| Musical Style: Melodic Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: Michael Sweet |
| Record Label: Rat Pak | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2019 | Artist Website: Michael Sweet |
| Tracks: 12 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 49:39 |
It’s never a surprise to see a musical project to involve vocalist and guitarist Michael Sweet receive (at minimum) a 90% Angelic Warlord review. One need look no further than the recent run of Stryper comeback albums, beginning in 2013 with the 95% graded (and album of the year recipient) No More Hell To Pay but also including Fallen (also 95% but runner up instead) and God Damn Evil (90% and finishing in the fifth position) from 2015 and 2018, respectively. For those wondering, if I ever get around to reviewing Against The Law I would give it a similar score (noting how it ranks eleventh in an article I wrote outlining what in my opinion are the top 50 Christian metal albums of the 90’s). His side projects also grade laudably. Starting in 2015 he put out the debut of his Sweet & Lynch project with renowned guitarist George Lynch (90% review), while his 2016 solo album One Sided War also received the 90% review treatment.
For his Rat Pak Records aptly entitled tenth solo album from the fall of 2019 Ten - with the title track actually named after the Ten Commandments - Sweet brings similar levels of musical aptitude and consistency to reach the 90% threshold as well. Musically, it proves an extension of One Sided War and the recent Stryper comeback efforts with its joining of melodic metal and hard rock or at the very least maintains the heavier continuity the artist initiated with his 2014 I’m Not Your Suicide solo album, a fine work in its own right (85% review). Actually, a heading of Michael Sweet & FRIENDS might be the more accurate indicator in reference to the numerous musicians to make guest appearance, including but not exclusive to Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy), Todd La Torre (Queensryche), Traci Guns (LA Guns), Rich Ward (Fozzy), Joel Hoekstra (Whitesname), Gus G (Firewind), Howie Simon (Exhorder), Ian Raposa (Firstbourne) and others.
Ten gets off to a strong start with “Better Part Of Me”. It proves up-tempo all the way, emanating an assertive melodic metal flair in introducing the heaviness to not let up the albums length but also pinpointing Sweet’s commanding vocal presence not to mention Jeff Loomis’ assertive leads. Place “Better Part Of Me” on any post comeback Stryper album and it would sound right at home. Lyric snippet:
Part of me
Is searching for
The holiness in thee
Part of me
Is reaching for
The worldly things I see
I'm fighting for
The better part of me
In every situation
I've got a choice to make
I know it can be right or a mistake
Follow up cut “Lay It Down” ranks with my favorites. I identify with it as groove driven hard rock with its elevated front to back riff action and abundant low end but equally catchy in terms of the engaging vocal melodies to drive its prevailing refrain. Some of the guitar tones over the songs final half reflect a cool bluesy vibe.
“Forget, Forgive” tempers impetus to mid-tempo territory in maintaining the quality. Starting to a drum solo prior to plunging ahead to a predominant bass line (noting the work of John O’Boyle), it sets an understated bluesy tone - again, check out the guitars during the closing seconds - but it does not back from the melody penchant, as found in another catchy chorus. Shredding lead guitar attributes to Howie Simon. Lyric snippet:
I opened the door
To more pollution
Anger and war ain't no solution
I promised and swore that I would be
A resolution
I want to live
Forget, forgive
Learn from the past
Find what will last
“Now Or Never” skirts melodic hard rock territory. It begins to flattering keyboards adorning the backend (and smoothing things out in the process) but also encompassing a larger than life melody of a radio friendly nature (appreciating the Stryper style vocal melodies to make periodic appearance). Emotional and moving is the feel at hand.
Albums title track rates with its heaviest. I identify with it as anthem metal with an accessible edge - some of the guitars sound as if taken off Only To Rise - but powerful with its elevated riff presence and authoritative vocals to hold sway over the commanding scene. Another catchy hook reveals, as does an equally notable run of soloing (attributing to Rich Ward). Lyric snippet:
I am the Lord, the Lord thy God
Thou shall have no other
Gods before me
No graven image or likenesses
Thou shall not take my name in vain
You've got to remember
The Sabbath day
Honor your father
And your mother too
Thou shall not kill
Or commit adultery
Don't ever steal, bear false witness or covet, see
“Shine” revels in the mid-tempo, uplifting in demeanor with its beginning to end uplifting rhythms (with an almost pop-based feel) and shouted ‘Hey!’ backing vocals to adorn the inspiring refrain (to feature Stryper like harmonies at the end). This one reflects the more commercial aspect to the artist’s songwriting skills, and serves as an excellent example at that!
