American hard rockers Skillet last visited Australia back in 2011 and the line snaking its way around the Forum Theater prior to doors, signified its been 8 years too long! Two albums since the last visit and a bunch of new fans to play to, definitely made for a highly anticipated gig.
Hometown pop punks Terra delivered the energy first up to an enthusiastic crowd. They looked right at home up on stage delivering songs filled with pop hooks and cutting solos.
Right from the outset, there was not a moment of concern that tonights gig was going to have a case of Sunday feels. Skillet‘s unrelenting energy launching into show opener Feel Invicible was equally matched by the energy and vocals of the crowd. I guess after all there was 8 years of catching up to do! Whispers In The Dark, Sick Of It and Rise kept up the intensity, so much so that frontman John Cooper paused (a rare occurence during tonights gig) to let the crowd know that their singing is so loud its hurting his ears. I guess getting rid of the bass and jumping down off stage getting amongst the crowd as he did during Sick Of It, will do that…! To be honest, I couldn’t tell you the last time I’ve witnessed such a feverish crowd response so early on into a set..
Skillets sound over the years hasn’t strayed too far from their anthemic symphonic metal, however Lions off latest album Unleashed shows a more restrained contemporary side and a song that hearing in the live context tonight brought so much more power and emotion. Especially when backed by a 1,500+ strong choir and bringing the electric Cello man on stage. Stage lighting plays a major part of the Skillet live experience and it was during slower songs such as this, along with the likes of Stars where you could take this all in.
What to follow up with next?, well one of their more intense and heavier moments in Back From The Dead featuring a powerhouse drumming performance from Jen Ledger who was sure kept busy all night doubling up on co lead-vocals and even stepping out from behind the kit for the soaring intro to Awake and Alive and then trade vocals with Cooper throughout.
Skillet have never shied away from their religious faith with the chatty Cooper sharing tonight that one of their biggest hits in Hero was written as a tribute to the person who has given him the greatest hope throughout his life, Jesus Christ. Along with his faith, we learn video games and old school heavy metal are two of Cooper’s greatest other passions, cue to the pop infused Those Nights. Well let’s also count Korey Cooper in those passions, his partner in crime who shares her husbands frenetic stage energy bouncing between guitars, keys and cameo vocals.
Not that the crowd needed any encouragement, but if there were any songs to jump to and raise the roof, Undefeated and Monster did the trick. Even in the tail end of the set both band and crowd taking things to another level of intensity. The Resistance provided the encore song and what a fitting way to end with the refrain “you cant resist us” being oh so apt, topped by a thunderous musical ending led by Seth Morrison on lead guitar.
It’s not too often that a band can deliver a 16 song strong set without any flat spots, but tonight was one of those nights. Skillet delivering bonafide fist pumping anthem after anthem with an unrelenting energy, matched by their faithful Panheads giving every bit back and then some.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by SAS75 Photography
