| Musical Style: Melodic Metal | Produced By: Michael Sweet |
| Record Label: Frontiers | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2024 | Artist Website: Stryper |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 90% |
| Running Time: 44:54 |
Stryper harnesses the fusion between melodic heavy metal and commercial melodic hard rock. This much becomes evident when close listen to each of the yellow and black bedecked four pieces prime eighties albums reveal songs from both sides of the (heavier and accessible) fence: The Yellow And Black Attack (“Loud N’ Clear”; “You Know What To Do”). Soldiers Under Command (“The Rock That Makes Me Roll”; “Reach Out”). To Hell With The Devil (“The Way”; “Free”). In God We Trust (“The Writings On The Wall”; “Always There For You”). Either way, the resulting songwriting versatility exhibited by Stryper helped it achieve a high level of commercial success and loyal fan base in the process.
Starting with the release of No More Hell To Pay in 2013, Stryper has been on a prolific comeback trail with five critically acclaimed albums to its credit over a ten-year span. It would not be out of line to suggest the five in question reflect that ‘heavier melodic metal side’ while occasionally making forays towards a ‘commercial melodic hard rock’ direction. To say fans and critics alike were delighted would be an understatement, noting the Angelic Warlord grades to each, also including Fallen (2015), God Damn Evil (2018), Even The Devil Believes (2020) and The Final Battle (2022), ranges from 90% to 100%.
Thirteenth studio album When We Were Kings from September of 2024, however, finds Stryper reversing course and gravitating towards a more commercial direction, albeit not without forsaking its heavier roots. Regardless, of musical change, hinge upon which the door revolves is whether the songs are good, and I can say with full assurance that when at its best, When We Were Kings knocks the ball out of the park from a songwriting standpoint. Specifically, album features eight songs - which I refer to as the ‘elite eight’ - that in my opinion are good as anything Stryper has recorded.
It begins with albums two opening cuts “End Of Days” and “Unforgivable”, which mirror the Stryper heavier side. Former resonates of the technical, revealed in the showy drum solo to start ahead of Michael Sweet and Oz Fox setting an elaborate tone with their composite guitar work and Perry Richardson following suite in terms of his flanking bass presence. The immersing hooks to arise establish the group has not lost its touch for composing memorable material.
Likewise latter, another technical marvel with an enterprising mid-paced gallop - crunchy rhythm guitar reverberates forward in the mix - and wondrous melody to subjugate on first listen. Of equal note are the verdant Stryper vocal melodies pointing to a similar type of commercial element that allows albums stronger tracks to stand apart. Michael Sweet remains in fine form with his at times soaring and others soulful classic tenor vocal abilities. Lyric snippet:
Bitterness, a crutch
It clings like a cloak
The poison of hate
Has to be revoked
Is to forgive
The unforgivable
It means we live
And healing begins to show
Albums title track echoes of the group’s melodic hard rock side. Said vocal melodies play that much more a presiding role - concentrated, layered and polished but not to fault - as does a blocky guitar presence, referencing manner in which Stryper stays true to its guitar driven roots. The subsequent earnest melody to diverge leaves impression “When We Were Kings” would dominate FM radio and MTV if released back in the day.
Showstopper ballad “Betrayed By Love” separates equally. Stryper, obviously, has a ballad history dating to the eighties (“First Love” off Solders… and hit “Honestly from THWTD), with the tradition carrying over to its comeback material. My choice ballad up to this point has been the Scorpions like hard rock themes to “Can’t Live Without Your Love” from God Damn Evil. “Betrayed By Love”, however, takes the cake in this regard as my new favorite from the group, with the catchy form lending another radio friendly element that speaks of ‘hit’ in another era. Lyric snippet:
Promises made
We're caught in the wind
When trust fled away
It exposed the wounds deep within
Betrayed by love
Deceived by truth
Words will claim
Our own virtues
A tainted life
From bitter rue
Betrayed, betrayed by you
“Loves Symphony” represents a strategic joining of the accessible and guitar focused. Song begins to several seconds of guitar harmonies that carry over to the purposeful incentive conveying the strident verse sections, with a breathtaking transition made to a showy refrain bolstered by the group’s ever-present penchant for the embracing. I am uncertain which of the two handle lead guitar, but as always Michael Sweet and Oz Fox remain at the top of their games.
