Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Skillet - Collide (2003) Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Skillet - Collide (2003)

Shadowdoom9 (Andi) Shadowdoom9 (Andi) / October 21, 2025 / 0

Skillet was part of the league of my brother's favorite alt-rock/metal bands alongside others such as Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, and Disturbed. Back around the Rise era, shortly before getting into "true" metal, I was following his footsteps and liked some songs from those bands. He hasn't listened to Skillet for the past few years before this review, but I didn't think too much about it. Then just the other day, he told me that he doesn't listen to one other band anymore, that band being Disturbed. Y'know, the one band that really started it all for his music taste, which would in turn caused my music taste to start building up. This made me wonder, is he really moving on from what was once his favorite style of rock/metal, a significant token of both his and my past? And that revelation came after I moved out of The Gateway...

At that moment, I remembered checking out Skillet's RYM page and seeing their album Collide qualify as alternative metal, within the 2:1 ratio and all. I consider Skillet more of a rock band than metal, but when I gave that album some listening for the first time in many years, I realized it has the most metal Skillet has ever sounded in their career, as heavy as frontman John Cooper's side-project Fight the Fury. The electronics of the band's prior albums were reduced in favor of pure guitar intensity, with John's singing having a bit of a screamy edge. This is total riff aggression that the band has barely done before and after. And for that reason, this album sits well right here in this site.

Synths still pop out subtly in the opening track "Forsaken" while already unleashing that heavy riffing. "Savior" is a perfect song to rock out to, often going from bliss to devastation (not to be confused with that Vision of Disorder album with a similar sound). The album was reissued a year after its initial release and includes a bonus track, "Open Wounds" which has softer melody. "A Little More" is an uplifting ballad, though I think it could've been better placed at the end of the album instead of so early.

This then leads us to two of the best songs in the album, starting with "My Obsession", in which the crushing riffing and vocals have similar vibes to Linkin Park at the time. But nothing compares to the actual best song here, the title track. I loved this song when I was following my brother's footsteps, and I still do today! It's a grand example of how to make alt-rock/metal epic by adding in Within Temptation-esque strings, hinting at the band's more symphonic sound from Comatose onwards. Truly the "Krwlng" of Skillet, and a fantastic gem! "Fingernails" is another rock-on song, though a little overproduced on the vocals.

Another empowering track "Imperfection" can help you through life struggles while letting out more of that rock/metal fury. The chorus is relatable for anyone realizing where those struggles might lead them to. "Under My Skin" is another soft melodic ballad that isn't all that great. The vocals in "Energy" are so energetic, "Everywhere I go I can’t escape your energy". Finally, "Cycle Down" ends it all in reckless abandon. Cool track, but I wish the album could've ended with one of the aforementioned ballads.

Collide has shown Skillet really making their way to the alt-rock/metal generation. And it has still pleased listeners in the next couple decades that would follow. If my brother and I both end up saying goodbye to alt-rock/metal for real one day, this offering can still be something for us to remember....

Favorites: "Forsaken", "Savior", "My Obsession", "Collide", "Imperfection", "Energy"

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