Skillet - Unleashed.

Unleashed, that's the name of the new Skillet album.
The release date is August 5th.
That takes some weeks.

The tracklist is:

1) Feel Invincible
2) Back From The Dead
3) Stars
4) I Want To Live
5) Undefeated
6) Famous
7) Lions
Out Of Hell
9) Burn It Down
10) Watching For Comets
11) Saviors Of The World
12) The Resistance

You can preorder at
iTunes
Amazon
Spotify

I'm curious how the songs of this new Skillet album sound.

While my love for most modern rock bans has waned considerably I am still very excited to hear this.

Yep, sounds like Skillet.

If the lyrics were more 'open' they would be one of my favourite bands out there!  (at least in my top 20)

Fundy wrote:

If the lyrics were more 'open' they would be one of my favourite bands out there!  (at least in my top 20)

Not sure what you mean by "open". Do you mean if they were more direct in their lyrics, bolder?

To be honest, that song just doesn't do much for me.  It has an okay meaning, but it is extremely cliched.  I also don't like the pop style verses.  I hope this doesn't signal a much softer Skillet in the future like Fireflight, Manic Drive, and Nine Lashes.  Right now, if you really want rock music in the Christian arena, you are going to have to look to independent artists.

I haven't listened to it yet, (I'm at work) but from reading the comments, I'm expecting to be disappointed. The new Fireflight, Nine Lashes & 7eventh Time Down have all lost their edge. Decyfer Down's new one was a breath of fresh air though and Kevin from Disciple assured me that Long Live the Rebels is going to be guitar driven. I was really hoping this new Skillet would sound more like Collide.

The song definitely has this kind of "techno keyboard" sound (especially in the verses). But I don't think it sounds like a massive departure from the last two albums. I remember hearing some interesting musical elements on "Rise" that made the album sound a little different than "Collide", "Comatose" or "Awake". I'm guessing that they are trying to vary things slightly musically to keep from making the same album over and over again....especially given that Jon has kind of a one dimensional voice. But hearing more tracks from the new album will give us a better idea what to expect overall.

This song comes to mind when I think of "something a little different" musically from the band.

I listened to it & it wasn't as bad as what I thought it would be. Yeah, the verse is very pop, but the chorus has nice power with the heavy guitar. Overall, not bad. I'm going to play it on my show Tuesday.

By 'open' I mean more bold in their lyrics.  I know they've never really been really bold, but that's the sort of lyrics I crave.

Still the music and vocals are excellent.

Actually, the lyrics of 'Stars' are pretty good.

You spoke a word, life began
Told oceans where to start and where to end
You set in motion time and space
But still you come and you're calling me by name
Still you come and you're calling me by name

If you can hold the stars in place
You can hold my heart the same
Whenever I fall away
Whenever I start to break
So here I am, lifting up my heart
To the one who holds the stars

The deepest steps, the darkest nights
Can't separate, can't keep me from your side
I get so lost, forget my way
But still you love and you don't forget my name

If you can hold the stars in place
You can hold my heart the same
Whenever I fall away
Whenever I start to break
So here I am, lifting up my heart
If you can calm the raging sea
You can calm the storm in me
You're never too far away
You never show up too late
So here I am, lifting up my heart
To the one who holds the stars

Your love has called my name
What do I have to fear?
What do I have to fear?
Your love has called my name
What do I have to fear?
What do I have to fear?

If you can hold the stars in place
You can hold my heart the same
Whenever I fall away
Whenever I start to break
So here I am, lifting up my heart
(Lifting up my heart)
If you can calm the raging sea
You can calm the storm in me
You're never too far away
You never show up too late
So here I am, lifting up my heart
To the one who holds the stars

You're the one who holds the stars

Fundy wrote:

By 'open' I mean more bold in their lyrics.  I know they've never really been really bold, but that's the sort of lyrics I crave.

Still the music and vocals are excellent.

I thought that might be what you were getting at. Thanks for clarifying.

Fundy wrote:

By 'open' I mean more bold in their lyrics.  I know they've never really been really bold, but that's the sort of lyrics I crave.

Still the music and vocals are excellent.

Go back to their first couple of albums and they were much bolder.

Hmmmm that track sounds pretty darned poppy as well.

I have to confess that I didn't even bother with the last albums from Flyleaf or Fireflight....mostly because they sounded like they were moving away from rock and towards pop.  This song sounds a lot like that....but hey, maybe it's just one of the few ballady songs from the album. 
Guess I'll just have to wait until the rest of the tracks are available to listen to.

Do you like the lyrics on this one better Fundy?

That "Stars" song will be one they release to CCM radio.

Sadly, it sounds just like what the Newsboys, Nine Lashes, Fireflight, Building 429, Sanctus Real, Hawk Nelson and so many others have done.  They've lost most of their rock edge to be relevant on the big three Christian stations:  WAY-FM, The Fish, and K-Love.  Skillet has become a mockery of themselves and shows the state of the music industry.  They don't care about quality music that has memorable riffs and great musicianship.  They want easy to learn songs that most church worship bands can easily pick up and no edge so that the demographic audience (aka soccer moms) won't change the channel because it rocks too much.  It is bland drivel that sounds just like everyone else.

I don't know if I will get this or not.  If I do, it will probably just be a download as I don't feel I would play this very often.