Skillet is a well-known rock band who has embodied rock and roll for over 20 years. Their passion and committment to Christ-centered rock has been both influential and evolutionary. They have earned over a dozen RIAA certifications of gold, platinum, or multi-platinum statuses. With more than 12 million albums sold worldwide, and if you've ever seen them perform, you know they deserve the recognition.
Many Christian fans have been introduced to Skillet's music thorugh their radio hits, such as "The Older I Get," "What I Believe," or "Stars." Yet, some of the band's most significant impact has been found in their mainstream rock hits, like "Awake & Alive," "Hero," and "Monster." The last of which has garnered four billion streams worldwide. Other major rock songs have been anthems for WWE, ESPN, the NFL, and more.
Their music continues to press boundaries. Their most recent release, Dominion,proves that fact. Here are some of their best rock songs from their last seven albums, starting with their 2003 record, Collide.
"Destiny" (Dominion)
Fresh from Dominion, "Destiny" has a fully-realized and evolved sound of melodic elements and rock and roll energy. Skillet has continually evolved their music into a modern melodic rock sound through the years. And there were several songs on Dominion that showcased this growth. A major influence on Skillet's modern sound is band member Jen Ledger's vocals and drumming. Her echoes and harmonizing with John Cooper's leading vocals has become a signature and adds to this song's significance.
"Save Me" (Victorious)
One of the staples of Skillet's music is vulnerability in admitting that we need help, and, as the title suggests, "Save Me," is one of those songs that stand out. Coming from the album ,Victorious, which explores the themes of victory, "Save Me" instead dives into the darker part of victory: rising out of defeat. The song features an excellent music video that explores what it's like to be lost in the dark. This mid-tempo rock song acts as an anthem for many in dark and lonely places.
"Out of Hell" (Unleashed)
Similarly to "Save Me" in lyrical style, "Out of Hell" also cries out of a state of hopelessness for a chance to be saved. Unlike the former and many others, the energy in "Out of Hell" is exhilarating; being one of the most amped-up, high-energy songs standing as a stark contrast to the desperate lyrics. A modern rock trope finds its way in, such as chanting of "Oh-Oh"s, which is the only weak point here. The rest of the band also shines and calls back to Skillet's earlier days when Jen's vocals weren't a present factor.
"Rise" (Rise)
"Rise" is one of Skillet's all-time most popular songs, especially thanks to the duality of Jen and John sharing vocals. In addition, lead guitarist Seth Morrison's influence on his first record, Rise, with the band is unmistakable. The song's lyrics are timeless, echoing the ever-present call to rise above the chaos and disunity in our world. The song is also the opening to the record being a more concept-story based album, which is unlike most of the band's work. The result is a powerful opener to a great story.
"Hero" (Awake)
Reaching over one billion global streams, it's no surprise why so many fans love the song "Hero" from the 2009 album, Awake. The song has a captivating music video, and is one of the first songs that Jen and John shared vocals on. Awake won the Billboard Music Award for Best Christian Album in 2011 (Skillet's first). And drummer and vocalist Jen Ledger recieved more recognition as the next Rising Star in the Drummies! Award of 2012. Needless to say, "Hero" helped launch Skillet forward with significant momentum for years to come.
"Whispers in the Dark" (Comatose)
Sometimes, closing tracks resound with listeners more than other hit singles. For example, Awake's closer, "Lucy," is one of the most tender songs the band has ever written. "The Resistance," from Skillet's 2016 album, Unleashed, is a fan-favorite despite almost being a B-side. With Comatose, fans latched onto "Whispers in the Dark." The comfort found in the song's lyrics of "No!/You'll Never Be Alone/When darkness comes I'll light the night with stars" has continued to be an encouragement for many. Musically, it is an excellent example of Skillet's growth from the industrial roots to melodic, modern rock that Comatose encapsulated.
"Imperfection" (Collide)
When Skillet released Collide in 2003,there was a huge shift in rock music. Bands Flyleaf and Breaking Benjamin both released debut albums. And rock legends Linkin Park released their second album, Meteora.Rock music was ditching electronica and leaning into the industrial, grittier sounds. Collide was that for Skillet. The album remains the most musically and vocally aggressive record to date. Even though "Forsaken" and "Savior" are known greats, the songwriting and musical style in "Imperfection" is a great foreshadow of some of Skillet's big hits today. The song has a balance of slowed moments, amped-up choruses, and directly relatable lyrics that offer encouragement in our hurt. Those elements remind people of a great Skillet song.
Ryan Adams lives with his family in Montana. He has been NRT's Rock Reporter since 2019.
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