Saint Asonia Debuts Video For Its Latest Single, ‘Devastate’; Tour Underway

Posted on March 16, 2023 by philspicks

Hard rock super group Saint Asonia premiered the video for its latest single this week.

The band debuted the video for its new single, ‘Devastate‘ Thursday. The single is the third from the band’s EP, Extrovert, which was released last year through Spinefarm Records. The record also produced the singles, ‘Above It All‘ and ‘Blinding Lights.’

The video for the band’s new single is a relatively straight forward presentation. It features the band performing its new single on a sound stage. The soundstage is dressed up to look like a live stage setting, so as to reflect what the band looks like on stage.

The musical arrangement featured in the band’s new single is a heavy, thick melodic hard rock composition. The overall instrumentation creates a sound and style that is easily comparable to works from the likes of The Veer Union, Otherwise, and A Killer’s Confession. The addition of front man Adam Gontier’s vocals adds in the comparison to work from his past band, Three Days Grace. The whole is a sound and style that will fully engage and entertain audiences.

The lyrical theme that accompanies the song is a commentary about the self destructive people that make life miserable for themselves and others around them.

Gontier talked about the theme in a prepared statement.

“It’s a song I wrote about those people in our lives that always seem to leave a trail of destruction behind them,” Gontier said. “I feel like we’ve all got, or had, someone in our lives that was just evil. Not caring about anything but themselves, and turning everything they touch into darkness. ‘Devastate’ is about that.”

In other news, Saint Asonia is in the midst of a tour alongside Skillet as support for Theory of a Deadman. The tour’s next scheduled stop will take place Friday in Kansas City, MO. The U.S. leg of the bands’ tour is scheduled to run through March 26 in Los Angeles, CA.

Once it wraps, the bands will take the next month off before launching the Canadian leg of the tour April 26 in Waterloo, ON. The Canadian leg of the tour is scheduled to run through May 14 in Quebec City, QC.

The tour’s current schedule is noted below:

SAINT ASONIA ON TOUR:
WITH SKILLET + THEORY OF A DEADMAN:
3/17 — Kansas City, MO — Midland Theatre
3/18 — Omaha, NE — Baxter Arena
3/19 — Denver, CO — Mission Ballroom
3/22 — Phoenix, AZ — First Arizona Federal
3/24 — Reno, NV — Grand Sierra Resort
3/25 — Wheatland, CA — Hard Rock Live
3/26 — Los Angeles, CA — Wiltern

CANADA HEADLINE DATES:
4/26 — Waterloo, ON — Maxwell’s Concerts & Events
4/27 — London, ON — Rum Runners Music Hall
4/28 — Peterborough, ON — Peterborough Memorial Centre*
4/29 — Ottawa, ON — Club SAW (SOLD OUT)
5/11 — Toronto, ON — Lee’s Palace
5/12 — Ottawa, ON — Brass Monkey
5/13 — Montreal, QC — Le Studio TD
5/14 — Quebec City, QC — Imperial Bell
* Supporting Theory of a Deadman

Saint Asonia released Extrovert and its companion EP, Introvert, together in December through Spinefarm Records. More information on the EPs is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://saintasonia.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saintasonia

Twitter: https://twitter.com/saintasonia

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Aftershock Festival 2023 Lineup Announced

Posted on March 15, 2023 by philspicks

Courtesy: Ashton-Magnuson Media

Aftershock Festival organizers have announced the lineup for the annual event, which is scheduled to be held Oct. 5-8 at Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA.

Guns N’ Roses, Korn, Tool, and Avenged Sevenfold have been announced as the headliners for this year’s festival. Also on the bill for the event are other equally well-known bands, such as Godsmack, Incubus, Pantera, Megadeth, Rancid, Queens of the Stone Age, The Cult, I Prevail, AFI, Dance Gavin Dance, 311, Turnstile, and Limp Bizkit.

This year’s event is being put on by Danny Wimmer Presents, and Danny Hayes, the company’s chief executive officer, said he is looking forward to this year’s festival.

“We are so excited for what will be the biggest Aftershock in the festival’s 11-year history,” Hayes said. “We are grateful for our partnership with the city and county of Sacramento and together we have built an amazing brand that showcases Sacramento to attendees from all over the globe.”

