Music Review: Awake, Skillet

Last year they had us Comatose and in 2009, Skillet gets us Awake. Awake starts with “Hero” as it’s a brilliantly orchestral rock track full of audacious vocals from Jon and Cory Cooper wrapped around thrashing chords and pounding double bass that definitely inspires you to shout this one out. This disc’s second hit single, “Monster” which is just as pulsating as “Hero” but adds more screams and less singing as well as great shredding giving this a metallic tinge to its body.

”Awake And Alive” gets back into the symphonic melodies with amplified keyboards tweaked with violin samplings accenting the crescendo of high hats, heavy frets and that cool mix of male and female dueting nicely. Skillet offers a serene ballad on “One Day Too Late” as this song has an essence of tight hooks, rolling breaks and harmonious lyrics that is quite internal and retrospective. They give us another heart-wrencher with “It’s Not Me, It’s You” as it has that familiar combination of deep-throated shoutings and passionate chants filling our ears with gritty jams on this love-lorned tale.

“Believe” deafens the hard rock fury with this stripped-down sentimental as they’ve made this a quintessential tearjerker from the layered textures on the guitars to the double-timed drums and the hues of synths that chokes you into a good cry. “Sometimes” cranks it up again with the four-part measures and devilish rippings on the steel speaking volumes of the imperfections of a man. “Never Surrender” is this band’s arena anthem or at least it should be because it has that complexion of mid-tempo vocals and heart-on-your-sleeve material that will get all of their loyal fans going along with this one step by step.

They gave us some additional tracks that were omitted from the original pressing of this recording such as “Lucy” which was a searing power ballad trickling with stringed accompaniments and wondrous acoustics that is so peaceful and pretty. “Dead Inside” perhaps is a hidden gem on this album as it’s a romantic jaunt full of gripping rock tunage that this outfit has been known for years. “Would It Matter” rounds things out on an alluringly interpersonal note as this has lots of baritone in its voice and assertive musicianship flowing in its veins. Skillet served up more of the same excellent hard rock goodness with Awake and definitely blew it away.