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Lava/Atlantic recording group Skillet has unveiled plans for a major US tour. The Grammy Award-nominated rock outfit will join forces with Flyleaf on its upcoming “Justice & Mercy” tour, slated to traverse America through the spring (see attached itinerary). The trek will take off on March 25th in Memphis, with dates continuing through late April. Support will come from Dropping Daylight, Resident Hero, and a variety of local acts.
Skillet’s recently released “COMATOSE” is shaping up to be its mainstream breakthrough. Produced by Brian Howes (known as both member of Closure and as producer of Hinder’s hit debut) and mixed by maestros Chris Lord-Alge (Green Day, Hoobastank, Bon Jovi, P.O.D.) and David Bottrill (Tool, Staind), “COMATOSE” marks a stunning new step in the Chicago -based outfit’s continuing evolution. Tracks such as “Rebirthing” and the Active Rock radio hit, “Whispers In The Dark” meld big riffs and classic prog-rock flourishes with undeniable choruses and a distinctly modern alternative sensibility. Along with the album’s remarkable musical strides, vocalist/bassist John Cooper’s songwriting spans a vast range of topical territories, some of which follow socially conscious ideals, while others reflect his own life and personal struggles. The band will herald the “Justice & Mercy” tour schedule with the release of a new single from “COMATOSE.” “The Older I Get” is currently impacting Rock radio outlets nationwide.
“COMATOSE” follows Skillet’s 2004 label debut, “COLLIDE,” which included the Top 20 Active Rock radio smash, “Savior.” Fueled by a fervent following – known as “Panheads” – the album proved the band’s national breakthrough, with a prestigious Grammy Award nomination in the “Best Rock Gospel” category, and sales exceeding 200,000. Skillet also established themselves as one of the hardest working bands in modern rock, playing more than 200 dates a year, including both headline shows and tours with the likes of Shinedown, Three Days Grace, Saliva, and Finger Eleven.
Skillet has drawn acclaim from a wide range of publications, spanning Billboard to CCM to Metal Edge. The band has also proven an online sensation, with its MySpace page – www.myspace.com/skilletmusic – logging nearly 3.5 million streams to date.
Skillet is: John Cooper – vocals, bass * Korey Cooper – keyboards * Ben Kasica – guitar * Lori Peters – drums.
- Press Release
Discography
1996 Skillet
1998 Hey You, I Love Your Soul
2000 Invincible
2000 Arden Worship
2001 Alien Youth
2003 Collide
2006 Comatose
SINGLES
Rebirthing
Whispers in the Dark
The Older I Get
Photos
Bio
Classic rock riffs, swirling drums, monstrous hooks, and undeniably catchy choruses hints of old school progressive rock mixed in with modern alternative flourishes touches of classical influence as swelling strings intersect with sonic adrenaline rushes. Its indeed a fusion unlike any other, marking the latest chapter in the continuous evolution of Skillet, whose moniker couldnt be more fitting for their explosive new Lava/Atlantic Records release, Comatose.
The project follows Skillets 2004 Lava/Atlantic debut, Collide, which launched the group into the public eye with the single Savior (the #2 most added at CMJs Loud Rock and Crucial Spins panel the first week out), and garnered the quartet a prestigious Grammy Award nomination. Collide went on to become their best-selling project to date, with over 200,000 units sold, while the band played some 200 dates a year including tours with the likes of Saliva, Shinedown and Finger Eleven, Three Days Grace in the process becoming one of the hardest working, heaviest rocking, and most broadly appealing acts of its generation.
Were proud of where weve been in the past, but I feel like this is our strongest record, says vocalist/bassist John Cooper of Comatose. Recorded at Chicago Recording Company (Smashing Pumpkins, Michael Jackson, R. Kelly), the album was produced by Brian Howes (from famed Canadian TVT band Closure and Hinders hit debut) and mixed by maestros Chris Lord-Alge (Green Day, Hoobastank, Bon Jovi, P.O.D.) and David Bottrill (Tool, Staind). There are so many different influences that it wont just be about rock audiences or metal audiences, notes Cooper. I think theres something here for everybody.
Pop in the project for a matter of seconds and its obvious Skillet has raised the bar yet again, building off the refined musicianship found on Collide and taking it to even more jaw-dropping extremes. A case in point is Rebirthing, a complex but accessible amalgamation of piercing strings and humongous power chords sure to be a concert staple. In sharp contrast, but equally compelling, are tracks like The Last Night and Say Goodbye, oozing with ethereal orchestration and infectious sing-a-long potential.
I just love rock ballads and the old days of Motley Crue, Aerosmith, and Bon Jovi, says Cooper. They always help you remember where you were, what you were doing, and who you were dating. They represent more of the pop side of what we do, which might have been hinted at in other records, but was never fully realized or matured.
On the other side of the Skillet, Comatose shows the band flexing its experimental muscles, adding several piano-based and progressive-influenced pieces. A careful dissection of the albums first single, Whispers, unveils nods to the current prog crop via the channels of Yes, while Better Than Drugs is a delightfully schizophrenic barnburner that is one of the discs most aggressive displays. The Last Night takes a more delicate twist, merging Johns vocals with his wife Korey Coopers keyboard cadences.
Its a new era for both Atlantic and Skillet, exclaims Andy Karp, Head of A&R for Atlantic Records. Its the first record where weve really been one on one with the band, and its the latest step in our unique journey together. Ive been at the label seventeen years and were known for having so many great rock n roll bands: Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Yes, Bad Company. There really arent a lot of labels that have that kind of pedigree for rock acts, and Skillet is yet another in a long line of great bands.
Cooper and company can certainly relate, citing several from the labels lineage as influencers since its infancy. Growing up, I was a prog freak and loved bands like Yes and Dream Theater, he confirms. I also grew up with my mom as a classical piano teacher and took lessons for eight years, along with playing in the marching band and symphony. Its funny because every once in a while there was a touch of that on Collide, but until recently, I didnt see what that background had to do with rock music. On this record, we were able to make it work structurally with the piano and strings, plus theres enough prog to make me happy.
Aside from Skillets musical strides, Coopers songwriting has expanded to cover a vast range of topical territories, some of which follow socially conscious ideals, while others vulnerably mirror his personal life and struggles. Take, for instance, the aforementioned The Last Night, which talks about someone considering suicide after living life in despair and not having support from their parents. Rather than calling it quits, the track suggests life is worth living and through the help of a supportive friend, theyre eventually talked down from that ledge. Even closer to home for Cooper is The Older I Get, which picks up after his mom passed away, tracing the rocky relationship he had with his dad and new stepmother.
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