Customer Reviews

Alien Youth

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sometimes, unfortunately, Christian bands trade lyrics for fame, and musical style for acceptance. With their 4th album, "Alien Youth," Skillet has a harder-edged sound, whose lyrics show no signs of selling-out. It really is incredible. I have played the pre-release a half-dozen times, at least, and am amazed at how tight they sound. Production has polished the sound, while keeping the raw feel. The samples make it difficult to tell the quality. The theme is "spiritual revolution," with the title track and "Earth Invasion" making the best points on the CD. "Ripping Me Off" is a great response to a nihilistic message put out at a Marilyn Manson concert. "Eating Me Away," the title track, and "One Real Thing" are my favorites, but the entire CD is great . "You Are My Hope" and "Come My Way" are the more mellow tunes, but they really open their hearts. This band also has an accompanying study kit for youth groups, designed to spur stronger commitment to Christ... Sincere music by a band with a sincere heart for youth and God.

Okay, I'm a Christian, but I'm not average in any way. This is important because I generally dispise Christian music. With few exceptions, I think it's vapid, soulless and sacreligiously manufactured. Enter Skillet, Christian music you can head-bang to. Alien Youth, their 2001 release, following-up on Invincible, is neither vapid, soulless or manufactured. Naturally, the first I noticed was the NIN-esque riffs, it's John Bonham living large with a bass guitar pulling most of the weight on the music. But the really outstanding factor on this CD are the lyrics. Instead of falling back on trite `exhultating' lyrics like `Jars of Clay' or `Third Day', they mix Biblical references (`Rise like a chosen generation'-Alien Youth, `But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood...'-1 Peter 2:9) with lines that are just plain cool (`Come with us if you wanna live'-Earth Invasion). Skillet has long been known as Christian-music's industrial giant, but what few people don't know is that they make some of the best Praise and worship music on the planet. `You are my hope' and `Will you be there' are prime examples. While neither song can really match `Rest' from Invincible, these are the best Sunday-morning-friendly songs to come out from a rock band in a long time. The CD, overall, has an interesting combination of metal and smooth rock that doesn't seem like it should fit together, but it does, really well. I strongly reccomend this CD for anyone who's put off by Christian mainstream.

First off, I want to say that this CD ROCKS. Titles like Alien Youth, Eating Me Away, and Ripping Me Off are amazing industrial rock. But this cd also has a nice mix in it. Other songs such as Will You Be There [falling down], Come My Way, and You Are My Hope are completed masterfully.

Just a little background about me to tell where I'm comming from: I love punk rock, rock, ska, hardcore, and anything inbetween. Fav bands are MXPX, Five Iron Frenzy, Supertones, P.O.D., Project 86, Earthsuit, Speck, Slick Shoes, Skillet, and on and on. So when I refer to a song as one that "rocks," I really mean that it RAWKS! BTW, I've been an avid Panhead sience "Hey, You, I Love your Soul."

Ok, back to the reason I'm writing this review... I give this cd a five because I love the variety that it has to offer. It has soft, hard, fast, light, etc. And all the songs are great! VERY rarely (if ever) will I skip a track on this cd. Some people don't like that skillet switched back and forth between a hard song and a softer one, but for the most part, they didn't. The majority of the time it is a gradual change. I really like that they put slower songs on the cd, because it breaks up the rythem a little bit. You can't deny that songs like "Will You Be There" doesn't move. Absolutely amazing. Once again on the flip side, "Eating Me Away" (I can't get enough of that song...) and "Alien Youth" will blow you away. The only thing better then this cd would be this cd played in concert :-)

Basically, you can't go wrong with Alien Youth. Moving songs, memorable lyrics, and masterful vocals and sounds put this cd at the top of a long list. It doesn't matter what kind of music you like, this cd has it all. If you don't have this cd (well, if you did you wouldn't be reading this review...) then go get it. Now. You won't be disappointed.

Over the last few years Skillet has emeerged as the top techno-rock group on the Christian scene, and this latest release only speaks the best for them. From the opening seconds of the album to the inspiring finale, the message in Alien Youth stays true to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the music stays true to their fans' expectations. I've listened to this CD all the way through at least 14 times now. And I've only had it for a couple days :) Recommend this to ALL your friends!!!

Check out my other reviews for great Christian CDs, Books, movies, etc.

the newest album from skillet isn't especially different from their last album style-wise. this does come in contrast to previous albums which have shown them progressing steadily towards a more electronic sound. but it seems like maybe they don't need to go anywhere else. skillet has completely hit their stride with this album. with a sound somewhere between orgy and gravity kills, they manage to rock throughout the album. of course skillet wouldn't be skillet without the ballads and there are seveal great ones in this album. the lyrics on their newest outing are the biggest change. skillet has never been afraid to use more edgy lyrics then a lot of christian bands, but this album takes their message to a new level. here, john is willing to sing of his questions to God and his anger with certain issues. and he is also the most honest and open about his shortcomings and needs. this is just an all around great album that will please any skillet fan and i'm sure bring some new ones into the fold.

After having been out of the Contemporary Christian music loop for a while, I was quite impressed and amazed to find what I've been missing! I have heard about Skillet for a while and just recently purchased "Invincible" and "Alien Youth". They have a style that I have never heard before. Their lyrics get straight to the point. I have even been playing these albums at work and my co-workers agree. "Alien Youth" is (in my opinion) one of the best albums I've heard in a long time. Highly recommended!