Album returns to melodic heavy metal with “Trinity”, a pensive four minutes of briskly moving momentum to see intensely driven guitar riffs prevail alongside the type of immediately catchy hooks to draw in and refuse to let go. The recurrent flowing keyboards in the backend provide a contrasting calming effect. Lyric snippet:
Father, source of all that's known
Opening Your throne
Son, The Word in flesh and bone
Redeeming love is shown
In perfect harmony they stand
Holiness, the great I AM
Eternal, infinite your ways
Is worthy of all praise
Melodic hard rocker “Rhyme Of Time” separates as another winner. Song slows tempo with acoustic guitar and atmospheric tinctures allowing an introspective feel, particularly for the beguiling verse sections but elevates for the fervent refrain in which rhythm guitar establishes thick and firm. “Rhyme Of Time” reminds of Guardian and Fear Not.
Last of the eight “Divided By Design” ranks alongside “Yahweh” (off Fallen) as one of my all time favorites from the group. At just below five stylish minutes, it takes an intricate approach in immaculately touching upon the Stryper heavier and melodic sides, aligning guitar bluntly at the forefront with a coalescing of consuming hooks and grandiose harmonies. Lending to the songs complex semblance is the crashing double kick drum from Robert Sweet. This one should be a concert staple for years to come. Lyric snippet:
Within the broken fractures
There's beauty to unfold in every story
That's waiting to be told
Fear will always, fuel the fire
But grace will set, us free
And inspire
We live in a world
Divided by design
Let's break down the walls
And realign
Albums remaining three songs “Raptured”, “Grateful” and ‘Imperfect World”, while far from bad and upholding a similar melodic hard rock penchant, I find not to hold up quite as well. Perhaps it is due to the ‘elite eight’ setting the bar so high, but the three lack the generous hooks and melodies to draw me in long term, which leads to my main point of contention with When We Were Kings. It fails to bring the depth in terms of deep cuts when placed alongside higher graded predecessors Even The Devil Believes (95%) and The Final Battle (100%).
Go beneath the surface and ETDB includes a cool melodic rocker in “Invitation Only” that would not sound out of place on In God We Trust, while TFB features an understatedly good modern hard rock piece in “Same Old Story” that hearkens back to 2005’s Reborn. My point being that perhaps the group could have stretched a bit more songwriting wise and delivered a song or two that in similar fashion trends outside the musical box.
Why not instead, for instance, record an instrumental (I think we can agree Stryper exhibits the licks and chops to be successful in such capacity) or a shuffling blues rocker (Michael’s soulful voice would perfectly fit in this regard). Or better yet, how about another cover track, noting how Stryper previously covered material by The Doobie Brothers (“Jesus Is Just Alight” from NMHTP) and Black Sabbath (“After Forever” from Fallen). My first thought is Argent’s “God Gave Rock & Roll To You” (later covered by Kiss and Petra), but that might be too obvious. How about instead do a cover of a Christian metal classic such as Bride’s “Everybody Knows My Name” (off Kinetic Faith from 1991).
I could write several paragraphs on Christian metal songs Stryper ought to cover. That, however, is not the point, but rather what I miss on When We Were Kings is the groups throwing a musical curve ball and coloring outside the lines in the process. Again, not that “Raptured”, “Grateful” and “Imperfect World” are bad, but rather I felt Stryper might have played it too tightly to the vest when it should have been throwing caution to the wind instead.
Still, all things added up what have in When We Were Kings is another excellent Stryper album that in my opinion features eight as finely composed tracks recorded by the group. Yes, it trends towards a more commercial side, albeit the group fails to forsake its heavier roots. When further factoring strengths in terms of musicianship and production, I give When We Were Kings a strong recommendation for not just fans of Stryper but also to those whose tastes gravitate towards eighties melodic metal and hard rock.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “End Of Days” (4:20), “Unforgivable” (4:01), “When We Were Kings” (4:01), “Betrayed By Love” (4:39), “Loves Symphony” (4:15), “Trinity” (4:10), “Rhyme Of Time” (4:31), “Raptured” (3:44), “Grateful” (4:01), “Divided By Design” (4:48), “Imperfect World” (3:25)
Musicians
Michael Sweet - Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Oz Fox - Lead & Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
Perry Richardson - Bass & Vocals
Robert Sweet - Drums & Percussion
Additional Musicians
Paul McNamara - Organ, Keyboards & Moog
