Stryper - New album in Spring 2018

April release, most likely. Michael Sweet tweeted this out earlier:

3 things stand out to me on the new @Stryper album:

#1 - Songs! They're edgy & heavy yet memorable & catchy.

#2 - Clarity! We tried hard to make this our most defined & dynamic album ever. We didn't get into a "loud war" while mixing & mastering

#3 - We got our groove back

@Davidmk5 @Clanceman

 

Are they still a Christian band?

 

Their last album "Fallen" was really good actually. They are still a Christian band, but not overly preachy IMO. At least a little less so than in the 80's.

 

Their last two albums, "No More Hell To Pay" and "Fallen", are as good or better than anything they did in their heyday. I have high expectations for this new one.

 

Here is a song from "No More Hell To Pay" that I really like:

 

From the follow-up "Fallen", one of my favorite songs:

 

Here is a really nice ballad from "No More Hell To Pay":

 

Is it still all the original lineup?

 

Bassist Tim Gaines is now out of the group. Perry Richardson is his replacement.

STRYPER's OZ FOX On TIM GAINES's Exit: 'I'm Really Bummed Out That It Ended Up The Way It Did'

STRYPER Recruits FIREHOUSE Bassist PERRY RICHARDSON

 

stryper has been on a role lately

 

Michael Sweet has been working his butt off.

Since 2013:
3 new Stryper albums
2 solo albums
2 Sweet & Lynch albums
A live Stryper CD/DVD
An autobiography

The most amazing thing is that it is all high quality material. The Stryper stuff stands high above it all.

 

yes all good stuff

 

I saw the post earlier , let's all Pray it is indeed not loud & Frontiers does not mess with it after they receive it ................ psyched for this album , but certainly bummed tim is gone ...

 

New album art released with a controversial title:



I believe the first single comes out this Friday 2/9/18

STRYPER To Release 'God Damn Evil' Album In April; Cover Artwork, Track Listing Revealed

 

The title track will be available for streaming on Friday.

"God Damn Evil"

We power up the empty screen
And let the games begin
Far beyond it's poisoning
Is a special kind of sin

We open locks
And break the chains
To let the devil in
We're losing all of what remains
In a war we'll never win
A war that never ends

(Chorus)
God Damn Evil
God Damn it all
God save The People
But God Damn The Walls

Self control is all but gone
The weak time after time
Take the bait and break the bond
But never pay the crime

The only saving grace is love
And we know where that lies
It's what we feel unworthy of
So we don't claim the prize
We never claim the prize.....

(Chorus)
God Damn Evil
God Damn it all
God save The People
But God Damn The Walls

 

The title just seems like a desperate attempt to be provocative.

 

"To Hell With The Devil" was a provocative title in 1986. I think Michael realizes that it can be seen that way, but I really think he did it to genuinely needle some people. The band, and himself personally, take A LOT of crap. Metalheads who cannot get past the Christian themes, and Christians who nitpick and say "that's not Christian enough".

I think that he is in a place right now of wanting to punch back a little bit. I follow him pretty closely and believe I am right about this being a genuine statement and not just a ploy for press.

 

Title aside, the 9/11-esque imagery combined with people literally being blown to bits by God is bound to offend, well, someone.

 

That just sums up about 99.9% of rock and roll since the 1950s.

 

I don't see 9/11 imagery, other than the fact that it has tall buildings.

If you blow the picture up and read the lower level of the buildings it's all a big den of sin (evil).

 

I am really looking forward to their show in Kansas City coming up in May.I am probably wrong,but it might be the first time they have played here since I was in high school..over 30 years a go.

Just thought I would share this here.A very entertaining overview of the complete Stryper catalog.

 

Thanks for posting that video. I subscribed to that dude's channel. Excellent stuff.

 

Cheers, watching right now. Stryper were monsters in the 80s, VERY under-rated metal band.

 

I don't think it's intentional, but I think the tall buildings combined with fire and debris and what looks like some people falling kind of brings that to mind.

Also, until I stumbled across this thread I didn't know anything about the drama with Tim Gaines. Dang! I hate it when bands get so far into their career and have to change the original lineup. It sounds like he's being a real jerk though.

 

I think that new wife of his has messed his head up. They both have been very childish about this. She was even publicly attacking Tim's ex and her friends on social media. Crazy stuff.

Tim is a good bassist/singer, but he was not a songwriter and he didn't even play on "To Hell With The Devil" or "In God We Trust". So, if they were to ditch an original member, he would be the one who would affect their sound the least.

Michael and Robert are, of course, brothers and Oz was a childhood friend. Those three ARE Stryper. As long as they're together and getting along, Stryper should be fine.