So Stryper Has A New Album...

Ok, I don't like Christian Metal. I'm not religious and I tend to think that God and Metal don't mix - but that's just my opinion. I don't judge the devout or those that love Stryper, the NewsBoys, Whitecross...or any of that ilk.

I was under the impression that Stryper were done as a band. Imagine my surprise whilst scrolling Blabbermouth for the 2,345th time yesterday...only to discover the band is "reactivated" and making a new record.

Apparently this new record is called Murder By Pride. I guess that's religious. I guess it doesn't matter either way.

You know, I honestly *have* tried to get into some Stryper, because they are a Glam band. They have the soaring vocals and the big guitars...but I just...can't. I know it's not the image. Sure, Stryper dress like bees, but every Glam band is a little wacky.

I will say this: I've never had the chance to see Stryper live. If they showed up on a package tour or festival, I would make it a point to check them out. Also, I think the guitar intro for "Calling On You" is basically bad ass and equally matched in the very Glam supporting video.

So, what do you think of Christian Metal bands? Are you indifferent? A big fan or sort of like me?

Comments

[Christian]

Stryper suck. They had one other new album, about a year ago. I think they turned Christian to find a gimmick/market.

Good christian metal:

Rez ( Resurrection Band ), Bride, Tempest, Barren Cross, Messiah Prophet, X-Sinner. Yeah, the names suck, and you probably won't agree with the words a lot of the time, but does that mean we're all drug addicts b/c we like some songs that are about heroin ?

[Red6ixx]

When i first saw Styper i was about 13/14 and i thought - they could be good - they looked the part etc but then i bought an album and the interest died there and then.It was only after i found out about the god squad thing.
I think i will give the new album a miss.

Im holding out for other reunions - Dogs D'amour would be excellent.

[Lucifer]

These are the real wasp lol.

never been a big fan of christian metal... just doesnt really work.

[JT]

I've always liked the song "To Hell With The Devil," but don't really remember much else by them.

[MotleyCrue666]

i dont like christian metal but stryper has some good stuff. but their ballad "honestly" is just awful

[Allyson B. Crawford]

Christian,

No, you don't have to be drug addict to enjoy the Heroin Diaries...but I think a little buy-in to the Christian faith does help when it comes to enjoying a band like Stryper or any of the ones you listed above. The same is true for ex-addicts and the Heroin Diaries. There's a close appreciation there that people like you and me can't really understand.

I'm curious: are the Christian bands you mention straight Metal or Glam? I'm curious about the stage show.

Allyson

[Niklas]

I recommend their 1990 album, Against the Law, as they dropped the bee outfits and most of the Christian lyrical content to create a more straight-ahead hard rock sound.

[Fitz]

First off If youve never seen stryper live you dont know what your talking about. They kick ass! Great guitar, drums vocals harmonies. Im not a bible thumper by no means but they are the one and only christian band that I listen to. They never really broke up Ive seen them play around the Boston area a couple of times in the last few years. I beleive Michael Sweet lives on Cape Cod I even saw him sing for the band Boston last summer, great front man

[metalman777]

I'll admit it, I've been a huge Stryper fan ever since To Hell With The Devil! Even if you are not a Christian, their music was hair metal all the way.

They did release an album in 2005 called Reborn which was pretty good. Murder by Pride sounds like a return to their earlier sound. Check out samples here:
http://metalman777.wordpress.com/2009/01/12/samples-from-all-11-songs-of-strypers-new-album-murder-by-pride/

[metalman777]

forgot to mention that Stryper just announced yesterday that the release date for Murder by Pride is July 2009...

[Jay]

I remember enjoying them when they first came out. They were a gateway band into other Christian acts that I enjoyed. Guardian was always cool I thought. Stryper didn't stick in my regular musical lineup though because I always thought there was a little something missing. Maybe they are too polished, I don't know. Definitely glam, definitely earnest, and definitely professional so I respect them.

[looksthatkill]

I must say the clips from the new album sound pretty good, the guitar sound is lat 80's early 90's just the way we like it.
I am not a fan but the new stuff sounds well written and put together.
I would check it out!

[Bob]

Michael Sweet definitely has a great voice. I remember when Stryper were promoting the Against The Law record, they went on the Howard Stern show and delivered a blistering version of "shining Star" from Earth, Wind and Fire.

Stryper absolutely have the talent, but I can't stand having God rammed down my throat in every single song anymore than I can stand having Satan rammed down my throat in every song when I listen to Norwegian black metal. Frankly, I don't really even understand the concept behind religion-based music of any kind, (Outside of its house of worship.) Are uber religious people, (no matter what their religion), so weak and/or narrow-minded that they simply can't hear any lyrics that don't reaffirm their faith for them in every single song? It's akin to conservatives only listening to conservative talk radio, or liberals only listening to liberal talk radio. Whatever, I'm going off on a tangent. :)

[Kenny Crawford]

Ive seen them live twice and they were AMAZING both times. Michael Sweet has a phenominal voice and can deliver EVERY note thats on the old-school records live. I even was lucky enough to catch a Stryper bible the last time I saw them, lol. Its true!

[glamrockerarchie]

stryper rocks, get past the religion part and the music's great, the to hell with the devil album smokes, and some songs on soldiers under command shred, and the cd they get away from religion check out the song all for one , gret riff and real catchy song

[Christian]

Hi Allyson

The bands I mentioned are some metal, some glam. Rez is very bluesy, like Cinderella.

Obviously, being a Christian means I can enjoy the words more than if I was not, just like not being a Satanist means i don't get much out of the words of early Slayer songs. But, I listen to both, the point I was making was that it seems odd to me that a non satanist would listen to black metal, to the heroin diaries, to lots of songs with words that don't reflect their lifestyle, but draw the line in horror at a Christian band.

In any case, a lot of these songs are less about God than they are about social justice. At least, a lot of the songs I like are like that.

[Daniel]

Stryper is awesome musically and lyrically. The person who said "Honestly" is terrible, knows nothing of hit "christian" music, but with the name MOTLEYCREW 666 I can understand. Get beyond the term "Christian" and you can see music reaches out to all genre whether blues, country, rock, pop, or METAL. I'm so glad I had a alternative to "secular" metal when I first got saved.

[Michael]

I'm not a Christian but I can still relate to much of Stypers music. Songs such as Honestly, Holding On and Free can easily be translated into everyday emotions and relationships we experience in our lives, while Free reminds me to have the courage to try something new and deviate from the usual constarints of society, all in a positive way.
Above all, I just appreciate excellent rock music !!
I am really happy to have the chance to see Stryper early April in Melbourne Australia. THANKYOU STRYPER .

[Dale]

Recently, I saw Stryper performing live at the Reverb in Toronto. Was a very scaled down production in a very poor venue. But, don't let that fool you. The band played with such energy that they literally rocked the place to the ground. These musicians are very talented. Vocal and guitar harmonies were powerful and technically accurate. Yes, it was obvious they were Christians - but the message wasn't shoved down anyone's throat. Actually, it was great to hear some lyrics that were positive and encouraging for a change! Highly recommend their new release ' Murder by Pride'