In God We Trust
My friends, how fortunate that I would be spending this blessed Sunday reviewing the new LP from those heavenly metallers Stryper, yes ladies and gents they have returned with more stupendous tunes, spreading good will and steering us all on the path of righteousness. My intention is not to mock, merely to balance the misconception that all metal is Satanic and us metalheads are all destined for Hell. I first got into them at the time of ‘In God We Trust’ and I was smitten, I’m not overly religious, but what these guys did was incorporate the ethical and moral code with fun, fast and furious riffery, and with the big hair and yellow and black aesthetic, they tapped into a demographic that began to see heavy metal in a different light.
This, their thirteenth album ‘Even The Devil Believes’ remains true to their beliefs and their lifestyles, building on their already sturdy back catalogue, and opening their comforting arms to newcomers.
Opener ‘Blood From Above’ is the classic Stryper sound, masterful and mesmerising, underscoring the current notion of ‘there is a culture that’s building walls’ a keen eye on the political shenanigans going on, captured again in the next track ‘Make Love Great Again’ turning the POTUS slogan ‘Make America Great Again’ on its head.
The single is ‘Do Unto Others’ a lesson in correctness, taught by many, adhered to by few. That unmistakable, wholesome vibe that is as enchanting as it is infallible in its delivery, full of neat hooks and clean lines, provided by Michael Sweet on vocals/guitar, Robert Sweet on drums, Oz Fox on guitar and Perry Richardson( ex- Firehouse) on bass.
‘How To Fly’ at 2.16 gives us a bridge that charms and disarms- deep sigh- and then back on full metal throttle for ‘Divider’ with serious riffs and harmonies and damn those solos- excuse me for cursing. The ballad on this LP is ‘This I Pray’ it is a poignant and sensitive song about mercy and forgiveness and the lyrics ‘ the water’s rough, I’m tossed about’ and
‘I swear I won’t go down without a fight’ are incredibly intense ideas handled with kid gloves. At first the band were seen as a gimmick, pushing their own agenda, but over 35 years later they have wiped the floor with some of their peers. It shows that integrity can guarantee longevity, fans are just as excited about this record as they were years ago.
‘Invitation Only’ is a hark back to the ‘IGWT’ days, big hair and bigger melodies, and 2.09 gives us the riff of our dreams. A spiritual, philosophical journey that has a hard rock core, Stryper have balanced their personal views and their professional responsibilities perfectly.
After all these years they still keep the fire burning.
Stryper – Even The Devil Believes out now via Frontiers Music.