This Skillet record is a bit heavier than previous releases, said Cooper. “It’s more aggressive [and] it has more attitude to it—[the record] is very anti-establishment and talks about things like cancel culture—[and talks] about not being afraid to give up your life for the gospel.” While those themes have been in previous records, this release expresses more urgency behind those topics. Cooper described “Dominion” as being “positively defiant” towards the things of this world, the flesh, and sin.
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The title track of “Dominion” might be one of the heaviest songs in Skillet’s library over the last 26 years. “It has a little bit more metal influence and a little bit more punk influence,” Cooper shared. ChurchLeaders asked whether Cooper and guitarist Seth Morrison’s side project “Fight the Fury,” which has a more heavier metal sound, had any influence in some of “Dominion“’s tracks. Cooper replied, “We did pull in some influence from ‘Fight the Fury’ onto the record, especially on some of the more aggressive vocals—the more screamy vocals like on ‘Surviving the Game‘—bringing a little bit more of that angsty screaming in was quite fun.” Cooper also shared that due to the pandemic, they are unsure of when “Fight the Fury” will release any new material.
“There’s a lot of people that like Skillet that are not religious at all, or maybe they are religious but they’re not Christians,” Cooper told ChurchLeaders after being asked why someone should listen to the new record. “I believe that people are looking for something positive, something hopeful. They’re looking for something that is going to help them kind of get through how difficult this season has been.” Cooper said he believes that this record is “the post-pandemic rock inspiration record of the year for them” and hopes it help people rock out while at the gym.
For Christians, the record will have a deeper meaning than for those who aren’t because we know where our hope comes from, Cooper said. “For Christians, the record is going to make you feel inspired and it’s going to make you—I hope—want to stand up for your faith.” The song like “Standing in the Storm” does just that by mentioning David and Goliath, encouraging Christians in its lyrics, which say, “It is time to stand up for stand up for what we believe, yes it might cost us something, but it’s worth the cost.”
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Skillet uses the platform God has given them to spread the message of Jesus anywhere they are invited, including stages where some Christian artists never get the opportunity to perform. Skillet toured with secular band Korn in 2017, and this past summer, they appeared at festivals alongside popular bands like Metallica, Breaking Benjamin, Limp Bizkit, Rob Zombie, Chevelle, Disturbed, Jane’s Addiction, Judas Priest, Cypress Hill, Staind, and others. Cooper hopes that Skillet’s gospel-centered lyrics not only pierce through the darkness of the secular world but that the band’s unashamed pursuit of Jesus is always on full display.
Cooper Tells Winter Jam ‘You’re Being Lied To’
During Skillet’s set, Cooper took over five minutes to share the gospel with everyone in attendance, with a heavy focus directed to the youth in the crowd. “You watch the news—you’re being lied to. You listen to all these celebrities—you’re being lied to. Politicians—lied to. University professors—lied to,” Cooper said.
“This world right now is being run by a secular elite people,” Cooper stated. “Celebrities tell you how to find happiness by being your truest authentic self and encourage you to ‘divorce yourself from the limitations of Christianity [and] divorce yourself from the chains of the Bible.’ What they really want is a sexual revolution so you can finally be free and you can turn your back on Jesus and all the stuff that He demands.”
Cooper then questioned “all of these people” that are telling you how to be happy, wanting to know why it is that all of their lives are “so screwed up [and they’re] committing suicide at such an extraordinary rate [and] so depressed [and] addicted to pornography, drugs, alcohol, and fame. Some of the prettiest people in the world think that they are the ugliest and can’t take it so much that they cut themselves. But they’re telling you how to find happiness by getting rid of Jesus.”