Avenged Sevenfold is scheduled to headline the festival’s first day. Other acts scheduled for Day One are the likes of: Pennywise, Beauty School Dropout, The Cult, AFI, and Incubus.

Tool is scheduled to headline Day Two, with the likes of Megadeth, Memphis May Fire, The Hu, Skillet, Limp Bizkit, and Coheed and Cambria joining the band and others on the day.

Korn will headline Day Three. Others on the day’s schedule include and are not limited to: Corey Taylor, Avatar, The Amity Affliction, Parkway Drive, and Babymetal.

Guns N’ Roses will close out the four-day festival. Leading up to the band’s performance, other acts, including and not limited to: Queens of the Stone Age, Rancid, I Prevail, Dance Gavin Dance, Daughtry, and Mayday Parade will also take the stage.

The full list of this year’s acts is noted below. Audiences can put down $10 now toward the price of the passes. Payments toward the price can be made from there between April and August. The down payment can be made here.

The full Aftershock 2023 lineup is as follows (subject to change):

Thursday, October 5: Avenged Sevenfold, Incubus, Turnstile, The Cult, AFI, Pennywise, Nothing But Thieves, L7, White Reaper, Senses Fail, Don Broco, The Bronx, Nothing, Nowhere., DeathByRomy, Beauty School Dropout, Bob Vylan, Holding Absence, Pinkshift, Thousand Below, Starbenders, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Static Dress, Letdown.

Friday, October 6: Tool, Godsmack, Limp Bizkit, Megadeth, Coheed and Cambria, Skillet, Bad Omens, The Hu, Deafheaven, Memphis May Fire, Converge, Fire From the Gods, Polaris, Rain City Drive, Gideon, Currents, Varials, Strange Kids, Dragged Under, Tallah, HANABIE., Widow7, Death Valley Dreams

Saturday, October 7: Korn, Pantera, 311, Corey Taylor, Parkway Drive, Babymetal, Polyphia, Dethklok, Avatar, Fever 333, The Amity Affliction, Sleep Token, Escape the Fate, Boston Manor, Fame on Fire, Catch Your Breath, Ten56., Reddstar, Holy Wars, ’68, Ithaca, Devil’s Cut, Traitors, Fox Lake, All Waves, As You Were

Sunday, October 8: Guns N’ Roses, Queens of the Stone Age, Rancid, I Prevail, Dance Gavin Dance, Daughtry, Badflower, Billy Talent, Mayday Parade, Suicide Silence, Movements, Ayron Jones, You Me At Six, Dead Poet Society, Austin Meade, Alpha Wolf, Jehnny Beth, Redlight King, Tigercub, Call Me Karizma, Ryan Oakes, Gnome, Luna Aura, Asava

More information on the 2023 Aftershock Festival is available along with all of the festival’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.AftershockFestival.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AftershockFestival

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AftershockSac

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

ShipRocked 2023 Cruise Band Lineup Announced

Posted on May 21, 2022 by philspicks

The lineup for the 2023 ShipRocked cruise was announced this week.

Falling in Reverse will headline next year’s hard rock cruise, which is scheduled to leave port Jan. 22 from Port Canaveral, FL and return Jan. 28. The cruise, which will take place aboard the Carnival Magic, will make stops along its route at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, Grand Turk in Turks & Caicos Islands, and Dominican Republic’s Amber Cove. A limited number of staterooms is still available here.

Along with Falling in Reverse, the lineup for the 2023 Ship Rocked cruise also features the likes of Nonpoint, Nothing More, Ayron Jones, and Motionless in Air. Also included in the lineup are the likes of Wage War, Skillet, and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.

Nonpoint also took part in the 2022 ShipRocked cruise alongside the likes of Ayron Jones, P.O.D., Lamb of God, Corey Taylor, Drowning Pool, and Avatar among others.

More information on next year’s ShipRocked cruise is available along with all of the cruise’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.ShipRocked.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetShipRocked

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shiprocked

Sevendust, Skillet Announce Co-Headlining Tour

Posted on April 22, 2019 by philspicks

Courtesy: Atom Splitter PR

Skillet and Sevendust will embark on a co-headlining tour this summer.

The bands will launch the “Victorious War” tour Aug. 11 in Memphis, TN. The tour, which runs almost one month in length, features performances in cities, such as Spokane, WA; Cincinnati, OH and Tulsa, OK.