Skillet got a start back in 96, with a grunge sound, before moving onto more Alternative, Techno music. Some fans miss the heaviness of their debut. Others love the techno. This album combines the best of both worlds. Hard rock, laced with samples and techno.

Alien Youth, for me anyway, is the ONLY Skillet ablum where I do not feel the need to skip a single song when listening to it.

The title track kicks off the sound, with an anthem feel to it, and makes it clear exactly where the band stands: "Worldwide Jesus domination, love conqueres all" The next song, Vapor, is an undeniable rocker, talking about how fleeting life is, but how much of a different we can make while we are here. Following Vapor is Earth Invasion, a little more of pop feel to it, it follows the concept of Alien Youth, by comparing the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven to an Alien Invasion. The next song is a soft, worship tune, You Are My Hope.

The next song, my personal favorite, is entitled Eating Me Away. Talking about how all our humanity and imperfections eat at us, accompanied by militant, fast paced music after a little bit of a slow start. Kill Me, Heal Me starts before you know Eating Me Away is over, and it is another heavy rocker. The epic Thirst Is Taking Over follows, speaking of Demonic Posession, accompanied by creepy music to fit the mood, eventually slamming into nice, heavy, chaotic rock for the last 2 minutes or so.

The next song, One Real Thing, is my favorite ballad on the album. It's basically a straight-up praise song. Afterward is Stronger, which is the last real face-melter on the record. Ripping Me Off is next, with quite an interesting story. John Cooper atteneded a Marilyn Manson show prior to the writing of this record to see what all the hype was about. He found out. He found out that Manson is teacing kids that God is dead, or worse, and was filled with an anger, that he describes in this song. The song begins with the HEAVILY distorted line "I will always believe" (I've also heard "I must believe", but I think the first one sounds closer), before proclaiming "You say that God is dead, but you're ripping me off!" Will You Be There?(Falling Down) is next, and it's a ballad, and a plea to God during a time of hardship. The final song, Come My Way, is a piano ballad, and my least favorite on the record, but by no means a bad song.

I am a christian but can't find my hard rock/industrial satisfaction in any christian music. I listen to bands like KMFDM, and now skillet! Not all Skillets albums are as good as this, but this one tops the list. Their lyrics are in your face and outspoken.

1. ALIEN YOUTH. This song is explosive, melodic and the vocals in the verse sound just like marilyn manson. It's a great "christian goth rock chant"
2. VAPOR. great lyrics "i believe my skins just a shell, underneath is my reality", this song is fast in the chorus and very powerful and inlcudes lots of shouts.
3. EARTH INVASION. starts off very dance-like then brings in a great ear catching guitar line and an awesome pre-chorus. The songs about the saints invading the earth and taking control.
4. YOU ARE MY HOPE. If you're feeling down, or even depressed and losing faith, this is a great song to lift you up. It's a slow song, but is really touches your soul and hits the spot, a great melancholy melody.
5. EATING ME AWAY. This song is about questioning gods existance and the truth. Is he real? Well, he most certainly is, and this song kind of tries to get that message across by chanting "SAVE ME!" in the chorus. Fast rock tune.
6. KILL ME HEAL ME. Great guitars and fast rock. Is about god killing us, and saving us, delivering us and healing us through salvation and repentance.
7. THE THIRST IS TAKING OVER. This song is based on thirsting for god. It stays at a slow beat, but has a great synth line at the start, and awesome guitar that really makes you feel like you're deep inside another world.
8. ONE REAL THING. This is a happy, positive, feel good song. It is happy all through and isn't too hard or soft.
9. STRONGER. Feeling like the devil is taking over? feeling like you're weak? This song is an awesome chant "I'M STRONGER! THAN THE DEVIL YEAH!" It really makes you wanna slap satan in the face and say "get lost". Very fast hard rock.
10. RIPPIN ME OFF. Man, this song rocks. It's the most in your face song on the album and john is singing to all those "atheists" and non-believers screaming out "you're rippin me off". Awsome song, makes you feel great! awesome to sing to also.
11. WILL YOU BE THERE? This is a slower song, it keeps to a simple bass/piano line. It is really uplifting and melancholy, saying that god will be there for us in the darkest times.
12. COME MY WAY. This song is good once you get used to it. It is about just wanting to touch jesus' clothes to feel his power. It is slow, and is only piano and vocal, with some minor guitar but is truly a great song.

SKILLET ROCKS! THIS ALBUM IS MORE MELODIC THAN THE REST. It's even better than collide.

I think this is their best work yet! I can't even get past the first 4 songs. I believe that they spent time with God on their faces before they wrote the songs for this album. Songs 1 and 3 are about the Revival that is going on now and is about to explode! I can't wait until the "Alien Youth" tour comes to the Baltimore area!

hey....smell that? It smells like something really good is cooking for the band that is simply called skillet. Since they came out with there single release in 96 just simply called skillet. From hard rock almost metal they bring the house down three albums later with telling the world that they are going to not go away and that there is a invasion and they feel like aliens. Interesting lyrics to use to say moreless "I am a christian and yet I feel so different in this culturaled world." They really bring the worship scene on trck for with "You are my Hope" were you hear the heart and soul of John Cooper (Lead Singer). Skillet really bring the different styles and tectures of christian rock and the passion of christian music into this cd. This is one of those cd's that honestly is one of the most no holds bar let it all hang out and let everyone know what is our calling type of cd's. The one song that makes this most evident. Is the song stronger which speaks about how Jesus is stronger then Satan which is ever so true. God BLess Skillet and this is truly what is happening. Get this cd if you have the chance and let skillet show you how mature they have become.