| Musical Style: Heavy Metal | Produced By: Michael Sweet |
| Record Label: Frontiers | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2022 | Artist Website: Stryper |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 100% |
| Running Time: 46:27 |
It is no secret Angelic Warlord is a fan of Stryper, and the groups October of 2022 Frontiers Records twelfth album The Final Battle gives us every reason to continue rallying behind them. It represents the apex of what has been an accomplished run from the yellow and black bedecked four-piece beginning with 95% reviewed 2013 eighth album No More Hell To Pay but also includes every bit laudable 2015 follow up effort Fallen (also 95%). Stryper might have dipped - even if slightly - for God Damn Evil from 2018 (graded at just 90%) but regrouped two years later in returning to 95% territory with Even The Devil Believes.
What separates The Final Battle from the pack? It starts with continuity from maintaining a front to back high-level of songwriting with no downturns or skip buttons among its eleven tracks. Yes, the albums as noted predecessors also impress in terms of songwriting and fully deserve the grades assigned, but The Final Battle stands out in the crowd with nothing less an impeccable selection of songs, perhaps the finest in Stryper history. Hence, the perfect score.
It also includes heaviness in that while Stryper has exuded more than its fair share of muscle beginning with No More Hell To Pay, The Final Battle takes things to the next level in this regard. It comes down to manner in which the group emphasizes a consistently elevated guitar sound to extent The Final Battle impresses not so much as eighties influenced melodic metal and hard rock, although such indicators are not inaccurate, but rather straightforward heavy metal with a melodic edge.
Consider how many of my early favorite Stryper songs are those heaviest, including “Loud ‘N’ Clear”, “From Wrong To Right”, “Soldiers Under Command”, “The Rock That Makes Me Roll” and “The Way”, each of which delivers a bit more of a forthright blow than much of the so called ‘pop-hair-glam’ metal prevalent at the time. The Final Battle captures the spirit of such material seamlessly and without flaw.
Opener “Transgressor” sets the tone in this capacity. It fades in to a drum solo and soaring falsetto from Michael Sweet ahead of launching into the high-energy tempo to control its span, dogged in terms of the relentless rhythm section of timekeeper Robert Sweet and bassist Perry Richardson but accessible when factoring the too the point (and quite engaging) refrain. This is one of several tracks to cross the threshold of all out metal. Lyric snippet:
Wide is the entrance
And broad is the way
That leads to destruction
And robs you of days
Narrow is the gate
It’s hard to endure
The road to eternal life
Transgressor
“See No Evil, Hear No Evil” speaks of the heavy and melodic. Verse sections mirror the former to steadfast rhythm guitar and driving bass (I detect a slight power metal timbre) and refrain latter as the groups layered vocal melodies and Hammond B3 play accenting roles (AOR aspects rise to the surface accordingly). Song is so catchy I swear it could command FM radio and MTV back in the day.
“Same Old Story” is a classic Stryper style melodic hard rocker. I identify with it as playing up a commercial aspect, with a light pop essence found in its bouncing rhythms and glossy backing vocals, but without forsaking the heavier elements, noting the forwardly placed rhythm guitar. A choice stretch of dual lead guitar commands things instrumentally. Lyric snippet:
When you're driving down a dark, lonely highway
Do you think of your mortality
And sins you've kept away
When you're lying all alone that's when you'll see
There's a door that you can open
When you find the light the lock and key
It's the same old story
To darken all the glory
But you'll cry out in the end
“Heart & Soul” is one of this reviewer’s choice cuts. It also impresses of melodic hard rock, refrain is layered with lush keyboards and melodies, but also all out metal in light of the authoritative guitar riff to hold sway in catchy fashion, verse sections resonate of the mesmerizing in this capacity. Lead guitar touches upon the bluesy.
“Near” separates as one of my favorite Stryper ballads. Song reveals as not a traditional wave your lighter in the air power ballad but rather is of the hard rock kind, home to tasteful acoustic guitar interwoven with plentiful rhythm guitar and keyboards but not to fault. A worshipful veneer rises to the surface in the process.