Pop Evil and Devour The Day will serve as support for the tour on select dates. The tour’s schedule is noted below.

SKILLET + SEVENDUST ON TOUR:
WITH POP EVIL + DEVOUR THE DAY:
8/11 — Memphis, TN — Minglewood Hall
8/13 — Richmond, VA — Virginia Credit Union Live!
8/14 — Lancaster, PA — Freedom Hall
8/16 — Cincinnati, OH — PNC Pavilion at Riverbend
8/17 — Indianapolis, IN — The Lawn
8/18 — Peoria, IL — Peoria Riverfront
8/20 — Clear Lake, IA — Surf Ballroom
8/21 — Springfield, MO — Complex
8/24 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
8/25 — Boise, ID — Revolution Center*
8/27 — Spokane, WA — Knitting Factory*
8/28 — Seattle, WA — Showbox Sodo
8/30 — Reno, NV — Grand Sierra Resort
8/31 — Las Vegas, NV — House of Blues
9/1 — Los Angeles, CA — Wiltern
9/2 — Phoenix, AZ — Marquee
9/4 — Tucson, AZ — Rialto Theater
9/6 — Houston, TX — Warehouse Live Ballroom
9/7 — Tulsa, OK — Brady Theater**
*No Pop Evil
**No Sevendust

Tickets for the tour go on sale at 10 a.m. local time Friday. Pre-sale tickets are available here.

Skillet front man John Cooper talked about the tour in a recent interview.

“We’re thrilled to be touring with Sevendust,” Cooper said. “The lineup is incredible and I think the fans will be very happy. We can’t wait to play our new songs on the tour and connect with the Panheads out on the road.

The new songs to which Cooper referred are songs from the band’s as yet untitled new record. A full announcement on the record is scheduled for May 7.

Sevendust front man Lajon Witherspoon shared Cooper’s enthusiasm for the tour in a separate interview.

“We are looking so forward to touring with Skillet,” Witherspoon said. “What an amazing band — these shows are going to be amazing. We can’t wait to share the stages with them.”

Sevendust’s new tour schedule announcement as the band wraps its current Australian tour. That tour ends April 30 in Pert, Australia. After a few days to rest and recharge, the band will head back to the U.S. for an almost three-week tour that launches May 5 in Atlanta, GA. That run runs through May 24 and features performances in cities, such as Council Bluffs, IA; Silver Springs, MO and Louisville, KY.

Skillet is currently wrapping its own European tour schedule. That tour winds down Sunday in Rostov-Na-Donu, Russian Federation. the band will head back to the U.S. starting May 4 at the Welcome to Rockville Festival in Jacksonville, Fla.

Pop Evil is currently in the midst of its own North American tour while this summer’s tour will be just the latest for Devour The Day. Pop Evil’s current tour schedule also features a string of dates with Disturbed in July before the band joins Devour The Day, Sevendust and Skillet for the “Victorious War” tour.

Sevendust will be touring in support of its most recent album, All I See Is War (2018). Skillet’s performances are in support of its 2017 album Unleashed.

Pop Evil’s performances are in support of its 2018 self-titled album. Devour The Day joins the tour in support of its 2018 album Signals.

More information about Sevendust’s upcoming dates is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

Website: http://www.sevendust.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sevendustofficial

Twitter: http://twitter.com/sevendust

More information on Skillet’s tour schedule is available online along with all of the band’s news and more at:

Website: http://www.skillet.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skillet

Twitter: http://twitter.com/skilletmusic

More information on Pop Evil’s run with Sevedust is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

Website: http://www.PopEvil.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/popevil

Twitter: http://twitter.com/popevil

More information on Devour The Day’s upcoming dates is available online along with the band’s latest news at http://www.facebook.com/devourtheday.

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

2018 Monster Energy Rock Allegiance Festival Lineup, Vendor List Announced

Posted on May 11, 2018 by philspicks

Courtesy: Live Nation/Danny Wimmer Presents

Labor Day is generally known nationwide as the end of summer. It marks the start of fall, students’ return to school and the end of the summer concert season, but thanks to Live Nation and Danny Wimmer Presents, the summer concert series will extend beyond Labor Day this year thanks to one more concert festival this October.

