Artist Info:Discography Album length: 12 tracks: 47 minutes, 09 seconds Street Date: April 21, 1998
Skillet debuted ferociously in 1996 with their grunge-influenced self-titled
album on Forefront Records. Skillet's sophomore release, themed for showing love to the lost
even when faced with opposition, Hey You, I Love Your Soul doesn't quite pick up
where their debut left off. Needless to say, I was in for quite a shock when I first popped in the record
for a listen.
Upon listening to the album's first track, it's clear Skillet has already reinvented themselves on just
their second outing.
The title song starts out with electronic beeps and boops that will quickly confuse anyone familiar
with the band's previous effort. But the new Skillet mixes rock with electronic elements for a unique
industrial feel that you might expect moreso from Code Of Ethics - not Skillet. After more listens,
I was pleasantly surprised. The new style is sort of a hybrid of Audio Adrenaline and Code of Ethics, all the
while remaining distinctively Skillet. Those familiar with mainstream music will agree there is a hint of
Nine Inch Nails in the mix as well.
While the band's debut may have drawn some comparisons to Nirvana, it still possessed that "if it ain't
broke, don't fix it" rock authority. While grunge may be fading, it still seems an extreme shift to
adopt such a thick electronic influence. But Hey You, I Love Your Soul has plenty of good things
about it. Highlights include the rocker "Locked in a Cage," while fans of the old ballads "Saturn" or
"Safe With You" will enjoy "More Faithful," "Whirlwind," and the almost tribal sounds of "Coming Down."
Hey You, I Love Your Soul may be a completely different musical exploration for this three piece,
but hey, it sounds good!
- Review date: 3/1/98, written by John DiBiase
Artist Info: 
