Michael Sweet hails from Massachusetts and is know for his work with the world renown multi-platinum band Stryper. Michael Sweet co-founded Stryper back in 1982 along with his brother Robert Sweet and after 13 studio releases, the band is still going strong today! Michael Sweet is a Heavy Metal solo project by the accomplished vocalist/guitarist which allows him to stretch his creative muscles and explore some of his personal tastes, preferences, and music styles.
Michael Sweet is one of the hardest working musicians in the industry and now has a number of solo albums to his credit including 1994-'Michael Sweet', 1995-'Real', 1998-'Truth'(demo), 2001-'Truth', 2006-'Him', 2007-'Touched', 2014-'I'm Not Your Suicide', 2015-'Only To Rise'(Sweet & Lynch), and 2016-'One Sided War'.
Sweet also managed to churn out some first-rate solo albums like his self-titled release in 1994, which yielded five No. 1 singles, his album 'Truth' in 2000, then 2015-'I’m Not Your Suicide' which peaked at No. 10 in Billboard’s Hard Rock albums, and 2019’s 'Ten', which reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart.
Sweet also managed to churn out some first-rate solo albums like his self-titled release in 1994, which yielded five No. 1 singles, his album 'Truth' in 2000, then 2015-'I’m Not Your Suicide' which peaked at No. 10 in Billboard’s Hard Rock albums, and 2019’s 'Ten', which reached No. 4 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart.
In 2019 Michael Sweet released his tenth studio full-length solo album appropriately titled 'Ten' on both Rat Pak Records and Frontiers Music. 'Ten' was recorded & mixed by Danny Bernini at the Spirithouse Recording Studio in North Hampton. Alex Saltz mastered the recording and while Michael Sweet handled the production. The album's stunning cover art was done by Jean Michel. The idea behind the album's title cut 'Ten' might just be a nod to being the band's tenth studio album however, the obvious meaning is taken from the ten commandments as seen in biblical text.
This is one of Michael's strongest releases to date with tight arrangements that are crushing and bold. On this solo project, the arrangements & sound are not far off from that of Stryper and their sound that has made them so successful for so many years.
This is one of Michael's strongest releases to date with tight arrangements that are crushing and bold. On this solo project, the arrangements & sound are not far off from that of Stryper and their sound that has made them so successful for so many years.
Some songs that stand out on this 2019 release include track-1 "Better Part of Me", track-3 "Forget, Forgive", track-4 "Now or Never", track-5 "Ten", track-6 "Shine", track-7 "Let it be Love", track-8 "Never Alone", track-10 "Ricochet", track-11 "With you Till the End", and track-12 "Son of Man".
The guitar work has always been an important element in Michael's projects and this release is no exception to the rule. From the first track to the last, the one constant is Sweet's fret work which is paired with different guest guitarists on each and every song. Their are 10 guitarists in total, including Joel Hoekstra(Whitesnake, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Tracii Guns(L.A. Guns), Gus G(Firewind), and Howie Simon(Ken Tamplin) just to mention a few. (For the complete list of guitarist see the list of musicians below). It should come as no surprise that this album features 10 different guitarist - yes, the number ten just keeps coming up. With that many guitarists on the roster, one knows they are in for a ride with each track being locked and loaded and ready to explode with the simple push of a button.
Michael Sweet handles lead vocals and sounds better than ever after all these years of performing. Sweet garners some additional help in the vocal department from Todd Latorre(Queensryche) on "Son Of Man",
Ian Raposa(FirstBourne) on "With You Till The End", and Todd Latorre(Queensrÿche) on "Son Of Man".
Ian Raposa(FirstBourne) on "With You Till The End", and Todd Latorre(Queensrÿche) on "Son Of Man".
