Over its long and storied history, Christian hard rock act Skillet has consistently pumped out "deluxe" version of their albums going all the way back through Alien Youth (at least if the bonus track reissue of Collide counts). In recent years, the "Deluxe Edition" tag hasn't been enough; fans have been graced with increasingly grandiose subtitles, such as Beyond, The Aftermath, and now, Day of Destiny.

Set to release on February 17, 2023, Dominion: Day of Destiny adds four original songs and a new re-recording to the lineup. The first new track, "Crossfire," is polished, punchy, and primed for a video game commercial. This contrasts markedly with the more electronic "Psycho in My Head," a single which already made its debut back in December.

Interestingly enough, the band decided to remake "Finish Line," one of the best tracks from their previous album, Victorious. While features on Skillet's albums are indeed rare, the band has added the talent of Adam Gontier (formerly of Three Days Grace) in what amounts to a stripped-down, more guitar-centric rendition. While a solid offering in and of itself, it doesn't stand up to the original and slightly undercuts it.

"Unbreakable Soul" sees a potent placement of Jen Ledger's vocals and carries an ever-so-slight glam rock vibe, while the hard-hitting and aggressive track "The Defiant" closes out Day of Destiny. This last track is reminiscent of the band's work from the early 2000s, and longtime fans are bound to feel right at home.

While these tracks likely won't be incentive enough for all but the most serious Panheads to double dip, listeners who have yet to grab ahold of 2022's Dominion would do well to pick up this new, highly alliterated version.

- Review date: 2/16/23, written by David Craft of Jesusfreakhideout.com