Skillet
Skillet
Comatose Comes Alive
Not too long ago, right about the time I received the assignment for this very review, I found myself in a situation where I was backstage at a Skillet show. I bring this up for two reasons. 1) It was a serendipitous occasion giving me the unusual chance to compare the live performance of a band with the recently released live album. And, 2) I was asked to leave the stage area because of risk of explosions. Number two speaks to what, I think, has always been Skillet’s best attribute – the live show. They consistently bring nothing less than a ROCK SHOW, regardless of the size of crowd or the enthusiasm shown. It is, in a word, respectable. That they brought pyro with them (something I haven’t seen in person since James Hetfield nearly blew his arm off in ’92) just drives the point home. But the question remains. Does the record do the live show justice? Yes and no. The album sounds good – guitars and bass are tight and appropriately bowel shaking in their riffage. Drums, provided by newest lady-phenom Jen Ledger, are awesome, and the addition of a violinist and cellist add a dose of drama and flair. But it suffers from the same problem that many live records have, which is the sense of alienation one feels when listening to it. There is lots of “Hey Chattanooga! ARE YOU READY TO ROCK!!!” type stuff, which, as a listener in Texas, does nothing for me. I’m left out simply because I was never a part of it to begin with. The band preempts this by including a live DVD (production value = high), which helps considerably. Having a visual does wonders for when you want to rock the album in your car, and it’s ultimately the greatest selling point for the record. It’s all good, but nothing beats seeing that pyro in person… [Atlantic/Ardent/inO] Mike Hogan
This album review was originally published in the January/February Issue (#135) of HM Magazine. Order the Print Version to read tons more reviews. You can order the Print Version of this issue online or find this issue on newsstands. You can NOW read this entire feature in the online edition of HM Magazine. If you're a subscriber, you get a free online/digital subscription with your print subscription. You can purchase a single online/digital edition (which includes access to back issues) for only $1.99. A one-year digital-only subscription can be had for only $6.
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Comments
By Ryan Ro
This live disc came too late for me, as I do not enjoy Comatose. I did buy the 6 songs from other albums (4 from Collide and 2 from Invincible) on iTunes. Mixed feelings on the material aside, this is one of the best sounding live discs I have ever heard. Very, very well produced.
The clear, excellent production also reveals one glaring and unsettling flaw in Skillet's sound: John Cooper's voice is absolutely destroyed. He sounds as though he is following in the AudioA frontman's footsteps. I wonder how long the group will continue before his vocal cords are completely shot. I hope for the best...