Lyrics are from the heart and are thought provoking as one can see in the following excerpts:
"Better Part of Me"
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
Ever since creation
It's self determining
There is shame and there's integrity
"Ten"
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
(I'm given, I'm given) you ten
(I'm given, I'm given) you ten
(I'm given, I'm given, I'm given)
I'm giving you ten
"Shine"
Days are long
But you are strong
And you're gonna beat the odds
You're a champion
And once again
You've been saved and it was God
You're chosen
To be alight within the dark
Never let that go
"Never Alone"
You're never alone
You know I'm with you
Heart and soul and mind
You're never alone
All you've got to do
Say a prayer and find
You're never alone
"Son of Man"
He's the Son of Man
Coming back again
The Son of Man
The sun will be darkened to black
The moon will no longer give light
Heavenly bodies are shaken
The stars will all fall from the sky
As lightning will come from the east
It's also as clear in the west
Will you take life at the feast
Or die and go down with the rest
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
Ever since creation
It's self determining
There is shame and there's integrity
"Ten"
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
(I'm given, I'm given) you ten
(I'm given, I'm given) you ten
(I'm given, I'm given, I'm given)
I'm giving you ten
"Shine"
Days are long
But you are strong
And you're gonna beat the odds
You're a champion
And once again
You've been saved and it was God
You're chosen
To be alight within the dark
Never let that go
"Never Alone"
You're never alone
You know I'm with you
Heart and soul and mind
You're never alone
All you've got to do
Say a prayer and find
You're never alone
"Son of Man"
He's the Son of Man
Coming back again
The Son of Man
The sun will be darkened to black
The moon will no longer give light
Heavenly bodies are shaken
The stars will all fall from the sky
As lightning will come from the east
It's also as clear in the west
Will you take life at the feast
Or die and go down with the rest
Michael Sweet is for fans of Stryper, Angelica, Crystavox, Holy Soldier, and Fear Not. Now if you are into the 80's/90's Metal scene yet are looking for some Metal with a slightly modern touch then you are going to love what Michael Sweet has delivered up with his latest 'Ten' release. Help support Christian Metal by picking up your copy of Michael Sweet's "Ten" today!
Purchases can be made at any of the following links:
Musicians:
Michael Sweet - Vocals & Guitars
Guest Musicians:
Todd Latorre(Queensryche) - Vocals on "Son Of Man"
Ian Raposa(FirstBourne) - Vocals on "With You Till The End"
Todd Latorre(Queensrÿche) - Vocals on "Son Of Man"
Joel Hoekstra(Whitesnake, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Guitars on "Never Alone", "When Love Is Hated"
Tracii Guns(L.A. Guns) - Guitars on "Ricochet"
Ethan Brosh(Burning Heat) - Guitars on "Shine"
Rich Ward(Fozzy) - Guitars on "Ten"
Mike Kerr(FirstBourne) - Guitars on "With You Till The End"
Howie Simon(Ken Tamplin) - Guitars on "Forget, Forgive"
Marzi Montazeri - Guitars on "Lay it Down"
Jeff Loomis(Arch Enemy) - Guitars on "Better Part Of Me"
Gus G(Firewind) - Guitars on "Now or Never"
John O'Boyle - Bass
Paul McNamara - Keyboards, Organ, Synth [Moog]
Will Hunt - Drums
Danny Bernini - Percussion
Michael Sweet - Vocals & Guitars
Guest Musicians:
Todd Latorre(Queensryche) - Vocals on "Son Of Man"
Ian Raposa(FirstBourne) - Vocals on "With You Till The End"
Todd Latorre(Queensrÿche) - Vocals on "Son Of Man"
Joel Hoekstra(Whitesnake, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) Guitars on "Never Alone", "When Love Is Hated"
Tracii Guns(L.A. Guns) - Guitars on "Ricochet"
Ethan Brosh(Burning Heat) - Guitars on "Shine"
Rich Ward(Fozzy) - Guitars on "Ten"
Mike Kerr(FirstBourne) - Guitars on "With You Till The End"
Howie Simon(Ken Tamplin) - Guitars on "Forget, Forgive"
Marzi Montazeri - Guitars on "Lay it Down"
Jeff Loomis(Arch Enemy) - Guitars on "Better Part Of Me"
Gus G(Firewind) - Guitars on "Now or Never"
John O'Boyle - Bass
Paul McNamara - Keyboards, Organ, Synth [Moog]
Will Hunt - Drums
Danny Bernini - Percussion