Christian rock band Skillet is celebrating a historic career milestone while looking firmly toward the future. As the Grammy-nominated group prepares to release new music and launch a major anniversary tour, its signature hit “Monster” has achieved something no other Christian song has accomplished on Spotify.

The band’s six-times platinum anthem recently surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify, earning a place in the platform’s exclusive Billions Club. Even more remarkably, “Monster” is the only song by a Christian artist to reach that milestone, cementing its place as one of the most-streamed rock songs of all time. Across all streaming platforms, the track has now topped 4 billion global streams.

The achievement comes during another standout season for the Memphis-based band, which recently wrapped its largest international tour to date. Skillet performed for more than 90,000 fans across 23 sold-out cities throughout Europe, demonstrating the group’s enduring global appeal nearly three decades after forming in 1996.

Now, the band is preparing to begin what frontman John Cooper describes as a “new era.” Skillet’s latest single, “Scream,” arrives July 10, the same day tickets go on sale for the Comatose: 20 Years, Still Screaming Tour, a fall headlining run produced by Live Nation.

“We went back to Memphis and worked with a producer who knew the band before we’d made our first record,” Cooper said. “Life has taken some great turns, but it’s also taken some painful turns. Now we’re here, and we still have more of a story to tell. The music kept getting heavier, and I said, ‘We’ve got to go all-in.'”

Lyrically, “Scream” reflects the emotional strain many people experience in today’s culture. Driven by heavy guitars and electronic elements, the song wrestles with frustration, identity, and the longing to be heard. Cooper sings, “I wanna scream. I wanna break something beautiful,” before asking the deeply personal question, “Will I ever be enough?”

Cooper said the inspiration came from watching the growing hostility that dominates online conversations.

“I don’t think I’m the only one who’s noticing the volatility of the world and how social media is a cesspool where people are constantly yelling at each other,” he said. “It’s not helping anyone’s mental health. In this landscape, it’s easy to feel like nothing matters. ‘Scream’ is about wanting your life to matter when the world feels chaotic and overwhelming.”

The band’s upcoming tour will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of Comatose, the breakthrough 2006 album that helped define Skillet’s signature sound and launched the group to a new level of success. Fans can expect a setlist heavily focused on the album, including songs that have rarely—or never—been performed live.

“When we released our 2006 album, Comatose, we all had a feeling that we were making something special,” Cooper said. “What we didn’t know is that the album would change the trajectory of the band’s career. It defined our sound, our message, and propelled the band into a much bigger level of notoriety.”

For Cooper, however, Skillet’s mission extends beyond concerts and record sales. Through his “Cooper Stuff” podcast and books such as Awake and Alive to Truth, he has consistently encouraged Christians to remain faithful even when their beliefs draw criticism.

In an interview, Cooper explained that following Christ requires courage in a culture that often pushes back against biblical convictions.

“Following Jesus, in my very limited way, is picking up your cross and following Him daily,” Cooper said. “If you are going to obey Christ, and that means you get made fun of, then you get made fun of. That’s what we signed up for. If people are going to hate you for what you do, that’s what you signed up for. That’s discipleship.”

As Skillet celebrates a record-breaking achievement and prepares for its next chapter, the band continues to prove that music rooted in an unapologetic Christian message can resonate with audiences worldwide.