| Musical Style: Melodic Metal | Produced By: Michael Sweet |
| Record Label: Frontiers | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2020 | Artist Website: Stryper |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 95% |
| Running Time: 46:32 |
We have admired and appreciated Stryper since its mid-eighties inception, a sentiment reflected in the record-number of top five album of the year finishes Angelic Warlord has bestowed upon the talented yellow and black bedecked four-piece. The group has enjoyed a recent run of success dating to 2013 and its third comeback album No More Hell To Pay, which received a well-deserved 95% review but also placed first in an Angelic Warlord article outlining the year’s best albums. Fallen from 2015 carried over the momentum with another 95% review and a ranking of second in our annual album of the year article, while the controversial (more on this later) 2018 released God Damn Evil proved solid as well with a 90% review and a fifth place album of the year finish.
Summer of 2020 sixth Stryper comeback album and thirteenth overall Even The Devil Believes maintains the musical consistency and continuity that made No More Hell To Pay, Fallen and God Damn Evil such special releases, but it does bring change. First comes in the form of new bassist Perry Richardson, whom replaces the departed Tim Gaines in addition to helping lend to the groups heightened emphasis on its signature polished vocal melodies and melodic vocal arrangements. Second reveals a heavier direction in that while Even the Devil Believes maintains the Stryper eighties melodic metal and hard rock penchant, it on occasion crosses the threshold of straight on heavy metal to bring to mind 1985 sophomore album Soldiers Under Command.
Album begins to two of the finest Stryper songs you will hear. Opening “Blood From Above” embodies some of that heaviness in question as every bit expeditions (referencing the mettlesome verse sections) as it is memorable (accrediting the shouted background vocal driven refrain). The falsetto screams throughout prove that front man Michael Sweet has not lost anything in terms of range. Lyrics are every bit bold as the music:
He's a holy human sacrifice
Nailed upon a cross
A righteous murder scene of love
Flowing down grace
In the blood from above
Follow up cut “Make Love Great Again” extends to six minutes in taking an added melodic heading. With drum solo to start ensued by distorted bass, song captures an epic mid-tempo flair with a compact low end the focal point - I appreciate how production maintains Richardson’s bass a prominent place in the mix - and preeminent melody certain to ensnare with repeat listen. Of equal note is the instrumental section to feature what impresses as an extended duel lead guitar trade off between Michael Sweet and Oz Fox.
“Let Him In” represents a return to heavier territory. It proves keyed up in scope, held sway its span by piercing guitars and underlying sense of groove, but also home to several appearances of the groups layered vocal melodies. Refrain is straightforward and direction in getting the message home: ‘Let-Him-In, inside of you’ (repeat twice). Musically and lyrically, this is the Even The Devil Believes equivalent of “The Way” (off Too Hell With The Devil). Lyrics take an evangelical approach:
For God so loved the world
He gave his only son
And whosoever believes in him
Becomes a chosen one
He came that we may live
And live abundantly
For all of us have many sins
And fall short of his glory
“Do Unto Others” might temper momentum to mid-tempo territory but not the guitar based fortitude. Song begins with drums palpitating in and out of the mix prior to despoiling through its burly verse section on way to a choir-like refrain reflecting upon the warm and inviting. Albums best stretch of elongated lead guitar rounds things out. Message revolves around the golden rule:
Do Unto Others as you would
Have them do unto you
Often it's a thought misunderstood, but one we must pursue
It’s simple choices
We make alone
If we would think of each other
Maybe we would heal, not suffer
Albums title track rates with its best and heaviest. “Even The Devil Believes” proves an engaging riff driven mauler, home to a buoyant flair - do I detect a faint hint of Impellitteri? - but also not backing from the barbed sensibilities. Chorus is quite catchy in line with the expansive flair throughout- I challenge you to keep the song out of your head with repeat play. Lyrics draw upon James 2:19:
All the answers are contained
Within the golden book
Every scar and red blood stain
Ignored and overlooked
Even the devil believes
Piety can leave you to bleed
“How To Fly” is a melodic hard rock masterpiece in similar vein as “Free” (To Hell With The Devil) and “Reach Out” (Soldiers Under Command”). It realizes a mid-tempo clip in interweaving some of the most pristine vocal melodies you will hear (bringing to mind the groups prime) with a perfectly pleasing pop essence but not to a fault (radio friendly is the feel to come to mind). No, not one of the albums heaviest but a choice cut all the same.
“Divider” represents this reviewer’s favorite. One of the albums briefest at three and a half minutes, “Divider” impresses as fast, aggressive and catchy as all get out as guitars that touch upon traditional metal plunder the front of the mix and Robert Sweet lets loose with cannon like cascading drum rolls. This might not be fair comparison, but the opening ‘chugga-chugga’ riffs and Michael Sweet’s pointed vocals - ‘disregard–good-that-I-have-found-take-your-negativity-away’ - hint of Theocracy’s “Laying The Demon To Rest”. No, Stryper ain’t power metal, but “Divider” brings a similar dark, lower register form not to mention being of similar high quality.
