise.../No matter who you are, you’ve got a
voice/Why don’t you use it?/Sing your own song, take all the noise/And make it
into music.”
’Madness in Me’ speaks of inner turmoil: “From the fire that
burns inside, consuming/I fight to stay alive but I can’t breathe/The voices
scream, the enemy takes over everything/This is the madness in me/Madness in
me/The madness in me/Madness in me (2X).”
On ‘Salvation’ Jen Ledger carries the lead vocals. At the beginning of the song one of the Cooper’s
kids talks about how Christ was bruised and wounded for us. Christian listeners and seekers alike will be
drawn to the following words: “Touch You, taste You, feel You, need You/Give it
all just to find You/Hold me, heal me/I will find You/Keeping me alive/You are
my salvation/Touch You, taste You, feel You here/Our love will never die/You
are my salvation/Hold me, heal me, keep me near/My heart will burn for You/It’s
all I can do.”
‘Fire and Fury’ is a lighter track musically and includes
these passionate sentiments: “I will burn, I will burn for you/With fire and
fury, fire and fury/My heart hurts, my heart hurts for you/Your love burns
within me/With fire and fury/Let it all fall down to dust/Can’t break the two
of us/We are safe in the strength of love/You can stop the aching/Because
you’re the one I need.” ‘My Religion’ is
a great track that blends blues and rock music.
It reflects the mentality of many in today’s society: “I don’t need to
stare at stained glass and a steeple/I don’t need to dress to impress all of
the people/Don’t need no priest, don’t need no pew/You are my religion, my
religion is you/I don’t need no other purpose, you give me a reason/Ain’t their
business what I want to believe in/You are my priest¸ you are my truth/You are
my religion, my religion is you.”
‘Hard to Find’ admits that we need others in our lives to
help us through life: “If I fall will you hold on to me?/Through it all,
promise me you won’t lose me/These days hope is hard to come by/And tonight I
don’t know how I can survive/You give me faith to believe there’s a way/To put
the past finally behind me/And hope to make it through another night/You give
me strength during these dark times when I’m blind/You are my light when faith
is hard to find.” ‘What I Believe’ is a
rock song that uses strings. It is the
song of one who is totally captivated by another: “You are what I believe/I’ll
live and die for you/This is all that I need/When nothing is real you are my
truth/In the darkness you shine/Can you keep me safe tonight/When I’m down on
my knees/You are what I believe.”
Three bonus tracks are included on the Deluxe Edition
CD. ‘Battle Cry’ is an inspiring
song. It is an optimistic call to
action: “Let it rise like a prayer in the night/Shout for love, shout for hope/Let
them hear us/I believe we can’t lose/Even mountains will move/It’s our faith,
it’s our life/This is our battle cry/They can’t take us down/If we stand our
ground/If we live, if we die/We will shout our battle cry.” ‘Everything Goes Black’ is a relatively soft
song that deals with emotional pain: “Whenever you’re gone away/The darkness
hides the day/Whenever you’re gone the bleeding won’t stop/It hurts till you
come back/Everything goes black.”
‘Freakshow’ includes these introductory words that put the spotlight on
us as Christians: “Step right up ladies and gentlemen/Come and see things your
eyes won’t believe/Some say they are aliens/Some say they are strangers/Some
say they are not of this world/We will not conform to the masses/Whether they
scorn or whether they attack us.”
RISE will not likely give Skillet’s Christian fan base as
much spiritual nourishment as past releases.
The lyrics are not that deep and some of the themes are repeats of other
Skillet songs. The songs focus more on
the emotions and feelings of everyday youth.
In that sense, the album tells a story.
This album could serve as a bridge to lead someone to Christ if it gets
them thinking about the emptiness and hurt in their lives. I do wish Skillet would have included a
couple more songs that point more directly to Christ by Name. RISE is a solid mainstream rock album
though. The vocals and music are
top-notch. At least Skillet isn’t
promoting evil in their lyrics. Perhaps
a non-Christian who likes RISE will pick up Skillet’s earlier albums and find
hope in Christ. I’m rating RISE 87% as a
rock album.
The Deluxe Edition of RISE comes with the AWAKE & LIVE
DVD. It includes nine of the Skillet’s
past hits live in concert at Winter Jam in Michigan. The stage show includes great pyrotechnics
and lighting. The group makes good use
of the stage and there is always something to look at! Jen Ledger really hits the drums with
gusto! Onstage John Cooper lets the
crowd know he is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power
of God unto salvation. He also tells the
burdened to come to Jesus for rest. The
DVD also includes behind the scenes and before the show goofy antics and
preparations. John Cooper talks of how
he was influenced by Petra, DeGarmo and Key, Stryper, and Amy Grant. Fans also get a look at the making of RISE
and a look at the band’s promotional photoshoot. Also included on the DVD is ‘Heart and
Passion’ by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. It documents Skillet’s performances alongside
Franklin Graham. John Cooper sees what
he does as mission work. I’m rating the
DVD portion of RISE 90%. This year
Skillet will tour with such respected mainstream bands as Shinedown, Papa
Roach, and Nickelback. For more info
visit www.skillet.com.