With the August release of the band's fifth album, Skillet once again returns to its rock roots while still maintaining the more electronically modified elements for which the band has been recognized since Skillet's self-titled debut.
Fans of Skillet will find the marriage between the harder elements and the more trendy dance vibe unique, but still true to the overall sound with which the band has established itself. The addition of guitarist Ben Kasica complements the skills of drummer Lori Peters, Korey Cooper, keyboardist and wife of frontman John Cooper.
Alien Youth captures Skillet's passion for worship and is designed to be such a tool. From the title track to the final song, "Come My Way," this release is packed with Biblically solid, totally rocked out songs that engage the mind as well as the body and soul. As well as encapsulating the live sound onto an album, the band has managed to illustrate the past five years of ministry and its passion for Christ.
The album opens heavy, but laced with electronic effects, as the title track allegorizes an alien invasion as the body of Christ. "We're taking over the world/We're the Alien Youth/We're coming for your souls." The song asserts that as the body of Christ, we're here to stay and we're not leaving until we've reached everyone.
That theme continues into track three, "Earth Invasion" which musically brings the same electronically generated loops along with aggressive rock, driving through the track. Speaking of evangelism, the song clearly exhibits a passion for a lost world. "The earth's frustration/To be whole again/We'll see a nation/Living without sin."
In the spirit of Invincible's "Rest," "You Are My Hope," combines the vocal talents of both John and Korey with a soaring musical track and thoughtful lyrics that truly embody the worshipful attitude the band clearly displays throughout their music and live shows.
"Kill Me Heal Me" has the same feel as "Splinter Me" from Skillet's debut. Between the thrashing guitars, driving drum loops, snarling distortion and screaming vocals, the song speaks to the core of Christianity -- constantly being renewed in the faith and internalizing our relationship with God. "Break my bones and rest me/Piece by piece you break me/Pick up the cross cause it's killin' time."
Another soul searching track, "The Thirst is Taking Over," reaffirms our desperate need for God, expressing that yearning inside our souls to be loved and to love. The song captures again the desire to truly know our creator.
One of the saddest and yet the most raging songs on the album is "Rippin' Me Off," penned by John after attending a Marilyn Manson show. The experience left him sickened by the lies and hateful messages disseminated to a searching audience. "You say that God is dead but you're rippin' me off/You can't infect my mind with your vanity."
"Come My Way," the final track slows into a sweet, melodic and impassioned cry for a touch from God. The simplicity of the lyrics and piano melody bring out the full impact of the song.
Alien Youth is a welcome follow-up to Invincible as well as the band's recently released worship album, Ardent Worship: Skillet. The aggressive rock of its debut, as well as the electronically driven sound of more recent albums, finally produces the best of both worlds in one album.
5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Rebel Base 2002Reviewed by Josh HurstU2 singer Bono once observed that, "Music is like a sacrament. It's not about airplay or chart position." In other words, we should create music just for the sake of being creative. Music does not need to justify itself- music is music. It's the purest, most excellent form of creativity that we as humans can take part in. Ideally, music is all about creative expression, not propaganda or some…The Rebel Base 2002Reviewed by NathanI have long regarded Skillet as one of the more talented bands around that had not yet produced an album that is truly representative of their potential. Now they have. Alien Youth is a truly stellar release, showing dramatic improvement in every facet of the band's musical performance. It is also, by a substantial margin, the hardest, most musically reaching of Skillet's four releases to date.…ReAL Magazine 2001Reviewed by Jesse N.Usually my favorite music comes from regular people, people who put more effort into their music than their appearance. Skillet's first record was made by regular people, however their fourth studio release, Alien Youth, was made by four individuals who look ready to board their space craft and blast off to the planet Xerf. If you think I'm joking, check out InvincibleWear, where lead singer John…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Trae CadenheadSkillet has experienced a musical evolution like very few bands have undergone. All signs point to the fact that Alien Youth is where this evolution has been heading to and the changes were all worthwhile. Releasing their first album in the fall of 1996, Skillet quickly became a Christian rock favorite with their edgy hard rock sound. The sound was raw and unpolished, yet powerful. Still, it was…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Josh HurstRecently, Christian music has been fairly disappointing. Christian record labels have been too preoccupied with teen pop and praise and worship music to turn out many great new bands. Christian radio has become more and more saturated with Christian cliches and "bumper sticker" lyrics. I have been hoping that Skillet's new record, Alien Youth, would help to renew my faith in the Christian music…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Brian A. SmithSkillet rocks hard with their latest album Alien Youth. Produced by vocalist John Cooper, the quartet has delivered a mix of hardcore rock and industrial sounds that comes closer to a live performance than any of their previous offerings. Alien Youth is the idea that a generation of young Christians has risen up to radically change the world. The title track gives light to this concept: Worldwide…The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Olin JenkinsThe best thing Skillet did between Invincible and Alien Youth was to include itself in the Ardent praise and worship series. That project had a great impact on the band and has tightened the band's focus on its message: The Great Commission to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. I'm impressed with Skillet's best recording to date. I've always liked Skillet and saw an excellent concert right…Similar sounding releases
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