New Stryper album: Fallen - due out October 2015

[TempusVox]

https://hardrockhideout.com/2013/08/23/iconic-rock-band-stryper-reveals-audio-samples-from-forthcoming-studio-album/

No matter what you may think of this band, Michael Sweet still has incredible range.  I'm actually looking forward to this.

[bosk1]

Yeah, I saw that last week.  Wow, those screams on Marching Into Battle...    Michael definitely still has it.  This should be good.

[Kotowboy]

Reminds me of looooong discussions with my parents when I was little about whether true christians could play in a metal band.

Apparently chugging on the low E is satanic

Ok then...

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

"E" is for "Evil One":

“I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” John 17:15

The low E is indeed satanic.  Repent.

Also, this:

Wow, those screams on Marching Into Battle... 

[Kotowboy]

 

[Jaq]

Oh yeah Michael Sweet's still got it. The man can WAIL. 

[Lowdz]

As a bit of a fan from back in the day I'm looking forward to this. Their recently re-recorded best of was pretty good, and as TV said, awesome vocals.
Although not being a Christian I never felt put off by the lyrics just as I never started worshipping the devil or taking drugs because of the general rock band lyrics.

[TempusVox]

I am a Christian, but never listened to the music for the message. So, I'm not put off by it at all. Just like I'm not put off by Black Sabbaths latest cut God Is Dead? While I don't subscribe to that message at all, I listen because of the enjoyment of the music. I was always blown away by people who disliked Stryper simply because of their positive Christian message. It was good rock and roll. If you get your spiritual salvation strictly from music, then in my opinion-You're doing it wrong!

And if listening to Stryper makes you feel bad about yourself or lifestyle, then maybe you need to listen a little more closely to that little voice in your head. It's not the music thats making you feel that way. People overthink everything. Just get your rock on!

I know people who actually preface their enjoyment of Stypers music by saying "I like Stryper, but I'm not into that Jesus stuff." Who cares? If you like something don't apologize for it, or clarify it. Just get your rock on!

[Kotowboy]

I was listening to the lyrics of God is Dead? and it seemed like whoever wrote the lyrics couldn't decide one way or the other what they believed.

[rumborak]

I know people who actually preface their enjoyment of Stypers music by saying "I like Stryper, but I'm not into that Jesus stuff." Who cares? If you like something don't apologize for it, or clarify it. Just get your rock on!

I think the reason is rather that for most outwardly Christian music, people *do* listen to it for the message.
So, when somebody listens to the music simply for the music, he feels the need to specify it, because the implicit assumption is that that person does so for the message as well.

[Podaar]

I like Stryper, but I'm not into that skin-tight yellow striped leather stuff.

[PetFish]

I'm not really sure why Stryper keeps making new music when all they play live is To Hell With The Devil.  They have written so many great songs but they never get a live treatment cuz, again, all they play is THwtD.

I'll buy this, of course, and enjoy it, I just wish they'd play other stuff live sometimes.

[bosk1]

I'm not really sure why Stryper keeps making new music when all they play live is To Hell With The Devil.  They have written so many great songs but they never get a live treatment cuz, again, all they play is THwtD.

I'll buy this, of course, and enjoy it, I just wish they'd play other stuff live sometimes.

  They play new stuff.  I saw them fairly recently when they were touring from the covers album, and I think they did 4 songs from that album and a couple from Murder By Pride.  6 "new" songs isn't bad at all considering that, like all '80s bands, they pretty much have to emphasize the old stuff to get people to come out.

[PetFish]

If you look at their live releases, of which there are only 3 I believe, it's almost all THwtD, Makes Me Wanna Sing, Reach Out, Loud and Clear, and Makes Me Wanna Sing:


Live in America 2003 (CD):

1. Sing Along Song *
2. Makes Me Wanna Sing
3. Calling On You *
4. Free *
5. More Than A Man *
6. Caught In The Middle
7. Reach Out
8. Loud 'N Clear
9. The Way *
10. Soldiers Under Command *
11. To Hell With The Devil *
12. Honestly *
13. Winter Wonderland
14. Closing Prayer


Live in Puerto Rico 2007 (DVD):

1. Sing Along Song *
2. Makes Me Want to Sing *
3. Calling On You *
4. Free *
5. More Than a Man *
6. Caught in the Middle
7. You Won't Be Lonely
8. Reach Out
9. Loud and Clear
10. The Way *
11. Soldiers Under Command *
12. To Hell With the Devil *
13. Honestly *
14. Winter Wonderland


Live in Indonesia 2010 (DVD):

1. Sing Along Song *
2. Murder By Pride
3. Loud 'N Clear
4. The Rock That Makes Me Roll
5. Reach Out
6. Calling On You *
7. Free *
8. More Than A Man *
9. Honestly *
10. Open Your Eyes
11. All For One
12. The Way *
13. Abyss/To Hell With The Devil *
14. Soldiers Under Command *


They have SO MANY great songs that they never play live cuz they stick with the classics.  Even if they just do a few intimate one-off shows and play some rare stuff we could get that at least.  I'm dying to hear live versions of:

Believe
Shining Star
Lady
Against the Law
Always There for You
I Believe In You
4 Leaf Clover
Reborn
When Did I See You Cry
Make You Mine
Live Again
Wait for You... pretty much all of Reborn
Something
For You

I dunno, maybe they play more stuff at actual shows but for official releases it's the same stuff.  I love Stryper, and I'm agnostic, I just love the music.

[bosk1]

Interesting.  I only have one of those, so I didn't realize how duplicative the live releases are. 

[emtee]

Whole song available on Frontiers Youtube page.

Very good song. Almost sounds like something from Soldiers Under Command or Yellow And Black Attack.