After opening to seven straight blinding metal and hard rock cuts - and leaving the listener breathless in the process - album mellows for a couple songs beginning with ballad “This I Pray”. The song rates highly in Stryper ballad lore, up there with the best in terms of “Lady” (of the older material) and “Can’t Live Without Your Love” (newer), but what sets it apart is how it takes a bluesy acoustic form similar to Poison’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorn”. Yet, it also brings a Country Western hard rocking twang to the extent Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead Or Alive” comes to mind. As its title implies, “This I Pray” comes across in the form of a prayer:
Forgive me, Lord, for I have sinned
Have mercy on the shape I'm in
And if I've fallen from Your grace
Help me, Lord, to find my place
I'm in a storm with no way out
The waters rough I'm tossed about
I know that there's blue sky above
It's in Your mercy and Your love
Second lighter track, “Invitation Only”, I did not like on first listen, relegating it to a filler role in that I could not get into the pop sentiments or see beyond the syrupy keyboards, which was an unfair assessment either way. With repeat listen, however, I grew to appreciate it as an essential melodic hard rock deep cut with an uncannily engaging melody (song refuses to go away) and just the right mix of heavier guitar and commercial sensibilities (keyboards play an enhancing role instead). Besides, if Even The Devil Believes was exclusive to only ‘headbanging’ material it might grow repetitive; hence, how that more tempered brings a complementary change of pace.
“For God & Rock ‘N’ Roll” takes a Dokken-ish metal anthem form in hitting hard to a drum solo opening and Soldiers Under Command like riffs the rest of the way not to mention perfectly placed underpinning bass line. Pulsating vocal melodies help hammer home the old school ‘rock for the rock’ message to the sassy refrain:
The Rock, The Roll
Never let the devil claim your soul
Make it loud, take it slow
Raise your hands
For God & Rock ‘n’ roll
A stretch of bluesy guitar leads (which sound as if played by Oz Fox) align with the eighties based metal scene.
Stryper are not one to shy away from controversy, dating back to the original ‘angel’ To Hell With The Devil cover art and more recently God Damn Evil also in terms of cover art and title, which rubbed some people the wrong way (this reviewer NOT included). Hence, closing track “Middle Finger Messiah” to take a similar high-energy metal stance as “For God & Rock ‘N’ Roll” but with a title that leaves you scratching your head. Any unanswered questions, however, reveal in the lyrics:
He came not to bring peace but a sword
Paid a ransom only God could afford
The world flips Him off like a pariah
He’s the Middle Finger Messiah…
I see where the band is coming from but the sharp phrasing to the refrain can come across awkward almost to the point of being forced. Yes, I like the song, and understand the importance of taking occasional musical risks, (one need reference God Damn Evil opening cut “Take It To The Cross”), but I also cannot help but think it might receive greater acceptance with a more conservative approach: how about “Risen Messiah” instead?
Production in my opinion is better of the four recent comeback albums. All sound very good, but Even The Devil Believes stands apart with its clean separation of instrumentation, particularly big bass and glistening guitar leads, and rawer, old school metal feel that hearkens back to the eighties. Mastering, for example, is at a lower volume compared to the other three when listened to alongside, with the point being Even The Devil Believes pays tribute to every bit as much the new as well as the old!
Great albums are made up of great songs and such is the case with Even The Devil Believes. After opening to seven heavier songs of near perfect continuity, it mellows for the two that follow prior to closing to a pair of storming barnburners. If anything, I rate Even The Devil Believes with No More Hell To Pay and Fallen in terms of musical aptitude, and at the time of this writing, it occupies the pole position for another album of the year award. One cannot help appreciate the four album musical consistency dating back to No More Hell To Pay, and even more so in light of Michael Sweet’s recent top notch solo albums (heading in similar musical direction) One Side War (2016) and Ten (2019). Stryper leaves little doubt as to how it will remain a force for years to come.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Blood From Above” (3:21), “Make Love Great Again” (5:53), “Let Him In” (3:52), “Do Unto Others” (4:39), “Even The Devil Believes” (4:35), “How To Fly” (4:09), “Divider” (3:30), “This I Pray” (4:29), “Invitation Only” (3:32”, “For God & Rock ‘N’ Roll” (4:06), “Middle Finger Messiah” (4:21)
Musicians
Michael Sweet - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Oz Fox - Vocals & Guitars
Perry Richardson - Vocals & Bass
Robert Sweet - Drums & Percussion
Additional Musicians
Paul McNamara - Organ, Keyboards & Moog
Keith Pillman - Additional Background Vocals