The annual Monster Energy Rock Allegiance festival comes to BB&T Pavilion & Wiggins Waterfront Park in Camden, New Jersey on Saturday, October 6. Now in its fourth year, the festival will be headlined this year by Avenged Sevenfold, Limp Bizkit and Papa Roach.

Also on this year’s bill are some of today’s and tomorrow’s most notable acts. They include the likes of Fozzy, Skillet, Of Mice and Men, From Ashes To New, Blacktop Mojo and Stone Broken. Fozzy’s performance is one of a current string of dates in support of its latest (and seventh) album Judas, which was released just this past October, while Skillet is touring in support of its ninth album, Unleashed (2016).

Of Mice and Men, which released the video for its latest single, ‘Instincts‘ late last month, is touring in support of its recently released fifth album Defy. That record was released January 19, 2018 and includes the new single.

From Ashes To New’s performance is in support of its latest album, The Future. The band’s sophomore LP, it was released April 20, 2018 via Better Noise Records. It can be downloaded and streamed online through various outlets here. the album’s lead single, ‘Crazy’ is streaming now here.

Blacktop Mojo is currently touring in support of its debut album Burn The Ships which is making waves on rock radio stations nationwide. It was released December 15, 2017 via Cuhmon Records and includes a powerhouse cover of Aerosmith’s ‘Dream On.’ The band is streaming its full album online now here.

British rock outfit Stone Broken just released its sophomore album late last month via Spinefarm Records. The album’s latest single, ‘Heartbeat Away,’ which addresses the issue of domestic violence, is streaming online now here. It comes on the heels of the debut of the lyric video for the album’s lead single, ‘Worth Fighting For,’ which is streaming here.

Tickets for this year’s edition of the Rock Allegiance festival go on sale today, May 11, at noon eastern time at the official Rock Allegiance website. Hotel rates are also listed at the website. General admission lawn tickets start at $39.50 while Reserved Pavilion seating starts at $49.50. VIP packages start at $169.00. VIP packages include the following amenities.

Monster Energy Rock Allegiance VIP package amenities include:

Access to the GA Pit and/or 100 level tickets for the Main Stage / Pavilion for the headlining four band performances
Commemorative Rock Allegiance 2018 VIP laminate
Dedicated VIP entrance to the festival
VIP hang areas on the Battleship New Jersey and BB&T Pavilion lounge (space limited at each area)
Exclusive VIP restrooms and special food and beverage offerings (for additional purchase)

Along with lots of music, this year’s festival will also feature lots of food and drink including sweet and savory treats from: Tony Luke’s Cheesecake, Baby Blues BBQ, Chickies & Pete’s, Lil Trent’s Treats, Nico’s Pizza & More! and Sum Pig Food Truck.

A number of craft breweries will be on hand at the festival, providing refreshment. They include: 21st Amendment (San Francisco, CA), Dogfish Head (Milton, DE), Foudners (Grand Rapids, MI), Neshaminy Creek (Croydon, PA), Oskar Blues (Longmont, CO), Spellbound (Mount Holly, NJ), Troegs Independent Brewing (Hershey, PA), Unibroue (Chambly, QC) and Victory Brewing Company (Downington, PA).

The Monster Energy Rock Allegiance festival is fueled by Monster Energy and sponsored by f.y.e., Roadrunner Records, Fxck Cancer and SWFTCharge. More sponsors will be announced in the coming weeks. The festival is produced by Live Nation and Danny Wimmer Presents.

More information on this year’s Rock Allegiance festival is available online now at:

Website: http://www.RockAllegiance.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rockallegiance

Twitter: http://twitter.com/rockallegiance

Veteran Rock Acts Tops Phil’s Picks 2016 Top 10 New Rock Albums List

Posted on December 9, 2016 by philspicks

Courtesy: Santana IV Records

The rock community, it seems, was bursting at the seams with new releases this year. While some records were okay at best, there were just as many that proved to be truly outstanding efforts. Needless to say there were so many of said albums that it was anything but easy to come up with a list of the year’s top new rock records. But somehow, Phil’s Picks managed it. That list includes new efforts from bands young and old alike. The more experienced bands featured on this list include: Santana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Foghat just to name a few. The younger bands represented here include the likes of Buffalo Summer, Love and a .38, and Zodiac. Whether veteran or next generation, the rock community produced a slew of outstanding records this year.

