| Musical Style: Melodic Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: Kenny Lewis & Michael Sweet |
| Record Label: MSP Inc | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2021 | Artist Website: Michael Sweet |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 80% |
| Running Time: 41:55 |
It’s no secret we’re big fans of Michael Sweet. And rightly so in light of how the veteran vocalist and guitarist garnered our initial attention as part of the band in which he founded and is best known, Stryper, but later and equally so as a solo artist. Former traces to the eighties and a span of prime albums beginning with debut EP The Yellow And Black Attack (1984) but also including full length follow up efforts Soldiers Under Command (1985), To Hell With The Devil (1986) and In God We Trust (1988). Whereas breaking up in the early nineties, Stryper reformed following the turn of century for solid comeback albums Reborn (2005) and Murder By Pride (2009) previous to an exemplary five album run to see it reach new heights in terms of consistency and continuity beginning with No More Hell To Pay (2013) and most recent offering The Final Battle (2022).
Latter traces to the nineties with inaugural pop and AOR influenced efforts Michael Sweet (1994) and Real (1995) but also includes the melodic hard rock mixed with modern elements to the heavier Truth (1998). Hymns cover album Him (2003) and classic sounds to Touched (2007) ensued shortly thereafter before the artist returned to heavier territory with I’m Not Your Suicide (2014). Carrying over the heavier mode and finding Sweet hitting his artistic and creative solo album stride is the Stryper like melodic metal to follow up releases One Sided War (2016) and Ten (2019).
His most recent solo outing Reborn Again is another strong contender. It has a storied history tracing to 2003 when upon completing the Stryper 20th anniversary reunion tour, Sweet began work on a solo album, which he finished in the spring of 2004. He started shopping the album to labels, and was about to sign a deal when he performed with Stryper later the same year in Florida and subsequently played it for the guys. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with the upshot the group deciding to reform and re-record it as a new Stryper album. Hence, sixth Stryper album Reborn officially saw the light of day on August 5, 2005.
Fast forward sixteen years and after giving the matter a great deal of thought - not to mention fielding numerous requests - Sweet decided to release the original version to the album in April of 2021 but not without making several changes. Specifically, he added guitar solos, additional rhythm guitars, high-vocal notes and synthesizers in addition to an alternate version to the track “Passion”. He kept the original bass and drums parts of Lou Spagnola and Derek Kerswill along with the keyboard work of Kenny Lewis. Artist contributes all vocals and guitars.
Opener “Open Your Eyes” is first of what in my opinion are eight cuts that hold up well when placed alongside the best material from Stryper and artists solo work. It proves quintessential eighties melodic metal, kicking in at once with an almost punk like vibe as ambitious riffs and muscular low end combine for a victorious statement. One of the reasons we have followed Sweet over the years is his recognizable classic tenor vocal abilities, which help bolster the magnanimous melody. Lyric snippet:
Open your eyes
Loosen the vice that constrains you
Open your eyes
Burn the disguise that you wear
Open your eyes
Break the unfaith that controls you
Open your eyes
The truth will be there
Albums title track takes a similar heading, albeit heavier and with keyboards tincturing the back end. It tempers impetus to the mid-paced, bordering on the mesmerizing for the bellicose verse sections but proving every bit dashing for the impenetrable (and quite catchy) refrain. Another factor drawing us to the artist is his every bit refined lead guitar abilities, which he showcases in ample portions.
“When Did I See You Cry” takes a shorter (three and half minute) melodic hard rock approach. It powers its span with towering guitars reverberating in and out of the mix, only tempering initiative as guitars settles to the backend for gently done moments of a melodic nature. Drummer Lou Spagonla is more than capable of giving Stryper timekeeper Robert Sweet a creative run for his money. Lyric snippet:
When did I see You cry oh Lord
When were You all alone
When did I see You so far away
You say I closed my eyes
You say I closed my heart
I never stopped looking
You say I didn't start
When did I see You cry oh Lord
When were you all alone
When did I see You so far away, so far away, so far away from home
“Passion” challenges for albums finest. Song impresses as a hard rock semi-ballad, enticingly interweaving subtle acoustic semblances with moments in which force abruptly accelerates to see marked rhythm guitar make a more decisive statement. A subtle moment element that rises to the surfaces is by no means a fault. At albums end is a remixed version to the song taking a more relaxed heading from how keyboards strategically replace rhythm guitar.
“Live Again” is another powerful metal-based favorite. With catchy, anthem-like riffs commanding the forefront, the song takes a subtly darker but no less compelling tone as the bottom heavy refrain ranks with albums strongest and gritty guitar leads mirror the bluesy. Put this on Stryper most recent (and 100% Angelic Warlord graded most recent effort The Final Battle and it would sound at home. Lyric snippet:
When did I see You cry oh Lord
When were You all alone
When did I see You so far away
You say I closed my eyes
You say I closed my heart
I never stopped looking
You say I didn't start
When did I see You cry oh Lord
When were you all alone
When did I see You so far away, so far away, so far away from home
Said modern aspects further reveal on “If I Die”, a mid-tempo hard rocker in which keyboards again play a decorative but not overriding role. The occasional hint of Stryper style backing vocals help lend to the positive and uplifting aura at hand not to mention the pronounced melody.
“Amazing Grace” take “Ten Thousand Years” ends the eight-song run. It draws upon the original while proving its own song, mirroring the recognizable melody for the rolling verse sections but elevating in heavy rocking fashion as guitars bolster the splendid ‘when we’ve been there ten thousand years’ refrain. Of note is how Kerswell’s audible bass line helps set the moving tone. Lyric snippet:
Amazing, amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once, I once was lost
But now I'm found
Was blind but now I see
When we've been there
Ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days
To sing God's praise
Albums three remaining songs I tend to pass. Not that there is anything wrong with them- I can see others embracing each but rather not my musical cup of tea. “Make You Mine”, for instance, falls victim to a reserved modern rock sound to a fault and despite a lightly compelling melody comes across a bit flat. Likewise, “Wait For You” does not do anything for me as a result of too much of a pop based founding for my taste, while same applies to “Rain” in taking a similar albeit slower heading with its laid on too thick ‘la-la-la-la’ vocal melodies.
If a fan of Stryper or Michael Sweet’s solo material then Reborn Again has a lot to offer. It starts with musical direction trending eighties style melodic metal and hard rock with periodic modern tinctures but also includes overall professionalism in terms of production, musicianship and artists recognizable vocals. Overall, I find Reborn Again a consistent work with eight top of the line songs (that would form the foundation of a very fine Stryper) and three others that while not my up of tea are far from bad (I can see others embracing).
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Open Your Eyes” (4:03), “Reborn” (4:39), “When Did I See You Cry” (3:39), “Make You Mine” (4:01), “Passion” (3:48), “Live Again” (3:29), “If I Die” (3:46), “Wait For You” (3:19), “Rain” (3:44), “Ten Thousand Years” (3:37), “Passion” (remixed) (3:48)
Musicians
Michael Sweet - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Lou Spagnola – Bass
Kenny Lewis - Keyboards
Derek Kerswill - Drums