“Out, Up & In” begins as strong a six-song stretch to close an album you will find. Staunch mid-paced riffs from the get go reflect a metallic sheen, with a plundering mentality established to see shouted backing vocals taking control - another draw you in at once refrain prevails - alongside a browbeating rhythm section. Michael Sweet lends some heart and soul to his classic tenor vocal style. Lyric snippet:
It's been said there will come a day
In the twinkling of an eye
Where you won't have another chance
Or time to say goodbye
Written down so long ago
Of those who are left behind
A fear I hope that you'll never know
Too late to hit rewind
“Rise To The Call” is another hook driven scorcher, initiating to a hard charging tempo only to further build force for the gallant refrain imbued with victorious vocal melodies. Song also sees the group exuding its adept musicianship in the form of Robert Sweet’s courageous timekeeping and run of glistening lead guitar (uncertain of Sweet or Oz Fox).
I identify with “The Way, The Truth, The Life” as classy melodic metal. A mid-paced demeanor resonates without backing from the heaviness, albeit exuding a swarthy vibe that would fit in on To Hell With The Devil, nor the melody driven, realizing the understated accessible hints rising to the surface. Overall feel is quite catchy and a challenge to rid of your mind. Lyric snippet:
I am the way and the truth
I am the life to be
No one comes to the father
Except only through me
Don't let your heart be troubled
Believe me faithfully
You know the way to the place
Where I'm going
Back to straight on metal territory with “No Rest For The Wicked”. With trudging riffs to start hinting of the doom-like, song preserves a gradual form laboring ahead as it teems with caustic overtures but also advocates of the melodic revealed in the immediate hooks to play a contrasting role. This is another one that would sound at home on To Hell With The Devil. Lyric snippet:
I don't want you to worry but let me make it clear
Gods coming back and the time is near
It's never ever too late to lay it all down
Pick up your cross and put the crown down
No rest for the wicked
There's no peace just the same
There's no rest for the wicked
As long as darkness remains
“Till Death Do Us Part” returns to melodic hard rock territory. Immediate impression is how its verse sections accent a melody to remind of classic Kansas song “Portrait (He Knew)” off Point Of Know Return from 1977 (bonus points from me being a big Kansas fan). Song otherwise touches upon commercial instincts, in that while guitars might not bite with quite the same edge (compared to some here) melody plays a commanding role to touch upon the radio friendly.
Talk about going out with a bang to “Ashes To Ashes”, a storming barnburner with a speed based vibe to manifest lower register vocals with a gritty form and guitars playing up a traditional metal vibe. Yet, similar to much of the material here a mega huge chorus hook refuses to retreat with repeat play. A scintillating run of dual lead guitar aligns with the hyper-accelerated aura. Lyric snippet:
You're well read of things ahead
But you don't really care
There was a time when you believed it too
That God is great and God is good
He rules the earth and air
Like ice, the message breaks and crashes through
Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust
Time always passes
And steel turns to rust
After assigning just two perfect score in the first 15 years of administering Angelic Warlord, I have now give out two within a matter of months, noting the 100% grade assigned to Saint’s Heaven Fell. Is this a sign I am mellowing with age? Or perhaps I am turning into the Monty Hall of record reviewers? In all seriousness and more accurately, it points to how the scene is potentially peaking or otherwise Stryper and Saint are reaching prime form. Regardless of my justification for the final score, the best way to summarize would be to succinctly suggest that if The Final Battle were released during Stryper’s eighties heyday it in my opinion would have sold 10 million copies. Songwriting easily justifies this from how The Final Battle features one of the most inspired collections of songs ever from Stryper, which further stands out from how the group has a high volume of very fine albums already under its belt.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “Transgressor” (4:25), “See No Evil, Hear No Evil” (4:54), “Same Old Story” (4:10), “Heart & Soul” (4:00), “Near” (4:53), “Out, Up & In” (4:12), “Rise To The Call” (3:47), “The Way, The Truth, The Life” (3:54), “No Rest For The Wicked” (4:22), “Till Death Do Us Part” (3:54), “Ashes To Ashes” (3:53)
Musicians
Michael Sweet - Lead Vocals & Guitars
Oz Fox - Guitars
Perry Richardson - Bass
Robert Sweet - Drums
Additional Musicians
Paul McNamara - Organ, Keyboards, Moog