Phil’s Picks presents 15 of those records with its Top 10 picks and five honorable mention titles. Without any further ado, here is the Phil’s Picks 2016 Top 10 New Rock Albums.

PHIL’S PICKS 2016 TOP 10 NEW ROCK ALBUMS

Santana – IV

Foghat – Under The Influence

The Dead Daisies – Make Some Noise

Love and a .38 – Nomad

Buffalo Summer – Second Sun

Alter Bridge – The Last Hero

Zodiac – Grain of Soul

Red Hot Chili Peppers – The Getaway

Blackberry Smoke – Like An Arrow

Resurrection Kings – Resurrection Kings

Skillet – Unleashed

Apollo Under Fire – Apollo Under Fire

Fates Warning – Theory of Flight

Ray Rocket – Do You Wanna Go To Tijuana

Candlebox – Disappearing in Airports

2017 Rock On The Range Festival Lineup Announced

Posted on November 30, 2016 by philspicks

Courtesy: Danny Wimmer Presents/AEG Live

The lineup for the 2017 Rock on the Range Festival has been announced, and once again it has proven to be quite the collection of acts.

The three-day festival will be headlined by Metallica, Soundgarden and Korn. It will feature more than 50 bands over the course of that time along with some of the country’s top comics at the festival’s Rock on the Range Rolling Rock Comedy Tent.

The lineup for the 2017 Rock on the Range Festival includes: Metallica, Soundgarden, Korn, The Offspring, Volbeat, Primus, Bush, Chevelle, Papa Roach, Seether, Coheed & Cambria, Alter Bridge, The Pretty Reckless, Taking Back Sunday, Thrice, Amon Amarth, Pierce The Veil, Sum 41, Skillet, Dillinger Escape Plan, In Flames, Gojira, Biffy Clyro, Motionless In White, Nothing More, Beartooth, Starset, Every Time I Die, The Story So Far, Deafheaven, Zakk Sabbath, Rival Sons, The Amity Affliction, Attila, Norma Jean, Suicide Silence, Whitechapel, I Prevail, Turnstile, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Red Fang, Dorothy, Kyng, Radkey, As Lions, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Sylar, Fire From The Gods, Badflower, Wage War, Goodbye June, Cover Your Tracks, DED, Bleeker, Royal Republic, Mother Feather, Aeges and One Less Reason.

Rock on the Range—fueled by Monster Energy—is billed as America’s largest and most acclaimed rock festival. The festival will also feature in 2017 “The Music Experience,” art installations, and unique on-site activities over the course of the festival’s three days.

Tickets for the 2016 festival sold out more than two months in advance of the festival. It marked the fourth consecutive year the festival has sold out in advance.

Weekend Field, new Weekend Field VIP, Weekend Stadium and a limited number of Weekend Stadium 4-packs are available now for purchase. A layaway option is also available for concert-goers. That option allows audiences to split the cost of their ticket/ticket packages into four separate monthly payments.

Fans can get a pre-sale password for Weekend Field VIP, Weekend Field GA, Weekend Stadium GA and Weekend Stadium GA 4-packs on the official Rock on the Range website, Facebook page and Twitter page. The ticket prices are listed below.

Weekend Field VIP: starting at $349.50* + fees
Weekend Field GA: starting at $199.50* + fees
Weekend Stadium GA: starting at $99.50* + fees
Weekend Stadium GA Ticket 4-Pack: $380.00 + fees
* Phase One prices listed
*** Ticket prices automatically move to the next price level once the allotment sells out ***

General on-sale for tickets is Friday, Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. EST. Tickets will be available online at the festival’s website, at Ticketmaster locations and the MAPFRE Stadium box office.

Audiences who want an even more special concert experience can purchase the new Uber Ranger Camping Package. The package includes amenities for four people such as luxury RV on a double campsite at the Ohio Expo North Campground (May 18 – 21), a dedicated concierge with golf cart shuttle, 4 Weekend VIP Field Admission Tickets, a backstage tour, access to the stadium club (with catered lunch and dinner), access to the Side Stage Viewing Platform, access to the VIP Lounge and more. More information on the new Uber Ranger Camping Package is available here.

