NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- October 9, 2026 -- Multi-Platinum rock band Skillet today unleashes its highly anticipated new independent EP, After the Storm, a six-song collection that finds one of the WORLD's biggest rock bands delivering some of the heaviest, most vulnerable and hopeful music of its nearly 30-year career. Leading today's release is focus track "Grave Stomper," a hard-hitting anthem that embodies the fighting spirit at the heart of After the Storm. The EP arrives amid a remarkable period of momentum for Skillet, including 30 million RIAA-certified units across 21 titles, 11 newly awarded certifications led by the career-defining "Monster" soaring to 7X Platinum, more than 12 million monthly Spotify listeners, a wave of national media attention and a U.S. headline tour already selling out in multiple markets.

LISTEN TO AFTER THE STORM: https://vyd.co/SkilletAfterTheStorm

LISTEN TO "GRAVE STOMPER": lyric video

Produced by David Cowell (Sleep Theory) and the band's own Korey Cooper, After the Storm marks both a return to Skillet's heavier musical roots and one of its most personal creative statements to date. The project brought frontman John Cooper back to his hometown of Memphis to record for the first time since Skillet's 2003 album Collide.

Inspired by seasons of betrayal, grief, anger and depression -- and the perseverance, faith and hope that emerged on the other side -- the EP finds Cooper writing from one of the most vulnerable places of his career.

"This EP is special to me," says Cooper. "It reignites what Skillet was always meant to be -- which is music that helps lift people out of dark times. I wrote these songs because I needed to be lifted out of my darkness."

"GRAVE STOMPER" LEADS RELEASE DAY-

At the center of today's release is "Grave Stomper," a ferocious anthem that channels the heavier side of Skillet and the spirit of resilience running throughout After the Storm.

"I was being slandered, but I knew those untrue words didn't have any power over me. You can't live in lies very long; the truth will come out. I can stand strong on that as a 'Grave Stomper'."

"Grave Stomper" follows previously released tracks "Scream" and "Lift Me Up," which first introduced the intensely personal season behind After the Storm, and combined have surpassed 12 million global streams.

Together with "Grave Stomper," the songs set the tone for an EP that wrestles openly with betrayal, anger, depression, suffering, perseverance and the decision to hold onto hope.

A CATALOG STILL REACHING NEW HEIGHTS-

The new music arrives as Skillet's remarkable catalog continues reaching new milestones.

Last month, the band celebrated 30 million RIAA-certified units across 21 titles, including 11 newly awarded certifications. Among the latest honors, "Monster" reached 7X Platinum, "Hero" 4X Platinum, and both "Awake and Alive" and "Feel Invincible" 3X Platinum.

"Monster" has also surpassed 5 billion global streams, claimed a place in Spotify's Billions Club and became the first song by a Christian artist to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.

FROM Billboard AND SPIN TO FOX NEWS AND FORBES -

After the Storm arrives amid a wide-ranging wave of national media attention spanning music, culture, faith and news, with recent coverage and conversations including Billboard, The Daily Wire, Plugged-In, RELATABLE, SPIN, WORLD, and a deep dive podcast interview with RockFeed.

CCM Magazine put the full band on its September cover, examining the remarkable trajectory of a rock band whose audience continues to expand nearly three decades into its career while also exploring the deeply personal experiences that informed After the Storm.

Recent interviews and features have explored everything from Skillet's extraordinary streaming success and longevity to Cooper's faith, mental health, personal struggles and the experiences behind the new songs -- underscoring the unusually broad cultural footprint the band continues to maintain.

SELLING OUT ON THE ROAD -

Skillet's Live Nation Still Screaming Tour is underway now, with multiple markets already selling out, including Long Island, Minneapolis, Seattle, Phoenix, Dallas, San Antonio and Orlando.

The U.S. headline tour follows a landmark European trek earlier this year that delivered the largest international audiences of Skillet's career, bringing approximately 90,000 fans across 23 cities, with sold-out shows and record-setting ticket sales at venues including Paris' Zénith.

The current tour continues through November, bringing together nearly three decades of hits with the new music from After the Storm.

TOUR DATES / TICKETS- Skillet.com

ABOUT SKILLET:

Skillet tap into the sound of surviving any adversity, dusting yourself off, and getting back up again for another round. Heavy guitars kick with the inspiration to keep going, while stadium-size hooks double as a reminder to never give up no matter what. The quartet -- John Cooper [lead vocals, bass], Korey Cooper [guitar, keys, production], Jen Ledger [drums, vocals], and Seth Morrison [lead guitar] -- have quietly, yet indisputably become one of the biggest global hard rock bands of the 21st century with total album sales over 23 million, 30 million RIAA-certified units across 21 titles, an average of 12 million monthly Spotify listeners, and dozens of massive placements across sports, film, and television. Among a catalog highlighted by chart-topping albums and hits, the 7x-Platinum"Monster" has eclipsed 5 billion global streams, claimed a place in Spotify's "Billions Club, " resounded as "one of the most-streamed rock songs of all time," and the only Christian song in history to cross 1 billion Spotify streams. During 2025, their first-ever Christmas release "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" made a viral impact and captured #1 on five Billboard charts. The band's 2026 European tour brought them in front of their biggest international crowds yet -- not only selling out shows across the continent, but breaking ticket sales records at venues like Zénith Paris. Awarded multiplatinum, platinum, or gold RIAA certifications for 12 singles and four full-length albums, the group have notably garnered two GRAMMY® Award nominations, earned a Billboard Music Award, and impressively delivered three Top 5 debuts on the Billboard 200. Widening the scope of this vision, Skillet launched the graphic novel series EDEN with Z2. Kicking off another chapter, Skillet decided to get heavier and punch harder on their 2026 independent EP, After The Storm, introduced by the single "Scream."

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For more info on Skillet, visit the JFH Artists Database.

 

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