One Man In The Middle brings you regular, unbiased and honest reviews of music albums and EPs from Christian artists and musicians in the UK and worldwide. Here we have Unleashed by Skillet with an overall review score of 9.6 out of 10.
Album Information:
Following 2013’s bestselling Rise, Skillet returns with a twelve track set of heart-pounding anthems and high volume hooks. Unleashed finds John Cooper and company at the height of their songcraft, with heart-on-your-sleeve odes to strength in Christ, shout-along choruses, and stadium-sized electronic rockers.
Review:
This is the tenth studio album from the band Skillet. Of course the members of the band have changed somewhat from the early days but the current line-up are John and Korey Cooper, Jen Ledger and Seth Morrison. The band released their previous album “Rise” in 2013 to great acclaim and toured that for a year and a half before announcing in 2015 that they were working on new material. It took longer to release than expected initially planned for late 2015 or early 2016, but the album didn’t actually hit until August this year. Was it worth the 3 year wait for something new from these alternative rockers?
The people at WWE Battleground clearly thought so as “Feel Invincible” became the official 2016 theme song and it is this track that leads off the album. This brings a high-octane sound that it’s very hard not to enjoy. With some meaty guitars, brilliant electro sounds and John Coopers brilliant and distinctive vocals, echoed by some great backing vocals this is a song that will sweep you along and is just great to listen to. In fact there are so many brilliant and incredibly catchy tracks on this album it’s going to be hard not to repeat myself when talking about them.
Not many Christian albums would have a song about coming back from the dead, especially with references to zombies, but Skillet have done it with “Back From The Dead” and it’s a great track, whatever it’s really about. It’s a track that will be instantly recognisable and very catchy. From zombies they turn their attention to the Creator and the reassurance that if God can hold the stars, or calm the raging sea then He can definitely be here and deal with the things going on within us in “Stars”.
“I want to live my life / The choice is mine, I’ve made up my mind / Now, I’m free to start again / The way I want to live and breathe /I may not know nothing else / But I know this, I want to live” is the chorus that delivers a body blow musically and lyrically to the listener with a brilliant combination of vocals between John and Jen powering this song of desperation for freedom home.
There is a positive message of strength that sits well in this alternative rock style, we’ve seen it in “Feel Invincible” and that vibe continues with “Undefeated”, it continues in a slightly different style in the track “Lions” It could be said that it is “Lions” that is the key track on this album which ties up some of the threads that dangle on this album, the reason we are undefeated and feel invincible is because we walk by faith and not by sight. There is a triumphalist understanding that we are sons and daughters of God so if we fly we will fly like eagles, we’re gonna fear no evil, we’re gonna stand like giants and walk like lions. It’s not in our strength in is through the Spirit. So often as Christians we believe that we should be doormats, but this album shows true strength, worth and purpose comes from following God.
It’s important to note that they have stretched themselves bumping into other genres as they do so with “Famous” certainly moving into an electro-dance sphere and “Stars” being quite a moving ballad. There are plenty of meaty tunes and guitars to remind you that this is Skillet you are listening to!
John Cooper said that he wanted to make music that people could connect with lyrically and musically and really feel. I think it is safe to say that this album is mission accomplished as these great tracks connect music, head and heart. They have great hooks that will stay with the listener long after the song or album has finished. The guitars and keys which are prominent on this album work well together and the band are comfortable in who and what they are, and this comes across fluidly in the music. There are soft songs, stadium songs and some great headbangers and the occasional moment where the guitars sing. If you haven’t yet picked up “Unleashed” then have a listen below and buy the album. If you want some very accessible rock which can uplift the soul then this latest release from Skillet should be at the top of your list. I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to this album and I think it may well stay on my playlist for some time to come!
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