Stryper
Fallen
I’m shocked! That’s my first reaction to the new Stryper album. Once I get past the utter surprise that they’re playing power metal, then the shock turns to awe and I revel in the aural attack of this album. This is perhaps the type of heaviness that fans used to scream for back in the hair band’s pop metal days. “More Than A Man” and “The Reign” would get traction from these metalhead critics when To Hell With The Devil and In God We Trust were released, but these folks were never satisfied. Now they can gorge themselves on a lion’s share portion of Heaven and Hell era Sabbath riffage. The guitar tones, tempo and grooves pummel and shake – like Piece of Mind to Powerslave Iron Maiden and the Long Live Rock and Roll era Rainbow. This is new for Stryper and it’s damn good.
Pardon me. That’s not cussing, but I threw it in there for effect.
I was not a big fan of Reborn, Murder by Pride or even No More Hell to Pay, but I sure am digging this. For the record, I loved The Covering and Second Coming, so I’m not down on their post comeback recordings. Kudos to Stryper for seemingly feeling comfortable in their yellow and black skin. This is unapologetic metal and they sound natural, confident and sport just the right amount of attitude.
If you’re looking for the sound you love (like I always am), like “Calling on You” and “Free,” it’s just not here, but this is the next best thing. If you want ‘80s metal, “Love You Like I Do” will fit the bill perfectly. It’s got a big hook, the right amount of BGVs, like they were known for, and it’s bold like an Autograph tune (remember “Turn Up the Radio?”). Turn this one up. If you’re craving for a Stryper ballad (and who isn’t?), you’ll get that in all its glory with “All Over Again,” which is lighter-in-the-air perfect without being too soft.
Major props to the band for the brilliant cover of “After Forever.” Those that know Black Sabbath know that this is a blatant “Christian song” that Geezer Butler wrote about the intelligence and reason to follow and respect Christ.
The worshipful theme behind album opener, “Yahweh” is book-ended by “King of Kings,” which frames an excellent Christian metal album. They technically only disappeared for a decade and have been rocking hard for more years than they were ever dormant, but Stryper is back in a big way. [Frontier] Doug Van Pelt
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