Skillet by Skillet

Skillet is the band's 1996 self-titled debut, a rough and noisy start for what became a long-running Christian rock act. It carries the grungy, distorted sound of its day. I traced the band back to this record after the later hits, and found the seeds already there.

Why listen?

The sound is heavy and unpolished, fuzzed guitars driving most of the songs. The production is raw and of its time, a young band finding its feet. The lyrics wrestle with faith, doubt, and the wish to be made new. There is a sense of struggle, of a band still working out who it is. It is an honest, scrappy beginning rather than a finished statement.

Favourite song: Gasoline

The most driven track, all distortion and forward push. It shows the energy the band would later refine.

Soak my heart in gasoline
Light a match and consume me

The way the riff keeps charging forward feels like the first hard mile of a hike taken too fast. It reminds me of setting off with more zeal than plan, learning the pace as you go. The song burns with a young faith that has not yet learned patience, which is its rough charm.

Key takeaway

Skillet is a raw debut that hints at what was coming. Worth a listen for those who know the later records.

Tracklist

• I Can
• Gasoline
• Saturn
• My Beautiful Robe
• Promise Blender
• Paint
• Safe with You
• You Thought
• Boundaries
• Splinter

Details

Listen on

• Apple Music
• Amazon
• Spotify

Enjoyed this post?

Well, you could share the post with others, follow me via Social Media or RSS Feeds and/or send me a comment via email.

Tags