Stryper - New album

From CMR

Stryper front-man Michael Sweet was recently interviewed by Metal Mike for the 80’s Glam Metalcast podcast.
The Christian rockers have been on a resurgence in the last seven years or so with some of their best albums released in that time-span including No More Hell To Pay, Fallen and God grrrrrr Evil.

In terms of Stryper‘s next studio album, Sweet indicated (as transcribed by the 80’s Glam Metalcast podcast): “It’s a great album. There’s a 11 tracks on it. I get poked fun at for saying it’s our best album, because I say that with every album. I really believe that with each album we get better. It has a really great feel to it. We have a new band-mate on the album Perry Richardson. He has brought a lot to the table in terms of the groove and the foundation, and also his bass playing and vocal harmonies. The album is going to come out in September. The first song will be released in June. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”

Stryper‘s second album Soldiers Under Command celebrated its 35th year anniversary earlier this month and Sweet stated the following about that record: “It’s a great one. It’s an album we had been playing out for a good year prior to recording it. So when we went in to record it, we knew what we were doing. As soon as we were done recording it we went to Japan for the first time. It was a really special time. A lot of new ground was being broken for the band.”

You can listen to the interview with Michael Sweet on the 80’s Glam Metalcast podcast below:

https://youtu.be/RMSL8JX_43s

Looking forward to seeing what the guys will do this time.  Especially with Perry on bass.  Also hoping Oz is doing well and was able to contribute solos and vocals to the album.

Staybrite wrote:

Looking forward to seeing what the guys will do this time.  Especially with Perry on bass.  Also hoping Oz is doing well and was able to contribute solos and vocals to the album.

I haven't heard anything about Oz in a while.  I hope he has gotten better.

With that said, you will notice that Michael does most of the main solos anymore and Oz adds the harmony stuff.  You can usually tell as Michael's solos are mixed slightly left and Oz's to the right.  Michael's guitar tones are usually more thick and Oz's a tad tinny to give them a real separation when they do their harmony licks.  If Oz isn't able, then I am confident that Michael can handle all the lead work himself if need be.  I pray, though, that Oz was up to it and added some tasty double leads to this!

I was wondering about Oz too, strange there's been no updates.

I remember reading somewhere (recently) that they played a show without Oz. But it wasn't for a bunch of shows, maybe one or two. Sure hope he is doing well.

Good news over a new album from Stryper.

I was wondering about Oz too.
Haven't read for a long time how he's doing.

Two weeks until they release a single from the new album!  Looking forward to this!

I know most weren't so keen on their last album, but I think it's stellar!  Out of the 11 tracks, I think 8 (possibly 9) are superb.  Only two I'm not that keen on are... You Don't Even Know Me, and Sea Of Thieves.  Don't regard Beautiful as excellent, but the rest are non stop brilliance.

Crank it up loud and it sounds amazing.

I liked the last album.  I just felt that the title track was intentionally controversial just for the sake of marketing.  Also, the way that they sang "Take It To The Cross" works, but it just didn't feel natural for Michael.  Plus, once you heard the whole spoof with "Chicken In The Crust", you can't un-hear that.

I'm hoping they can beef it up like Mike's last solo album, that thing is killer.

Since this thread has turned into an episode of Where's Waldo, just go to Facebookland and friend Mr Oz Fox.

Here is his latest 





Oz Fox June 13 at 11:46

Well Folks, today is our 6:00pm PST Live Lounge performance! We've been preparing for this. We hope you will join us as we jam out some of our favorite songs. 60 minutes will fly by fast so don't miss out on the fun!

They've done a couple of virtual meet & greets and everyone looked to be doing well, including Oz.

oldschooldoom wrote:

Since this thread has turned into an episode of Where's Waldo, just go to Facebookland and friend Mr Oz Fox.

Here is his latest 





Oz Fox June 13 at 11:46

Well Folks, today is our 6:00pm PST Live Lounge performance! We've been preparing for this. We hope you will join us as we jam out some of our favorite songs. 60 minutes will fly by fast so don't miss out on the fun!

That's funny, I did the same thing.  He has posted a few recent videos, he sounds optimistic and looks to be working....so hopefully that's a good sign for his health issues.

Looks like Micheal has posted the new album art work and title on facebook.  Apparently they are releasing the first single next Firday (26th of June).  I'm digging both the cover and the title.  Looking forward to hearing the new song.

Great looking cover.  Stryper haven't disappointed in the last 3 albums, so really looking forward to this one.

If the album is as great as the artwork this time, we are in for a treat!

I'm looking forward to a new Stryper album.

That's some great album art!

Fits their current sound well but has a feel of their first album, I think due to the production.

Here samples of the other tracks here.

https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Stryper_Even_the_Devil_Believes?id=Byvcplx33tyrre5lkx5exjlb3ey

I assume this is complete? If so why wait until Sept? Why not release it YESTERDAY?

Do Unto Others sounds incredible!

Okay, so that's on my wants list.  All the songs sound great!

Black Rider wrote:

Fits their current sound well but has a feel of their first album, I think due to the production.

I was thinking it sounded kind of like something from the first three albums, but slightly more modern.  Not bad at all.

MikeInFla wrote:

Here samples of the other tracks here.

https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Stryper_Even_the_Devil_Believes?id=Byvcplx33tyrre5lkx5exjlb3ey

I assume this is complete? If so why wait until Sept? Why not release it YESTERDAY?

It takes time to manufacture CDs and get them to retailers.  It takes time to get t-shirts printed for touring.  Plus, you want to tell as many of your fans that you can that you have a new project coming out and hopefully pick up new fans.  So, you need a few months to build excitement while taking care of the behind the scenes stuff in manufacturing.  That's basic promotion for you.

Man, I am digging the samples.  The song "Divider" sounds more aggressive than classic Stryper while others do have a familiar feel.

It is a good thing that Lifeway/Baptist Bookstore is gone.  I could see them easily banning this over the title "Middle Finger Messiah".  Michael always has liked to have controversial titles.  I will be interested to see how they spin this lyrically.