Long-term Stryper fans know Sweet can compose a quality ballad and such is what we have in “Let it Be Love”. It successfully follows the tried and true formula: slowly drifting from the start to acoustic guitar and harmonies, only to gradually build momentum until hints of rhythm guitar maneuvers in to embolden the emotionally charged refrain. A run of moving lead guitar rounds things out. Yes, we have heard this previously, but it is also good to revisit when done well as can be found here. Lyric snippet:
Take its hand and let it lead the way
It's gonna make you proud
Actions speak louder
Than words we say
Let it be light, let it be love
Love is all we really need
To break the chains
And set the captives free
Can you see?
“Never Alone” follows as another heavier cut, touching upon traditional meta not just with its towering guitar walls - a hard charging mentality prevails - but also bottom heavy signature to approach the thickly woven. Refrain is of the curt, punch driven variety. Another choice track of this reviewer to find Sweet revealing a darker musical nature we have not potentially heard since To Hell With The Devil.
After opening to eight equally good tracks, album takes a dip (even if slightly) for the subsequent tow. Hence, how I identify with “When Love Is Hated” as merely ‘very good’ instead. I find it to be mid-paced hard rock with a gritty sense of verve and added lead guitar (this time courtesy of Joel Hoekstra) but also not quite memorable as those that came before. Likewise with “Ricochet”, but also taking an added commercial leaning to reveal an up-tempo groove facet and big doses of commercial backing vocals.
Packaging lists closing two as ‘bonus tracks’ but I find them equally essential as the opening eight with the lone difference being how Sweet shares lead vocal duties. On “With You Will The End” he trades off with melodically tinged vocalist Ian Raposa. Musically, it proves slow and driving with thickly woven guitars and compact bass for its verse sections only to break out for as catchy a chorus you will hear (by far the albums strongest, which is saying a lot in light of the albums better material). Lyric snippet:
You never have to question me
Where I am or where I'll be
You know I'm yours to have and hold
Here is now and when we're old
If you love someone
It's always more than you can say
From the rising sun
Until it sets on the last day
On “Son Of Man” Todd Latorre guests with his Dickinson-like vocal style. What we have is another showstopper, shorter but aggressive at three and a half minutes as albums fastest with its elevated riff presence and subtle boogie flavored ardor, noting the projection filled work of timekeeper Will Hunt. Refrain particularly stands out in touching upon the epic. Lyric snippet:
Coming on clouds of heaven
With power and glory unknown
Gathering elect from four winds
That's when the trumpet will blow
He's the Son of Man
Coming back again
The Son of Man
It might be an oversimplification (but also not far from the mark) to describe Ten as musically within similar territory as Stryper but with the main difference how Michael Sweet works with a completely different set of musicians. Regardless, it works laudably, with no small part attributing to the fantastic guest guitarists and vocalist to make appearance. Songwriting, of course, plays a significant role, as found in how Ten proves surprisingly consistent in that not a single skip button presents among its dozen tracks, keeping in mind I like some more than others. It remains much to the credit of the hard music scene the manner in which Sweet has produced such a high volume of quality music in recent years, with Ten representing one such work in his highly regarded repertoire.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Better Part Of Me” (3:35), “Lay It Down” (3:30), “Forget, Forgive” (4:50), “Now Or Never” (4:30), “Ten” (4:25), “Shine” (4:24), “Let It Be Love” (4:58), “Never Alone” (3:56), “When Love Is Hated” (3:34), “Ricochet” (3:42), “With You Till The End” (4:38), “Son Of Man” (3:38)
Musicians
Michael Sweet - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Paul McNamara - Keyboards, Organ & Moog
John O’Boyle - Bass
Danny Bernini - Percussion
Will Hunt - Drums
Guest Musicians
Joel Hoekstra, Jeff Loomis, Marzi Montazeri, Howie Simon, Gus G., Rich Ward, Ethan Brosh, Traci Guns, Mike Kerr & Andy James - Guitars
Todd LaTorre & Ian Raposa - Lead Vocals
