Dripping with classical orchestration, sing-along potential, catchy choruses with a splash of old school rock and Christian influence, yet rushing your adrenaline level. A fusion unlike no other, this band from Tennessee, Skillet, has recently found its way onto the most played category on my IPod. This band is so unique that it cannot just be considered one specific musical genre, for they have various forms spanning out to alternative rock, electro-industrial to Christian rock, hard rock and even hints of Goth metal influence on their later albums. Their first album was self-titled in 1996; the band originally had three members containing John Cooper on vocals and bass, Trey McClurkin on drums, and Ken Steorts on guitar. These original members also recorded their second CD, Hey You, I Love Your Soul. By their third CD, Invincible, Cooper’s wife Korey also joined the band on the keyboards, and Ken Steorts left the band while Kevin Haaland joined. After the release of Invincible, McClurkin left, and Lori Peters took over on the drums. Before the forth album, Alien Youth, Haaland left the band and Ben Kasica became Skillet’s new guitarist. The band currently consists of four members including: John Cooper on lead vocals and bass guitar; Korey Cooper on background vocals, keyboards, and backup guitar; Lori Peters on the drums; and Ben Kasica on lead guitar. Beginning as a Christian rock band, Skillet was formed in 1996 through the motivation of Steorts and Cooper’s pastor. Steorts and Copper were both playing for separate bands before. Steorts played for a band called Urgent Cry, while Cooper was involved with a band by the name of Seraph. Urgent Cry and Seraph had toured together creating that connection between Cooper and Steorts. Once the bands broke up, their pastor indicated that Cooper and Steorts should start up a new band. Even though the two were from different musical backgrounds, their pastor suggested getting a band together and naming it Skillet. Their pastor suggested this band name since the two were going to “throw it all in and see what you come up with.” From that, Skillet was born and since then they have released seven studio albums. Skillet’s most recent album release was Comatose on October 3, 2006. They are selling out numerous locations across the country; however, they aren’t widely known in the Bay Area. Many haven’t even heard their music or the name of the band, even though they have received Grammy nominations for two of their albums including Collide and Comatose. Comatose has launched the band into the public eye and they have acquired their first honorable Grammy nomination. Doubling the sales and in half the time as their 2004 release Collide, Comatose has become their best-selling project to date. Skillet has recently as of the end April this year, won “Rock Recorded Song of the Year” for “Comatose” at the 39th Annual GMA Dove Awards after 16 nominations. “Rebirthing” was the first single released off of Comatose, and it had spent seven weeks in No.1 spot on Christian Rock. “The Last Night,” the second song released, took the top spot as well on both Rock and CHR. Their latest singles, “The Older I Get” and “Comatose” have become Skillet’s third and fourth consecutive No. 1 singles. You may find that one of their songs truly touches you by relating your own life to fit into Skillet’s lyrics. For example, “The Last Night,” discusses someone considering suicide and hopelessly living life by not having that love from their parents that every child wishes for. Instead of actually going through with it, the song proposes that life is worth living and with the support of a helpful friend, eventually you will be talked down from that path. John Cooper’s songwriting has spread to cover a vast majority of social ideals, personal struggles and life’s difficulties. Closer to home for Cooper’s personal struggles is “The Older I Get,” which discusses his life after his mom passed away, revealing the shaky relationship with his dad and stepmother.