Ten years after their self titled debut, the two men, two women Christian pop rock band,
Skillet, have released their seventh album, '
Comatose'.
The band's sound has mutated through various forms down the years, changing shape almost at will, morphing from the alt rock of their early career to the stadium sized contemporary rock of 2003's
'Collide'.
So, have the band continued in the same manner with '
Comatose'? The answer is in the albums opening track, '
Rebirthing'. It's a bravura beginning to an album - produced by Brian (Closure/Hinder) Howes - that promises much, delivers a lot, but falls tantalisingly short of true greatness.
The pumped up strings, lavish orchestrations and throaty, low slung vocals - bearing a surprisingly close resemblance to 21st Century
Harem Scarem - not to mention a thrusting, agile melody and soaring hook, hiked the song to the number one spot in the USA's Christian Rock Radio Charts.
Clearly, the band are pushing themselves on, aiming to surpass past performances, driving for a level of accomplishment that would take them into the Premier League of contemporary rock, irrespective of its origins.
The band's formula, a diffuse mix of acoustic guitars, electric guitars and thundering drums, leavened by sweeping, soaring strings, is a potent recording template, giving the band's not inconsiderable songs weight, conviction and a powerful adult resonance (and a vaguely progrock undertone).
Arguably, in adopting a fashionable style of rock music, targeting wider acceptance and lasting success,
Skillet have lost some of their identity and originality. On the other hand, when that compromise forges big sounding pop rock epics like
'Say Goodbye',
'Falling Inside The Black' and
'The Last Night' then you can perfectly understand the decision.
Written by
Brian Sunday, November 26, 2006
Show all reviews by BrianRatingsBrian: 7/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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