Over the weekend, Skillet’s rendition of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” trended on X, rocketing into the No.1 spot on iTunes’ rock and Christmas charts. The track also broke into iTunes’ Top 5 in the all genre category.
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is the Christian rock band’s first ever Christmas song and has been viewed over 702,000 times on X. But not everyone is excited about song. In fact, some are even calling it “demonic” and something “the devil” would sound like if he “sang hymns.”
The award-winning band starts its rendition of the classic hymn like most would probably expect, with piano, melodic vocals, soft drum beats, and accompanying guitars. Then at the three-minute mark of the song, Skillet reminds their fans who is singing.
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Skillet told ChurchLeaders that the message of the song—and the band’s message for Christmas—is rooted in hope despite the evil in the world and that Christ has come, Christ is present, and Christians are called to shine light, speak truth, and love even their enemies.
Seth Morrison and Korey Cooper had to modify their guitars to get some of the heaviest sounds the band has ever recorded. This was in an effort to express the true groaning the world experiences without a savior.
‘Demonic’—Not Everyone On Social Media Appreciates Skillet’s Rendition of the Beloved Christmas Classic
“If the Bible is true, music like this will be banned during the Millennium,” an X account that goes by the name Now The End Begins (NTEB) criticized. “This does NOT give glory to God at all. If the Devil sang hymns, and sometimes he does, this is what it would sound and look like. Watching with sound off really drives this point home.”
My feed on here right now…and yes the nerdy kid has a really dumb take on the banger of a song from @skilletmusic pic.twitter.com/FpBQaJLXXW
— Emery Phipps (@EmeryPhipps0311) November 17, 2025
Another critic wrote, “So demonic,” and cited Matthew 7:21-23. Another said, “Can’t imagine Jesus standing in their midst and doing anything but driving them out with a whip and overturning it all.”
“Trying to rebrand Satan’s atmosphere as being holy because of the lyrics, I can’t see God enjoying this,” someone else wrote.
‘I’m Not Angry or Even Offended’—John Cooper Responds to Criticism
Skillet lead singer and founding member, John Cooper, told ChurchLeaders, “I’m not angry or even offended by those who believe my music is somehow satanic.”
“Perhaps it’s because I grew up with godly parents who believed that rock music was inherently from the devil,” he explained. “I was taken to Bill Gothard seminars and preached to about the evils of Christian rock profusely.” Cooper said that his parents were “were just doing what they believed was right because they loved me and wanted to protect me.”
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Cooper continued, “And I assume that those who criticize Skillet have the same motive—and I assume they are brothers.” He added, “But, I do wish they could hear the stories of how God has used our music to bring the light and hope of the gospel into broken lives, and it is because of the call of the Lord that I easily ignore these voices. They don’t slow me down—they ramp me up.”
