The next song is the slower, more upbeat song, 'Good to be Alive'. So the album begins with it's title track, which is a strong opener like 'Awake' did, only Rise is ten times better then 'Hero', both lyrically and technically! The song ends with a strong taste of the world around the listener and leads to the first single of the album, 'Sick of It' Which continues the albums strong new sound, dating back to the good old days of Alien Youth (Remember I said this is their 9th album? Using a strong techno beat in there to keep things fresh while at the same time bringing in the same audience won from 'Awake'.

The concept is that of the typical life journey of the average teenager who experiences the harsh troubles of life and finds passion in Christ and is able to make it through it all, and may I say they did a amazing job telling it! And here I was thinking, 'Jeez, not another 'Wretched and Divine' and from these guys?!' I gotta give it to them, they surprised me! So this album is notably a change both in sound and album structure, for this is their first album to be a concept album. I wasn't expecting much with 'Rise', but, and dare you call me for making this statement, Skillet has Risen back to their former glory!!! Sure, some songs on Awake were fun (Hero, Monster, Lucy, and Awake and Alive), but the album itself was nothing but fodder and mainstream waste. It was so good that even non-religious people was able to fall for these guys. Their first big seller came out in 2006, titled 'Comatose', and showed the world the talent they have, the true potential that the band possesses, and their passion to their religious beliefs. So for anyone who doesn't know, Skillet has been alive much longer then you think, They've been around about 11 years, and released 8 albums before Rise.

Review Summary: Skillet has 'Risen' back to their former glory!!!

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