Awake (2009)

Awake is the seventh studio album by the Christian rock band Skillet, released on August 25, 2009 by Ardent Records, INO Records and Lava/Atlantic Records. The album is produced by Howard Benson, who is best known for producing fellow Christian rockers Third Day, P.O.D. and Flyleaf and mainstream acts like Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, The All-American Rejects and My Chemical Romance among others. Mixing was done by Chris Lord-Alge.

Awake was a very successful album, even out-selling their predecessor Comatose, by first certified Gold, Platinum and then going Double Platinum selling over two million copies. After finishing the Comatose Tour, Skillet started work on their follow-up album in the fall of 2008. It was recorded at two studios in California. Lead singer and bassist John Cooper wrote more than 40 songs in preparation for the album. Skillet describes Awake as more similar to Comatose with "Classic rock riffs, swirling drums, monstrous hooks, and undeniably catchy choruses... hints of old school progressive rock mixed in with modern alternative flourishes... touches of classical influence as swelling strings intersect with sonic adrenaline rushes." It is the first full-length album to feature new drummer and vocalist Jen Ledger and the last to feature Ben Casica on guitar.

Awake was preceded by the lead single "Hero" on May 19, 2009 to both Christian and mainstream rock radio along with a music video. The track was used in several media appearances including the 2009 NFL Kickoff game between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers and many other NFL games throughout the 2009 season. "Hero" was included on the WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010 video game. "Monster" was the second single released two months later and both songs have topped the Christian Rock chart and both songs are the most streamed tracks on Awake with a combined total of 2 billion plays. Their third single "Awake and Alive" was their only charted song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart where it debuted and peaked at number 100 for just one week. It is their third most streamed track with half a billion streams. All three of the mentioned tracks were multi-platinum singles selling over a combined total of 11 million download copies.

Awake charted on the following album charts:

#1 Billboard Top Christian Albums

#1 Billboard Top Alternative Albums

#2 Billboard 200 Albums

#2 Billboard Top Rock Albums

Awake is tied with two other Christian Rock albums debuting at their highest peak position at number 2 on the Billboard 200: Underoath's 2006 release Define the Great Line and Casting Crowns' 2007 album The Altar and the Door. The Deluxe Edition of Awake on CD features three bonus tracks: "Dead Inside," "Would It Matter" and an alternate radio edit of "Monster." The Japanese Edition also includes a live recording of "Comatose" as a fourth bonus track. A vinyl LP of Awake was released on November 20, 2015 featuring just the 12 tracks as found on the standard version.

In 2010, Skillet was nominated for six Dove Awards, the most nominated by the band, including Group of the Year, Artist of the Year and Rock Album of the Year. In 2011, Skillet were the first recipients of the Billboard Music Award for Top Christian Album.

Track listing on the Deluxe Edition

All songs were written by John Cooper, except where noted.

1. Hero (John Cooper, Korey Cooper) -3:07

2. Monster (John Cooper, Gavin Brown) -3:00

3. Don't Wake Me (John Cooper, Brian Howes) -3:56

4. Awake and Alive (John Cooper, Brian Howes) -3:30

5. One Day Too Late (John Cooper, Brian Howes) -3:41

6. It's Not Me, It's You -3:25

7. Should've When You Could've -3:32

8. Believe (John Cooper, Dave Bassett) -3:51

9. Forgiven -3:39

10. Sometimes -3:27

11. Never Surrender (John Cooper, Dave Bassett) -3:31

12. Lucy -3:39

13. Dead Inside -2:57

14. Would It Matter (John Cooper, Dave Bassett) -4:13

15. Monster (alternate radio edit) -2:59

Personnel

Skillet:

John Cooper -lead vocals, bass guitar, additional string arrangements

Korey Cooper -backing vocals, keyboards, programming, keyboard

programming, additional string arrangements

Ben Kasica -electric and acoustic guitars

Jen Ledger -additional vocals on tracks 1 and 4, backing vocals, drums

additional musicians:

Howard Benson -additional keyboards (all tracks)

Jonathan Chu -violin (tracks 4, 9, 12 and 14)

RIAA certifications

Gold certified in 2010.

Platinum certified 2x in 2017.

"Hero" single Gold certified in 2011, Platinum certified 3x in 2021.

"Awake and Alive" single Gold certified in 2011, Platinum certified 2x in 2022.

"Monster" single Gold certified in 2012, Platinum certified 6x in 2025.

Accolades

Billboard Music Award -Top Christian Album (Awake)

Radio singles

2009 "Hero" -#29 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, #29 Billboard Christian Airplay,

#15 Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay, #35 Billboard Hot Rock and Alternative

Songs

2009 -2010 "Monster" -#4 Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay, #20 Billboard Rock

and Alternative Songs, #1 Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, #28 Billboard

Alternative Airplay

2010 "Awake and Alive" -#30 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, #30 Billboard

Christian Airplay, #2 Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay, #13 Billboard Rock and

Alternative Songs, #100 Billboard Hot 100, #24 Billboard Alternative Airplay

2010 -2011 "Forgiven" -#23 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, #23 Billboard Christian

Airplay

2011 "Lucy" -#49 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, #49 Billboard Christian Airplay

2011 "It's Not Me, It's You" -#11 Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay, #30 Billboard

Rock and Alternative Airplay

2011 -2012 "One Day Too Late" -#28 Billboard Hot Christian Songs, #28 Billboard

Christian Airplay

Previous release: Comatose Comes Alive (2008)

Next release: The Early Years (1996 -2001) (2010)

Watch the music video of "Hero" here:

Watch the music video of "Monster" here:

Watch the music video of "Awake and Alive" here: