Stryper is a Melodic Heavy Metal band from Orange County, California that formed back in 1982 by the famous duo brother team - Michael & Robert Sweet. Stryper is one of the original Christian Metal bands that helped pave the way for many other Christian Metal artists back in the early 1980's. The idea for Stryper's moniker came from a passage found in Isaiah 53:5 "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." Also, Stryper is an acronym for Salvation Through Redemption Yielding Peace, Encouragement, and Righteousness".
With a career that spans 4 decades, Stryper now has an impressive discography of studio albums to their credit including 1984 'The Yellow And Black Attack', 1985 'Soldiers Under Command', 1986 'To Hell With The Devil', 1988 'In God We Trust', 1990 'Against The Law', 2005 'Reborn', 2009 'Murder By Pride', 2011 'The Covering', 2013 'No More Hell To Pay', 2015 'Fallen', 2018 'God D. Evil', 2020 'Even The Devil Believes'.
After Stryper's 2020 'ETDB' release, the band showed no signs of slowing down as this California based band once again darkened the doors of Spirithouse Recording Studio to begin work on new material.
After Stryper's 2020 'ETDB' release, the band showed no signs of slowing down as this California based band once again darkened the doors of Spirithouse Recording Studio to begin work on new material.
2022
In 2022 Stryper released their 13th full-length studio album titled 'The Final Battle' on Frontiers Music SRL.
'The Final Battle' was produced in-house by the band's very own Michael Sweet. The album was recorded and mixed at Spirithouse Recording Studio. The recording was mixed by Danny Bernini and mastered by Alex Saltz. The album's cover art was done by artist-Stan W. Decker who has now worked with Stryper on several different projects. The album's title 'The Final Battle' along with its cover-art reflects the battle of Armageddon as seen in Revelation 16:13-16 "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."
With this 2022 release, Stryper has stepped things back up to the same level of performance that we saw on their 2015 album 'Fallen'. The arrangements capture the essence of Stryper with plenty of captivating energy, electrifying guitars, over-the-top drums, big choruses, killer lead vocals, and all the right hooks to keep you beggin' for more. Throughout the recording process of 'The Final Battle', the band had to fight some of its own internal battles as Michael Sweet wrestled with a detached retina while Oz Fox went under the knife to have some brain tumors removed. Michael had the following to say about it: “I could not be more pleased with how the project turned out. Against all odds and with many obstacles, we were able to deliver a powerful album with an energy unlike any other. Trying to stay on schedule, I continued to write the album lyrics as I was lying face down for two weeks recovering from surgery. I kept thinking to myself, how is this possible? And then I was reminded of the Scripture from Matthew 19:26-But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
'The Final Battle' was produced in-house by the band's very own Michael Sweet. The album was recorded and mixed at Spirithouse Recording Studio. The recording was mixed by Danny Bernini and mastered by Alex Saltz. The album's cover art was done by artist-Stan W. Decker who has now worked with Stryper on several different projects. The album's title 'The Final Battle' along with its cover-art reflects the battle of Armageddon as seen in Revelation 16:13-16 "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 16 And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."
With this 2022 release, Stryper has stepped things back up to the same level of performance that we saw on their 2015 album 'Fallen'. The arrangements capture the essence of Stryper with plenty of captivating energy, electrifying guitars, over-the-top drums, big choruses, killer lead vocals, and all the right hooks to keep you beggin' for more. Throughout the recording process of 'The Final Battle', the band had to fight some of its own internal battles as Michael Sweet wrestled with a detached retina while Oz Fox went under the knife to have some brain tumors removed. Michael had the following to say about it: “I could not be more pleased with how the project turned out. Against all odds and with many obstacles, we were able to deliver a powerful album with an energy unlike any other. Trying to stay on schedule, I continued to write the album lyrics as I was lying face down for two weeks recovering from surgery. I kept thinking to myself, how is this possible? And then I was reminded of the Scripture from Matthew 19:26-But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
The track-list for 'The Final Battle' includes 1.Transgressor 2.See No Evil, Hear No Evil 3.Same Old Story 4.Heart & Soul 5.Near 6.Out, Up & In 7.Rise To The Call 8.The Way, The Truth, The Life 9.No Rest For Wicked 10.Till Death Do Us Part 11.Ashes To Ashes.
If you think that Stryper's frontman-Michael Sweet has lost something along the way and no longer has the chops for Heavy Metal then you have a big surprise awaiting you on their latest release. Today, Sweet's vocals are just as good as when the band began their career if not better. This 2022 album finds Michael unleashing more high-pitched screams than on any other release. There is one track where he even takes the screams to a new level. Just check out track-11 "Ashes to Ashes" and you will quickly see what I'm talking about.
The strings section is comprised of none other than Michael Sweet on lead/rhythm guitars along with Oz Fox who is also on lead/rhythm guitars. listeners will find here that Both Oz and Sweet incorporate some "new-to-Stryper" guitar techniques allowing for some surprises along the way. However, Oz & Sweet can still be found playing those signature styles & sounds that are unique to the band and that fans have grown to love over the decades.
Lyrics are Christ centered & evangelical covering everything from salvation to
love for others to warnings and to end times events as one can see in the following excerpts:
love for others to warnings and to end times events as one can see in the following excerpts:
"See no Evil, Hear no Evil"
Be not deceived
God won't be mocked
What you will sow
So you shall reap
Don't let the sun
Go down on your anger
The spirit is willing
But the flesh is weak
See no evil, hear no evil
Resist the world you know
Speak no evil, think no evil
Evil, evil
"Same Old Story"
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
"Out, Up & In"
Soon enough the door will shut
And the world is in decline
Wickedness it knows no bounds
As fear and panic align
Missing those who now are gone
Deception by design
You realize that you were wrong
But your pleas are now denied
Out, up & in
The games will end
Only five out of ten
Before seven years begin
We're out, up & in
"Rise to the Call"
God is our salvation
Never be afraid
He gives power to the weak
And strength to the enslaved
He’s The God of mercy
But we just can’t believe
He is everything
And more than we need
We can’t go down
Like a ship on the sea
Because we’re too mighty
To fall to our knees
We fight & we wrestle
Risk losing it all
When we could win battles
And Rise To The Call
"The Way, The Truth, The Life"
My child
If your soul's been beguiled
I'll save you
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
"No Rest for the Wicked"
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
Be not deceived
God won't be mocked
What you will sow
So you shall reap
Don't let the sun
Go down on your anger
The spirit is willing
But the flesh is weak
See no evil, hear no evil
Resist the world you know
Speak no evil, think no evil
Evil, evil
"Same Old Story"
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
"Out, Up & In"
Soon enough the door will shut
And the world is in decline
Wickedness it knows no bounds
As fear and panic align
Missing those who now are gone
Deception by design
You realize that you were wrong
But your pleas are now denied
Out, up & in
The games will end
Only five out of ten
Before seven years begin
We're out, up & in
"Rise to the Call"
God is our salvation
Never be afraid
He gives power to the weak
And strength to the enslaved
He’s The God of mercy
But we just can’t believe
He is everything
And more than we need
We can’t go down
Like a ship on the sea
Because we’re too mighty
To fall to our knees
We fight & we wrestle
Risk losing it all
When we could win battles
And Rise To The Call
"The Way, The Truth, The Life"
My child
If your soul's been beguiled
I'll save you
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
"No Rest for the Wicked"
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
(See Site Info for Sword Scale meaning)
Stryper has once again shown that they can consistently put out solid Heavy Metal albums year after year, decade after decade. With their latest release 'The Final Battle', the band has delivered up a feast of molten Metal for their fans. Help support the band and Christian Metal music by picking up your copy of Stryper's 'The Final Battle' today!
Purchases can be made at any of the following links:
Musicians:
Michael Sweet - Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Oz Fox - Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Backing Vocals
Perry Richardson(Firehouse) - Bass, Backing Vocals
Robert Sweet - Drums & Percussion
Guest Musicians:
Paul McNamara - Organ, Keyboards, Synths (Moog)
Charles Foley & Keith Pittman - Additional Backing Vocals
Michael Sweet - Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Oz Fox - Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Backing Vocals
Perry Richardson(Firehouse) - Bass, Backing Vocals
Robert Sweet - Drums & Percussion
Guest Musicians:
Paul McNamara - Organ, Keyboards, Synths (Moog)
Charles Foley & Keith Pittman - Additional Backing Vocals
