Skillet released After The Storm on October 9, 2026, pairing the six song EP with an official visualizer for “Grave Stomper.” Produced by David Cowell and the band’s Korey Cooper, the independent release follows a period that frontman John Cooper has described as among the most difficult of his life.
In a September 7 interview with The Christian Post, Cooper traced the writing to a conflict with the church his family had served for nearly three decades. He said the relationship deteriorated after he questioned teachings about spiritual authority. The fallout extended beyond a congregation: according to Cooper, some of its leaders were members of his own family, making the breakdown both personal and religious.
Cooper said the experience revived struggles with anger and depression and left him questioning his own judgment. He described “a mental break where I just didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t real.” Even prayer and reading Scripture became difficult during that period, he told the publication.
Writing the EP became part of his response. When Skillet announced the release in August, Cooper said he needed the songs to help him through his own darkness. His aim was to make music that could serve the same purpose for listeners experiencing difficult circumstances of their own.
That distinction runs through his explanation of the project. In a subsequent Christian Post article published October 7, Cooper said he did not want listeners to focus solely on the details of his church dispute. The emotions behind the songs could also speak to people dealing with addiction, anxiety, financial pressure or problems at home. He framed the record’s hope in terms of his Christian faith while acknowledging the anger and isolation that preceded it.
The first two singles introduced those concerns from different directions. “Scream,” released in July, addressed anxiety, frustration and the need to be heard. “Lift Me Up” followed with the EP announcement on August 14. Cooper described that song as a prayer written when he felt pulled down by his circumstances, and said it reminded him of Skillet’s earlier music. Cowell and Korey Cooper produced the project with a return to the band’s heavier roots in mind.
“Grave Stomper” is the latest track to receive a visual treatment, with its official visualizer arriving alongside the complete EP.
The release puts the songs into circulation while Skillet are on their Comatose 20 Years, Still Screaming Tour. The band’s next scheduled concert is October 10 at GLC Live at 20 Monroe in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Escape the Fate and Autumn Kings are also on the bill. Dates continue through the fall as the band adds After The Storm to its catalog.
