12 albums in and Skillet still know how to keep things fresh and find new avenues. Revolution is their twelfth album and their first away from Atlantic Records in almost 20 years and their first as an independent band and it’s one that may be the truest form of Skillet yet.
“Showtime” opens the album up in a powerful way, catching your attention and getting you amped up from the start- it could easily overtake “Feel Invincible” as live show opener and it’s a fun adrenaline-pumper before they slow it up with lead single “Unpopular.”
“Unpopular” is an unapologetic track that has a strong message- in a world where words like ‘love’ are dirty words and the things that the world considers great tend to be so disgusting, according to singer John Cooper, why would you want to be popular?
The music video also takes the approach of how people have developed a dislike for the band because of how outspoken they’ve become that the band is unpopular to a lot of people. “Unpopular” just rocks and it’s a hell of a way to introduce the album.
“All That Matters” is the second single from the record and is the most lyrically-straight forward the band has been about their faith in a very long time, stating that faith, family and freedom are the most important things and, with lines like “love, loyalty, I pledge fidelity in a land of liberty…” the band is making it clear they aren’t holding back.
“Not Afraid” is an adrenaline rush of a song and kicks off with a crazy guitar riff into a huge-sounding song that builds and builds and is where the album really picks up and starts to get good. It’s a big song that’s build on adrenaline and talks about not being afraid to stand up for what you believe in, no matter what comes your way and how much people try to stifle it.
Title track “Revolution” is a fight song and anthem that sees John Cooper channeling the rap-style vocals he used on “White Horse” from Dominion and is a great calm-down before the two-punch knockout combo of “Ash in the Wind” and “Fire Inside of Me.”
“Ash in the Wind” is a deep one about feeling stuck with your faith and held down by everything against you and dying to break free from it. It’s a cinematically big song that builds and builds and is one of the most impressive songs the band has written yet and centers around the subject of escaping.
“Fire Inside of Me” is where the signature Skillet strings come in with the orchestral rock elements at their best. It’s a serious one in subject that shows the band really exploring the dark thoughts that most Christians deal with at times- the subject of doubt. Everyone questions their faith at times and this song really shows the band exploring that avenue but, more importantly, coming out of it.
“Defector” explores the topic of clinging to your faith and unity, being there for one another in the toughest times while “Happy Wedding Day (Alex’s Song)” is one where any parent with a teenager or grown child will bawl their eyes out reflecting on how fast they grew up and it really hits home, before “Death Defier” closes out the album in celebratory fight song fashion.
In the end, with Skillet leaving Atlantic Records and going independent, Revolution may be the truest form of Skillet yet. The band really delves deep into some serious and dark subjects, exploring some very personal areas of faith.
However, while there’s a heavy focus on how hard things can be and how bad things in the world really are right now, they make a point to hammer home the importance of love, acceptance, unity and hope.
Revolution is a complex album that has something for every generation of Skillet fan. Most importantly, though, while they’re more open about their faith than ever, they don’t alienate their non-Christian fanbase at the same time.
Rating: 9/10
-Reggie Edwards