HEAVY MUSIC HISTORY: Rise – Skillet
SKILLET are best-known for their 2009 song, Monster, from their seventh album, Awake. However, the follow-up to that album, Rise, released in 2013, might just be their magnum opus – for the most part. The Christian rock band have been around since 1996. Made up of husband and wife duo; John Cooper (vocals) and Korey Cooper (guitar/keys) alongside Seth Morrison (guitar) and Jen Ledger (drums). Whilst SKILLET are a Christian band, the concept album Rise, can be viewed as being listenable for anyone, regardless of what you believe in. Having been released in 2013, which was a rather hectic year for music, this album has gone under the radar.
It is a shame it has as from the opening synths of the title track, there is something special about this album. The lyrics are undoubtedly timeless, as they are just as relevant in 2023 as they were a decade ago – if not more urgent. However, it is Sick Of It that is one of the standout songs on the album. SKILLET have faced numerous discussions about whether they are a true Christian band or not because they do not explicitly say so. However, this is good, because it is left open to interpretation. “Raise your hands if you’re sick of it” goes the chorus. This could be in prayer, or just admitting to yourself or those around you that you need help. It also makes fantastic use of the synths, and there is a brilliant electronic breakdown that harks back to nu-metal.
Saying that, Rise is not perfect. Good To Be Alive is a peculiar song. It is rather slow, and it slows the pacing after the first two tracks, which were much more energetic and interesting, sonically and lyrically. Good To Be Alive, on the other hand, is a slow and meandering song that plods along the same well-worn road of a feel-good rock song that has been walked too many times before.
The saving grace of the song is the gorgeous and haunting interlude, which is an electronic and opera mix that builds up superbly to Not Gonna Die, which is easily the highlight of the album. Its frantic opening of violins mixed with electronics. This continues throughout the song, whose lyrics are heartbreaking but hopeful about the future. It is a perfectly produced song, and it encompasses everything that makes SKILLET brilliant. Interestingly enough, the rest of the album goes through some sort of an identity crisis, creating an uneven tone. There is the frantic and fast-paced Circus For A Psycho, which is brilliant apart from a strange distortion used on the vocals that is a bit jarring as it isn’t used much. Unfortunately, this was a sign of things to come for future albums, as 2016’s Unleashed incorporated a lot of electronic elements.
From American Noise onwards, the album’s identity crisis is apparent. American Noise is a gentle rock song, whereas Madness In Me is a heavier track. This repeats until the end of the record. Whilst the band might have been going for an album that is open for everyone, it doesn’t quite get there in execution. The pacing is all over the place. The extended version of Rise adds three new songs. Battle Cry is another electronically heavy song but it works well.
Everything Goes Black is a haunting song, with impactful and heart-wrenching lyrics. Unfortunately, it does lead you to question why this type of raw and honest lyrics were not used throughout the rest of the album, which often fell into cliché and cookie-cutter fluff with no substance. The band are at their best with songs like this and Not Gonna Die, where they write their emotions. Unfortunately, Freakshow does fall into this trap, although it has an undeniably catchy drum beat that makes up for the eye-roll-inducing lyrics. The deluxe album could have helped the album if it stuck with two songs instead of three.
At the time, Rise received mostly positive reviews, with CCM Magazine and Loudwire both giving the album 4/5 stars, amongst many other publications. However, Daily News gave the album 1/5 stars, with reviewer Jim Farber stating that the album was “milking today’s headlines as crassly as their sound does radio’s most cynical demands” and Jesus Freak Hideout gave it 2.5/5 stars.
SKILLET have gone on to release three more albums, with their latest being Dominion (2022). For all its flaws, there is something special about Rise that cannot be topped. It might be an incredibly incohesive and meandering album which lacks direction at times; however, the sheer talent on show that still takes our breath away ten years later is a testament to this album’s legacy. Whilst it might have gone under the radar ten years ago, there is enough time for a revival. Although the pacing is delipidated, songs such as Rise, Sick Of It, and Not Gonna Die, more than make up for that. Furthermore, even through the latter half of the album is a bit strange, there is something there for everyone to listen to. The deluxe tracks do even out the pacing a bit, so it is a shame that they aren’t used on the standard edition. However, if you want something to soundtrack a day where you are just sick and tired of the world, Rise might just be that album.
Rise was originally released on June 25 2013 via Atlantic Records.
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