This album arrived for review without a press release, so my knowledge of Skillet has been gleaned from the bottom of a frying pan, no sorry from the web. They are an American 4-piece Christian rock band whose previous albums have sold a lot of records in America. They also appeared on Fox & Friends to promote this release. The album when put into my computer claims to be religious music.
The album opens with Surviving The Game that's a full on rousing slice of goth metal in a similar vein to Lacuna Coil only with the vocals more male led than female led as they tell us we should all do what we have to keep Surviving the game of life.
Standing In The Storm has raging guitars whipping that storm up as the righteous vocals hammer home the message that you need to stand strong no matter what life throws at you.
Dominion has nothing to do with the Sister Of Mercy and is instead a full on pummel the drums to the floor rousing modern hard rock song of defiance of those that seek to put you down, so rebel and take Dominion over your own destiny.
Valley of Death is a far quieter, more contemplative song with strings and heartfelt lyrics some of which are obviously taken from the scriptures as they seek salvation and help from there god.
Beyond Incredible should get a sizeable crowd moshing along with it with there fists in the air on the huge as can be chorus as everyone decides they are indeed Beyond Incredible.
Destiny makes sure we all know that Skillet make their own Destiny, while making sure we all know that if you need help to change your life for the positive then you should find the help you need, the rapped part really does make them sound like Lacuna Coil and as the rousing rock rises up you too will feel this song is your Destiny.
When they decided they need to seek Refuge, the lyrics might get a touch on the preachy side, as he explains the ways that you have become his refuge in his darkest hours, that the almost militaristic drumming makes feel like he his marching towards you, rather than running to you, as the lyrics claims as he approaches the fortress that is your love.
Shout Your Freedom is a totally loaded phrase coming from any American Band in the era we currently live in, as the idea of what Freedom is has changed so much, so to hear the fist pumping Shout Your Freedom refrain ends up not sounding as great an idea as it should do. The song sounds more like a battle cry than a cry for a decent peaceful free life, but this has enough hooks to be a very catchy single.
Destroyer is suitably the heaviest of the band's songs, as the bass comes in nicely in the low end. I'll always have trouble with anything that sounds like a call for war and more killing and destruction no matter how decent a metal song this is, and I'm sure they'll have no problem getting a good festival crowd to sing Destroyer Destroyer along with them while shaking frying pans in the air.
Forever Or The End is the bands epic ballad and time to get those lighter in the air once more and sway along too.
Ignite is a rather throaty air punching heavy rock song to get everything to ignite, as rather than healing the world. they want to start the fires of hell and to burn everything down, like they are god's very own wrathful avenging angels come to rain down on you.
The last song on the album summons up only one of the 4 horses of the apocalypse the White Horse, it has a sort of rap rock with strings rousing feel to it, as they let us know just what will happen when the White Horse arrives and you hear heavens voice give you it's message while claiming to speak for God himself.
Find out more at https://skillet.lnk.to/Dominion https://www.facebook.com/skillet