Rock on The Range celebrated its 10^th anniversary in 2016. More than 120,000 people attended the festival from around the world. As part of its 10^th anniversary celebration, Columbus, OH mayor Andrew J. Ginther and the Columbus, OH city council presented festival organizers with awards of recognition. A resolution was also announced from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners acknowledging the festival’s economic impact on the city.

The commissioners pointed out in their resolution pointed out the festival brought in more than $140 million for the city over the course of its ten years in the city.

Rock on the Range is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, AEG Live and MAPFRE Stadium. It is supported by Monster Energy, Bud Light and Zippo. They and other partners will feature interactive experiences, meet & greets, and other special fan engagement opportunities throughout the festival.

More information on the 2017 Rock on the Range Festival is available online now at:

Website: http://www.RockontheRange.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/rockontherange

Twitter: http://twitter.com/rockontherange

‘Unleashed’ Is Another Successful Effort For Skillet

Posted on August 27, 2016 by philspicks

Courtesy: Atlantic Records

Earlier this month, Skillet “unleashed” its latest full-length studio recording to the world. Its tenth full-length studio offering, Unleashed is everything that fans have come to expect from the band. That is not necessarily a bad thing, either. Over the course of its twelve total songs the album’s radio ready riffs and uplifting lyrical content make it a record that both secular and non-secular rockers alike will appreciate. That is exhibited right off the top in the album’s high-energy, guitar-driven arena anthem ‘Feel Invincible.’ ‘Lions,’ with its stirring musical arrangement and equally uplifting lyrical content serves to show just as much what makes the album another success for the band. ‘Burn It Down,’ with its Orgy-esque musical arrangement and powerful lyrical content serves n its own right to show what makes Unleashed another solid new offering from Skillet. Of course these three songs are just a small sampling of what makes this record stand out. ‘Undefeated,’ ‘I Want to Live’ and ‘Out Of Hell’ each stand on their own merits, too. When they are set against the other three songs noted here and the rest of the album’s offerings, the record in whole proves to be yet another successful effort from Skillet.

Skillet’s latest full-length studio offering Unleashed is in whole another solid, successful effort from the veteran rock outfit. That is exhibited throughout the course of the album’s forty-three minute run time thanks to the album’s mix of radio ready riffs and uplifting lyrical content. The album’s opener is just one example of how that combination of musical and lyrical content makes Unleashed another solid record from the band. That is due in part to the song’s keyboard-driven musical arrangement. It instantly conjures thoughts of Muse’s hit song ‘Uprising.’ Guitarist Seth Morrison’s guitar line and drummer Jen Ledger’s time keeping couple with Korey Cooper’s keyboard line to make the song’s musical arrangement infectious and sure to be a favorite among audiences. It is just one part of what makes the song stand out. The song’s positive lyrical content sits on the foundation formed by the song’s musical arrangement and makes the song even more solid. It presents a message of self-determination and confidence as Cooper sings, “Target on my back/Lone survivor lasts/They got me in their sights/No surrender no/Trigger fingers go/Living the dangerous life/Hey, hey, hey/Everyday when I wake/I’m trying to get up/They’re knocking me down/Chewing me up/spitting me out/Hey, hey, hey/When I need to be saved/You’re making me strong/You’re making me stand/Never will fall/Never will end/Shot like a rocket up into the sky/Nothing could stop me tonight.” Cooper’s subject is someone who isn’t letting anyone or anything keep him or her down here. Even more interesting is that these lines could apply just as easily in the secular realm as in the non-secular realm. That is a strong statement in itself. And it applies to the rest of the song’s verses, too. Keeping that in mind, that vast inspiration couples with the song’s musical arrangement to show clearly why ‘Feel Invincible’ is such a strong example of what makes Unleashed such a solid new effort from Skillet. Audiences can hear ‘Feel Invincible’ now online via Skillet’s official YouTube channel. It is only one of the songs that exhibit this, too. ‘Lions’ is another example of what makes Unleashed such a strong new effort from the band.

