Skillet has never been afraid to change.
Over nearly three decades, the band has gone through numerous musical shifts while continuing to build one of the largest audiences in Christian rock. With their new single, “Lift Me Up,” Skillet turns the heaviness back up while delivering the hard hitting and encouraging message of hope that has connected with listeners throughout their career.
“Lift Me Up” is the second single from Skillet’s upcoming six song EP, After the Storm, scheduled for release October 9. The song follows “Scream” and gives fans another taste of the harder sound the band is embracing with this new project.
At the time of this review, “Lift Me Up” has already surpassed 300,000 streams on Spotify, showing that fans are responding quickly to the new song.
For me, hearing Skillet move in this direction is especially exciting because my history with the band goes all the way back to the beginning. I saw them on tour for their self titled first album with Grammatrain. At the time, Skillet was a fantastic three piece grunge rock band, and I still love that first album.
Needless to say, a lot has changed since then.
Skillet has explored many sounds and gone through plenty of musical changes over the years. They have come a long way from that first record, but that evolution is part of what has kept the band interesting. I am glad to hear some extra weight returning to the guitars on this new material without the band simply trying to recreate its past.
“Lift Me Up” hits hard from the start. The guitars have a thick, aggressive sound, and the drums immediately caught my attention. John Cooper’s voice fits the song perfectly, with a grit and intensity that works extremely well with both the music and the emotion behind the lyrics.
The message is unmistakably Skillet. The lyrics deal with being pulled down by fear, sorrow, shame, and struggles from the past while refusing to surrender to them.
One line captures the attitude of the song perfectly: “Not gonna die tonight, I’m gonna rise above it.”
It is hard hitting, but it is also encouraging.
That combination has always been one of Skillet’s strengths. Their songs can acknowledge darkness while still giving the listener hope. “Lift Me Up” recognizes that pain, fear, and overwhelming circumstances are real, but refuses to allow them to have the final word.
That message carries even more weight knowing where John Cooper was coming from when he wrote the song. Cooper has said that many things in his life were dragging him down at the time and that he was asking God to lift him up. After the Storm was inspired by seasons of betrayal, grief, perseverance, and ultimately hope.
That gives “Lift Me Up” a genuine foundation. It is not simply about finding enough strength within yourself to keep going. It comes from a place of looking to God for the strength to rise above what is pulling you down.
Another standout is Seth Morrison’s guitar tone. Morrison is using his personalized 2716 Seth Morrison Signature Distortion from Westminster Effects, a pedal developed specifically with him. The 2716 replicates his main live tone, and it brings a powerful, defined guitar sound that works extremely well on a song this heavy. Morrison also uses Westminster’s The Physician for his lead parts as the company continues working with him on expanding his rig.
Jen Ledger’s drums are another highlight. Her playing gives the track tremendous power and helps drive the song without overcrowding everything happening around it.
Producer David Cowell, known for his work with Sleep Theory, worked alongside Korey Cooper on After the Storm. The production gives the guitars and drums plenty of room to hit while still retaining the massive chorus and polished sound listeners expect from Skillet.
John Cooper has said “Lift Me Up” reminds him of early Skillet while still feeling fresh, and I think that is an important distinction.
As someone who was there during that early era and still loves that first record, I do not need Skillet to become the three piece grunge band I saw all those years ago. I want them to continue moving forward and making the music that represents where they are today.
But I am definitely glad to hear those guitars getting heavier again.
“Lift Me Up” brings together a powerful sound, a strong vocal performance from John Cooper, standout drums, a massive guitar tone from Seth Morrison, and lyrics that offer encouragement when life starts pulling you down.
If “Scream” and “Lift Me Up” are an indication of where After the Storm is headed, I am looking forward to hearing a lot more of this.