[Soldier777]

Is anyone getting the new Stryper album No More Hell to Pay? I heard the album and it is the same style as their classic albums like Soldiers Under Command, To Hell With the Devil and Against the Law. Here is the track listing:

Revelation - (New)
 No More Hell To Pay - (New)
 Saved By Love - (New)
 Jesus Is Just Alright - (Cover)
 The One - (New)
 Legacy - (New)
 Marching Into Battle - (New)
 Te Amo - (New)
 Sticks & Stones - (New)
 Water Into Wine - (New)
 Sympathy - (New)
 Renewed - (New)

The front and back cover can be seen here: https://www.amazon.ca/No-More-Hell-Pay-DVD/dp/B00EEPFLHE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383925070&sr=8-1&keywords=stryper

The word video for Revelation can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxmd4DPC4Eo
The video for No More Hell to Pay can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ecl6Hm0Mk

The video for Sympathy can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG9RpcWHAx0

IT is available in 2 formats: CD and CD with DVD that has videos.

[bosk1]

Yes.  There is a topic for it already, which I merged yours with.  I can understand not seeing it, since it hasn't been posted in for a couple of months.  But try to remember to use the search feature in the future to try to avoid duplicating threads.  Thanks.

As for the album, I am pretty excited for it.  I heard the stream of the entire thing, and it sounds great.  I went to pick up a copy on Tuesday when I got my copy of Live At Luna Park, but the shop I went to was sold out already.  I have a copy of the deluxe on hold across town, but haven't picked it up yet.  Probably tomorrow.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Those are words I never thought I'd read in 2013.  "We're sold out of the new Stryper album".

[bosk1]

Granted, they had only gotten a few copies.  But still, it's great for a band whenever demand exceeds projections.

[Soldier777]

I didn't mind that you merged my post. I listen to both mainstream and Christian metal. Although 90% of my 260 CDs is Christian metal or bands that have both nonchristian and Christian members like Impellitteri. Petra and Stryper is usually at the top of my lost of favorite Christian rock/hard rock/metal bands. In mainstream music I like Dream Theater and Def Leppard. I have all of the main Dream Theater CDs and DVDs except for Live at Luna Park. I have that one on order. I have not fully heard Dramatic Turn of Events or their new one yet.

[Anguyen92]

I took a listen to it and I like it very much.  I'm digging the vibe in their sound that they are giving.  Favorite songs are Revelations, Saved by Love, The One, Te Amo, and Renewed.  Also, I dig the high note that Michael Sweet sang at the end of "Jesus is Just Alright".

[Lowdz]

New album is excellent. Will have to pick this up.

[bosk1]

Well, this is frustrating.  I finally picked up my copy of the deluxe version last night.  ...and I can't play the CD.     The packaging doesn't say anything about it being a weird format, but on the CD itself, it says "FR CDVD 622."  I don't know what that means, other than the fact that it won't play in my car, on my computers, or anywhere else.  Now I'm apparently going to have to go back and exchange it for a non-deluxe version so I can listen to it, but I won't get the DVD.  Annoying.   

[Kotowboy]

It only plays for the saved.

[bosk1]

Shoot.  I knew I was being too flippant in the "666" thread in P/R. 

Actually, I just discovered the issue.  On closer inspection of the CD, I suspect the problem is actually the large hairline crack in the CD itself that runs from the spindle hole to about 1/3 of the way across the CD surface. 

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Nope.  You're just a filthy heathen.

[bosk1]

Nah.  Heathen were a bit before my time.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Hmph.  May have to check them out.  A band with a member named Mike "Yaz" Jastremski is begging for a listening.

[kirksnosehair]

I haven't listened to my Stryper CDs in ages.  I have to admit, though, the new stuff sounds pretty damned good.     May have to add to my wish list

[TempusVox]

I just listened to this album. It is mind numbing how awesome this record is. I always liked Stryper,  but they were not even in my 100. But I absolutely must admit this is one of the best albums I have heard in an incredibly long time.

Even if you are not a fan of this band, please listen to this record. It is that damn good. I'm....stunned, is a good word. Going in for another listen. Wow.

[rickhawk80]

I loved Stryper back in the day -- even had the awesome white vinyl version of "Soldiers Under Command" but haven't listened to anything new they've put out in the last 20 years.  I keep hearing more and more about this new CD.  Sounds like it may be time to give it a try.  Thanks, guys!


EDIT:  Just watched the official and lyric videos posted above and Yowza!!!  This is great stuff!!  I also forgot just how awesome black and yellow-striped guitars can look!!!

[bl5150]

I figured it's time I tried to get through one or two of the mountain of albums I have not managed to listen to and tonight I chose the new Stryper.

This new album harks back to the sound and more simple riff based structure of the old material so I was a bit hesitant........to this point my favourite Stryper songs have been from the more varied stuff on Against The Law .  My initial reaction was "good but unlikely to stay with me"  but on a second listen I have upgraded many of the tracks and rate the album more highly.

There's a decent amount of filler and only the guitar solo section saves the cover of Jesus Is Just Alright but on the whole I'm surprised at how much I like this.   It's pretty straight forward crunchy rock/metal but the best tracks are seriously catchy.

Favourite Tracks:  No More Hell To Pay , Te Amo, The One (very atmospheric) , Sympathy and Legacy.


I've recently toughened up my rating system to try and and separate out some of my better stuff (60% is considered decent- more like a pass mark).   On that scale I rate this 82%.

Ditch a few weaker tracks and cut it to 9 or 10 and it'd be closer to 85%

[TAC]

Checking it out on Youtube right now. Sounds pretty good. I'm going to have to think about this.

[Jaq]

Also giving this a listen. Might very well be their best album, and I want to know how Michael Sweet still sounds this fucking good after all this time.