Skillet

Formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1996, Skillet first emerged within the American Christian rock scene around bassist and vocalist John Cooper, soon joined by Korey Cooper on keyboards and guitars. Over the years, Skillet developed a sound that blends Christian rock, melodic hard rock, metal influences, and more electronic passages, incorporating orchestral arrangements and choruses built for large venues. The early albums—Skillet (1996), Hey You, I Love Your Soul (1998), and Invincible (2000)—explore a more alternative and industrial side, before Alien Youth (2001) and Collide (2003) toughened the sound. With Comatose (2006), followed by Awake (2009) and Rise (2013), the band settled into a more structured formula, driven by John Cooper’s vocals, Korey Cooper’s backing vocals, and—from 2008 onward—Jen Ledger’s drumming and vocals, while addressing faith, resilience, and inner tensions in a direct manner. The subsequent records, Unleashed (2016), Victorious (2019), and Dominion (2022), carry this direction forward, balancing accessible hard rock with symphonic touches and elements of modern metal. Skillet tours both North American Christian rock festivals and general rock and metal stages, regularly sharing the bill with mainstream bands and serving as a bridge between Christian circles and the broader rock scene.