Is Awake a good place to start with Skillet?

Yes, Awake is recommended as a starting point for new Skillet listeners. A powerful blend of hard rock and orchestral elements, balancing aggressive riffs with anthemic melodies. Released on August 25, 2009, 'Awake' was Skillet's sixth studio album and marked their commercial breakthrough, following the success of their previous album 'Comatose'. At this point in their career, Skillet had solidified their place in the Christian rock scene while expanding their appeal to mainstream audiences.

Awake works well if you're into energetic workout motivation, short, punchy listening sessions and anthemic sing-along moments.

How many songs are on Awake?

Awake has 12 tracks, running approximately 42 minutes.

Awake

Skillet · 2009

42 min · 12 tracks · alternative rock

A powerful blend of hard rock and orchestral elements, balancing aggressive riffs with anthemic melodies.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Hero Start here — Opening with a driving beat and urgent lyrics, this track sets the tone for the album's themes of struggle and empowerment.
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Monster — 'Monster' encapsulates the album's sound and message, presenting a visceral exploration of inner turmoil that resonated widely with listeners.
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Awake and Alive — This anthem serves as a rallying cry for resilience, blending soaring vocals with a catchy chorus that highlights the album's central themes of awakening and perseverance.
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Forgiven — With its introspective lyrics and melodic structure, 'Forgiven' showcases Skillet's ability to merge emotional depth with hard-hitting instrumentation.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album balances aggressive rock with orchestral elements, achieving both intensity and melody.

What we noticed

The album opens with a high-energy track, 'Hero', followed by the hit single 'Monster', maintaining an aggressive tempo throughout the first half.
Several tracks feature orchestral elements layered over hard rock instrumentation, creating a dynamic contrast between heavy riffs and melodic sections.
The last three tracks slow down the tempo significantly, providing a reflective conclusion to the album's intense energy.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

energetic workout motivation
short, punchy listening sessions
anthemic sing-along moments
dynamic emotional journeys

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — Established Skillet's reputation with significant commercial success and hit singles.
Themes: inner turmoil· Christian resilience
Career context: Released on August 25, 2009, 'Awake' was Skillet's sixth studio album and marked their commercial breakthrough, following the success of their previous album 'Comatose'. At this point in their career, Skillet had solidified their place in the Christian rock scene while expanding their appeal to mainstream audiences.
Stylistic neighbors: Red· Thousand Foot Krutch· Breaking Benjamin