Unleashed (Skillet album)

Unleashed
Studio album by Skillet
Released	August 5, 2016
Recorded	June 2015 – early 2016
Genre	Christian metal, hard rock
Length	42:48
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Brian Howes Kevin Churko Neal Avron Seth Mosely Mike "X" O'Connor
Skillet chronology
Rise (2013) Unleashed (2016)
Singles from Unleashed
"Feel Invincible" Released: June 29, 2016 "Stars" Released: July 5, 2016

Unleashed is the tenth album by American Christian rock band Skillet, released on August 5, 2016.^[1] The album was announced on May 20, 2016, and a lyric video was released for the track "Feel Invincible" at the same time on the band's YouTube channel. Six days later, the band released a lyric video for the track "Stars" on their YouTube channel.

Recording

On February 16, 2015, Skillet announced they were writing material for a new album with recording to begin in June with a potential release in the late half of 2015 or early 2016, however it got pushed back to a later-2016 release date on August 5, 2016. The band worked with Brian Howes, who previously produced their 2006 album, Comatose, along with producers Kevin Churko, Neal Avron and Seth Mosely. Cooper stated he felt "'really inspired'" before going into the studio to record the music.^[2] Even though he said "'the songs are very aggressive, very in-your-face'", he said the new material is genuine to the Skillet sound they have crafted.^[3][4]

On April 8, Skillet released a preview of a new song, later revealed to be called "Out of Hell", on their social media pages.^[5] On May 20, 2016 the album's title, Unleashed, was announced and is to be released on August 5, 2016 on Atlantic Records.^[6] A lyric video, "Feel Invincible", was also made available.^[7] On May 26, the lyric video and digital single "Stars" was released, along with a preview for another song titled "Back From the Dead".^[8] On July 8, the full version of "Back From the Dead" was made available for purchase online,^[9] followed by "I Want to Live" on the 29th.^[10]

Music and lyrics

John Cooper noted that Unleashed is made up of songs ranging from metal to pop.^[11] Cooper also mentioned that he wanted the songs from Unleashed to be connected both in their lyrics and music.^[1]

Singles

The music video for Skillet's first single, "Feel Invincible", was released on June 29, 2016.^[11] The single charted at No. 3 on the US Christian Rock charts and No. 17 at the US Rock charts. WWE announced on July 7 that it had chosen "Feel Invincible" as an official theme for the 2016 Battleground pay-per-view event.^[12] The song has also been chosen as the theme for TBS' ELeague, an eight-week live video-gaming competition that will be broadcast in more than 80 countries.

John Cooper says the track "represents the album in one facet really well: [Unleashed] is full of crowd-chanting anthems. The album is very exciting to listen to. Driving beats and melodic choruses, whether it's hard rock or leaning toward pop." He also notes that Unleashed is "quite diverse—there are more extreme songs on both sides of the spectrum, meaning harder rock and even metal, but also pop and atmospheric tunes/sounds."^[13]

Track listing

The track listing for Unleashed was released along with the album announcement.^[14]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Feel Invincible"	John Cooper, Seth Mosley	3:50
2.	"Back From the Dead"	J. Cooper, Korey Cooper	3:34
3.	"Stars"	J. Cooper, K. Cooper, Jason Ingram, S. Mosley	3:46
4.	"I Want to Live"	J. Cooper, K. Cooper	3:29
5.	"Undefeated"	J. Cooper, Kane Churko, Kevin Churko	3:36
6.	"Famous"	J. Cooper, S. Mosley, Sam Tinnesz	3:18
7.	"Lions"	J. Cooper, K. Cooper, Mia Fieldes, S. Mosley	3:25
8.	"Out of Hell"	J. Cooper, Kane Churko, Kevin Churko	3:34
9.	"Burn it Down"	J. Cooper, K. Cooper, S. Mosley	3:16
10.	"Watching for Comets"	J. Cooper, K. Cooper	3:29
11.	"Saviors of the World"	J. Cooper, K. Cooper	3:46
12.	"The Resistance"	J. Cooper, K. Cooper, S. Mosley	3:52
Total length:			42:55

Japanese edition bonus tracks
Track listing
No.	Title	Length
13.	"Monster" (live)
14.	"Hero" (live)

Charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[15]	7
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[16]	14
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[17]	26
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[18]	48
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[19]	7
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[20]	47
French Albums (SNEP)[21]	152
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22]	11
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[23]	18
New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ)[24]	1
Russian Albums (Russian Music Charts)[25]	2
Scottish Albums (OCC)[26]	25
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[27]	85
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[28]	55
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[29]	9
UK Albums (OCC)[30]	45
UK Christian & Gospel Albums Chart (OCC) [31]	1
US Billboard 200[32]	3
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[33]	2
US Christian Albums (Billboard)[34]	1
US Digital Albums (Billboard)[35]	2
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[36]	1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[37]	2
US Top Internet Albums (Billboard)[38]	1

References

1. Childers, Chad (May 20, 2016). "Skillet Reveal 'Unleashed' Album Details, 'Feel Invincible' Lyric Video". Loudwire. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
2. Graff, Gary (February 16, 2015). "John Cooper Says Skillet is Making Progress on New Album: 'I Feel Really Inspired'". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
3. Levy, Piet (October 1, 2015). "Skillet's John Cooper talks upcoming album before homecoming show". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
4. Chad Childers (February 16, 2015). "Skillet 'Halfway There' in Writing Next Studio Album".
5. "Skillet Music". Retrieved July 10, 2016.
6. "Amazon.com: Unleashed: Skillet: MP3 Downloads". Retrieved May 21, 2016.
7. "Skillet Releases New Single, New Album Available For Pre-Order". Retrieved May 20, 2016.
8. "Skillet Premieres New Single "Stars"". Retrieved July 10, 2016.
9. "Skillet Music". Retrieved July 10, 2016.
10. "Skillet Music". Retrieved July 29, 2016.
11. Titus, Christa. "Watch Skillet's 'Feel Invincible' Video: Exclusive Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
12. "Skillet Music". Retrieved July 10, 2016.
13. url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7423183/skillet-feel-invincible-video-premiere
14. "Unleased by Skillet on iTunes". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
15. "Australiancharts.com – Skillet – Unleashed". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
16. "Austriancharts.at – Skillet – Unleashed" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
17. "Ultratop.be – Skillet – Unleashed" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
18. "Ultratop.be – Skillet – Unleashed" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
19. "Skillet – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Skillet. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
20. "Dutchcharts.nl – Skillet – Unleashed" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
21. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes - SNEP (Week 32, 2016)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
22. "Offiziellecharts.de – Skillet – Unleashed" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
23. "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 2016. 31. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
24. "NZ Heatseekers Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
25. "Саундтрек к "Отряду самоубийц" остался в лидерах российского iTunes" (in Russian). Lenta.ru. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
26. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
27. "Spanishcharts.com – Skillet – Unleashed". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
28. "Swedishcharts.com – Skillet – Unleashed". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
29. "Swisscharts.com – Skillet – Unleashed". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
30. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
31. "Archive Chart". Official Charts Company. August 13, 2016.
32. "Skillet – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Skillet. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
33. "Skillet – Chart history" Billboard Top Alternative Albums for Skillet. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
34. "Skillet – Chart history" Billboard Christian Albums for Skillet. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
35. "Skillet – Chart history" Billboard Digital Albums for Skillet. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
36. "Skillet – Chart history" Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums for Skillet. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
37. "Skillet – Chart history" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Skillet. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
38. "Internet Albums". Billboard.