On the heels of the most successful record of their career, Atlantic/Ardent/INO Records’ active rockers Skillet will end the nearly three year span between projects with Awake, available in stores and at all online retailers on August 25th.

Produced by Howard Benson, (Daughtry, My Chemical Romance, The All American Rejects), the project is available now for pre-order via the band’s official website. A variety of packages are being offered, pairing the album with such bonuses as an exclusive Skillet t-shirt, an autographed VIP pass, and membership in Skillet’s official fan club. All pre-orders of Awake come with an immediate download of “Hero”.

Skilet rocks the Icthus Festival Click image to enlarge]

Now, as they headline and are creating a big buzz at the summer Christian festivals with their ‘electric’ live show, Skillet prepares to unveil what lead-singer/bassist and primary songwriter John Cooper calls a “turning of a page” for the band. “This album is even more immediate than “Comatose,” but there’s also a noticeable maturity,” he says. “Some of the songs are complex, others are just really intense rockers and overall there’s a real sense that we’re opening a new chapter. There are definitely some classic rock elements on the record, some very melodic moments with orchestration and piano, along with a lot of today’s heavier rock influences as well.”

The first example is the hook-heavy lead single “Hero”, already climbing Christian CHR (#15) and Rock radio (#6) charts, and getting an excellent reception:

“We’ve anxiously awaited a new song from Skillet for months and they’ve lived up to our lofty hopes,” commented WAY-FM’S Zach Boehm. “Our initial listener response has been great!”

Other outpourings include the first Mainstream and Active Rock single “Monster”, the militant “It’s Not Me”, and the hopeful “Forgiven”. There are also a handful of gripping ballads and crossover songs like the loss-centered “Lucy”, the melodic “Don’t Wake Me” and “One Day Too Late”. “Never Surrender” came from a conversation with a fan about their eating disorder, and what is sure to become a live show favorite is the rocker “Awake & Alive”. To listen to a clip of “Hero,” the band’s YMZ artist page.

“We’re living in hard times right now between the news that seems to get crazier every day and all the uncertainly throughout society in general,” says Cooper. “Sometimes it doesn’t seem like there’s hope, and sure you can choose to give up, but why not face it ‘Awake and Alive’? Life is full of challenges, and sometimes when you look deep into yourself, you can feel weighed down by sin and the ‘Monster’ that lives inside us all. But the more you realize your need for Christ, the less you focus on that, and on Him instead. Everything we sing about on this album is something someone can relate to, and if anything, the songs will let you know you’re not alone.”

About Skillet

Since 2006’s breakthrough project “Comatose,” which is approaching RIAA Gold® certification, Skillet has toured with the likes of mainstream mega-stars Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Seether and Flyleaf, and headlined a slew of major Christian festivals, all followed by solo tours that ranked within Pollstar’s Concert Pulse Top 50 Tours. Along the way, the two-time Grammy®-nominated alternative outfit also scored six consecutive number one Christian radio singles, a 2008 GMA Dove Award for Rock Song of the Year, and a 2009 nomination for Artist of the Year. Along with a trio of singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock charts, a pair of BMI Songwriting Awards, and being chosen as Reader’s Poll favourites on several top ccm websites, they also released their first ever concert CD/DVD combo pack Comatose Comes Alive.

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