Skillet have announced a June 25th release for their highly anticipated new album RISE. The first single "Sick Of It," will be available on iTunes on April 9th. A preview clip of the song can be heard at https://skillet.com/sickofit. To celebrate the release of the single the band are hosting an Instagram photo contest. Fans are encouraged to submit photos of what they are "sick of" using the hashtags #sickofit and #skillet. Fan’s photos will be selected for the band's upcoming lyric video.

RISE is a gripping coming-of-age narrative that stands as their first concept album—though lead singer/bassist John Cooper says it wasn’t premeditated. The album tells the story of a typical American teen coming into adulthood and trying to figure out who he is in a world riddled with problems both within and outside his control.

“The narrative idea happened after we had 10 or 11 of the songs chosen,” he says. “As we recorded them, we started to realize that there was something going on—that the album was really telling a story. Realizing that, I knew we needed to make it as powerful as we could.”

The result is a wildly ambitious work as heady as it is visceral. Sonically, the disc sees the band expanding their musical palette, integrating natural, acoustic instruments like accordion, mandolin, dulcimer, harp, tympani and bells to their trademark slashing electric guitars, strings, churning synths and pummeling drums.

Skillet recorded the album in Los Angeles, where they re-teamed with producer Howard Benson (My Chemical Romance, All American Rejects), who helmed Awake.