Its funny how things go; SKILLET, a Christian rock band having now released seven CD’s with the last two (“Collide” and “Comatose”) getting Grammy nominations and then in 2008 they add a new female drummer/vocalist Jen Ledger due to former drummer Lori Peters retirement.

SKILLET’s new release “Awake” will come this month (August 25) and all the controversy is over Ledger’s duel vocals with John Cooper as some say she sounds too much like Lacy of FLYLEAF. Come on people; Ledger brings a new element to SKILLET and since I’m neutral as a fan of the band I feel Ledger’s vocals add another dimension to their sound. I thought her vocals were outstanding and wanted to hear more. The opening tune “Hero” has those great hard-edged crunching vocals and with the addition of Ledger’s voice accompanying Cooper it will bring even more notoriety. The song is top-notch and has already made it to CCM radio. “Awake” has not even been released yet and it already has two top-twenty tunes on iTunes!

“Monster” is the second track on the CD and has reached # 11 on iTunes. The song has great hooks and is energizing with traditional power chords. Cooper and SKILLET are writing geniuses because every track has the aura of star quality. The CD has classic lyrics, crunching power chords and I feel this time around they put a little more emphasis on the guitar solos.

The ballad “Don’t Wake Me” will be another CCM AOR hit that has the same sensation of HINDER’s “Lips of An Angel”. Great acoustics, good harmonies and that word “LOVE”.

The track that sets fire to the disc is “Awake and Alive”. It’s an uplifting song and with the sensational addition of Ledger’s vocals it makes this a highlight track. The keyboards of Korey Cooper ring with excitement and when John Cooper and Ledger take hold of the vocals the sparks fly. The guitar work of Ben Kasica is the perfect element that drives the song beyond compare. This song is the future of SKILLET!

You really can’t pick a bad track out of this entire CD; “It’s Not Me It’s You” is power-packed with enthusiasm, precise breaks and the power chords that makes a special tune. Not only are the songs fun to listen to they are also songs to sing along too.

With “Awake” you also get a classic rock side as with “Believe” as the keyboards give the song a solid sound comparable to your basic rock tune but Awake also has a heavy side with a song like “Sometimes” which has provoking guitar work by Ben Kasica so you have an abundance of changes from track to track.

The CD ends with a soft tear-jerking sensitive song called “Lucy” which is about the passing of a loved one. I think John Cooper really came into his own on “Awake” and this should be another Grammy nomination for SKILLET. The only thing I would have liked is to hear more of Jen Ledger!