‘Feel Invincible’ is a prime example of what makes Unleashed another successful effort for the veteran rock act. That is due to the combination of the song’s musical arrangement and its uplifting lyrical content. The two elements together make the song a solid start for the album and its own standout composition within the bigger body of the album. It is not the album’s only notable inclusion. ‘Lions’ stands on its own merits, too as another example of what makes this record a success. One of those merits is the song’s musical arrangement. The song’s musical arrangement combines Korey Cooper’s work on keyboards with an equally stirring string arrangement to form its foundation. John Cooper’s vocals and bass line strengthen that foundation even more alongside Jen Ledger’s work behind the drums. The end result is a musical composition that in itself stands just as tall and proud as the giants and lions that are mentioned in the song’s lyrical content. Speaking of that lyrical content the song’s lyrical content is just as important to the song as its musical arrangement. [John] Cooper sings here, “Today is ours/It’s always been/Before we face the fight/We know who’s gonna win/We live by faith and not by sight/We don’t want safe and quiet/We don’t wanna run and hide.” He goes on to sing, “This is not an intermission/It’s our time/Not gonna miss it/You’ve already called us fearless/Unafraid.” The message presented here is obvious. It is a message of self-confidence and pride, just as with the album’s opener. And it is just a small sampling of that message, too. The song’s lead verse and third verse present much the same message. What is interesting here is that considering the confidence presented in these lines, one would expect the song’s musical arrangement to be more intense. But the song actually works just as well with the mix of confidence and gentility that is in fact presented in this arrangement. It actually serves to make the song’s lyrical message more impacting. When all of this is taken into consideration, it makes clear why ‘Lions’ stands out just as much as ‘Feel Invincible’ and the album’s other offerings. One more of those standout offerings included in this record is ‘Burn It Down.’

‘Feel Invincible’ and ‘Lions’ are both clear examples of what makes Unleashed another success for Skillet. While both songs clearly exhibit in their own way what makes this record a success, they are hardly the album’s only bright spots. ‘Burn It Down’ is one more of the album’s high points. That is due in part to the song’s musical arrangement. Audiences that know their music history will instantly catch a clear similarity between this song’s musical arrangement and that of Orgy’s cover of ‘Blue Monday.’ It is most evident in hearing Seth Morrison’s guitar line, Korey Cooper’s keyboard line, and John Cooper’s bass line. The similarity isn’t a mirror image so to speak. But it is so close that there is no similarity between the two songs coincidental or not. Keeping this in mind, the song’s musical arrangement is just one part of what makes the song stand out. Its lyrical content is just as important to note as its musical arrangement. The song’s lyrical content presents a message of proud defiance against life’s obstacles, much as the album’s other songs. That is evident as Cooper sings, “Do you ever wish that you weren’t a prisoner/Do you feel like you’re done/All the dreams you had are hard to remember/Well, you’re not the only one/Well it’s over, it’s over, it’s over/I won’t be pushed around/Move over, move over, move over/get back or just get out/Set this plane up in flames/It’s over, it’s over, it’s over/It’s time to burn it down.” He is saying to listeners, everyone has felt those tough times at one point or another and that no one should let those difficult times stop them. Rather, they should face them and burn them down, metaphorically speaking of course. That message is presented just as clearly in the song’s second verse as Cooper sings, “Do you ever feel your colors are fading/Like your world might combust/Do the voices in your head make you crazy/When they’re the only ones you trust.” He reprises the song’s chorus right after that, reminding listeners once again not to let themselves get pushed around and held down by life’s many obstacles even when it seems like even one’s own thoughts are working against a person. It is a message that never gets old and is always welcome by listeners of all ages. When it is set against the song’s high-energy musical arrangement, the two elements couple to show in whole why this song is yet another of the most notable of this record’s songs. When the song is set alongside ‘Lions’ and ‘Feel Invincible,’ all three songs show clearly why Unleashed is another welcome offering from Skillet. When they are joined with the remainder of the album’s songs, the album proves in whole to be one more success from one of the Christian rock community’s top acts.

Skillet’s new album Unleashed is, in whole, another successful effort from the veteran rock act. Christian rock act or not, this album is still a solid new effort from the band. That is evident both in the musical arrangements presented in each of the album’s songs and the songs’ lyrical content. The musical arrangement present radio ready riffs from one to the next. The lyrical content presented within each song will is uplifting without being preachy at any point. The end result is a record that secular audiences should and will appreciate just as much as non-secular listeners. All things considered Unleashed proves in the end to be one more successful effort from Skillet. The band is currently touring in support of Unleashed. It will be in Anaheim, California tonight and Duquoin, Illinois August 28^th. Audiences can see the band’s full tour schedule online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at: