Stryper is a heavy metal band from the USA formed in 1983, releasing fourteen albums across a four-decade career, which includes a ten-year hiatus between 1993 and 2003. The band are regarded as pioneers of the metal subgenre Christian Metal, but for many (me included), Stryper is simply a cracking heavy metal band, well respected among their peers with a loyal following that has supported them for nigh on forty years. In recent years the band’s musical direction has taken a heavier turn, yet it hasn’t lost any of its highly melodious intent or incredibly infectious nature. The band’s most recent album, ‘The Final Battle’ – released in 2022 – features eleven songs across forty-six heavy-hitting minutes.
But just before I got into the band’s new music – I first heard Stryper way back in the mid-eighties when ‘Co’mon Rock’ simply took my breath away! Taken from their 1984 debut album ‘The Yellow And Black Attack’, ‘Co’mon Rock’ has energy and oomph in abundance, and Stryper quickly became a favourite band of mine. Not for their Christian leanings, though, simply for their bombastic hard, rocking nature. And now, nearly forty years later, I have the absolute pleasure of reviewing their newest album, ‘The Final Battle’ – featuring three of the band’s original members…brothers Michael (lead vocals, guitar) and Robert Sweet (drums), Oz Fox (guitar), and new bandmate Perry Richardson (bass), formerly of hard rockers Firehouse – another favourite band of mine.
But back to the business in hand, reviewing ‘The Final Battle’ – which gets off to a belting start with the heart-pounding metaller ‘Transgressor’. Fiery and loaded with aggression, ‘Transgressor’ is fast-paced “foot on the monitor” heavy metal at its finest. But then, what else would you expect from one of the world’s finest metal bands! Stryper is back and hitting harder than ever – just how do you follow such a bombastic barnstormer of an opening salvo! By planting both feet firmly on the mid-tempo melodic metal thunder train, that’s how. The band shuddered the ground as they foot stomped their way forward with an incredible amount of force – ‘See No Evil, Hear No Evil’ a master class of melodious intent. Watch, listen and learn all your younger bands. This is how melodic heavy metal should sound like – take note of the grandmasters of metal. They ain’t gonna be around forever. But thankfully, their music will be, so make sure you get your copy of ‘The Final Battle’, and dive into the band’s extensive back catalogue too. It’ll be worth it, I promise.
There are plenty of Christian messages throughout the album for the followers of the faith to enjoy, but as I said earlier, for me, it’s all about the metal. And with catchy and infectious songs like ‘Same Old Story’ planting a smile a mile wide on my face – and the faces of many listeners too – I feel like I’m in heavy metal heaven. Stryper has always been very addictive. Their music is so enthralling you end up stopping whatever it is you’re doing just to listen to them when they come on the radio. ‘Heart & Soul’ takes us into the weighty foot-stomping style of anthemic heavy metal, with a pace pick up over the chorus break and into the second verse. But it’s that chorus – phenomenally gorgeous! Rabble rousing to the rafters, Stryper have hit the proverbial nail on the head with regards to audience involvement – the infectious level rising right through the fucking roof! And now, then, regular readers will know my stance with regard to ballads on metal albums – they just shouldn’t be! But there are a select number of bands that can get away with it, bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Rage, and the “queen of metal” Doro – and Stryper too. The ballad ‘Near’ will have lighters raised high, with every listener, fan, and follower swaying from side to side. A simply magical moment from a magical band.
Returning fully to the heavy metal genre, the band hit hard with ‘Out, Up & In’ – a thundering mid-tempo tsunami of headbanging ability. The incredible infectious nature of everything that Stryper do is simply out of this world. And I’m fairly sure the band wouldn’t have had the longevity they have had without some sort of special ingredient. What a band, and what great music they write. And the great music just keeps on coming – ‘Rise To The Call’ is the next melodic monster from these American metal masters. And a chorus that’ll go down a fucking storm in a live arena, the band caring for their audience in a massive way too. The energy and oomph since the album began have been around in abundance, ‘The Final Battle’ a barnstorming barrage of brilliance! Stryper concerts must be one helluva joyous time. The hardest foot stomper on offer, ‘The Way, The Truth, The Life’, is a ground shuddering tornado of total devastation, with buildings in danger of collapse from its weighty force. Yet amazingly, the band weave their melodic mastery throughout ‘The Way, The Truth, The Life’ to create an atmosphere of awe and wonder. Stryper is simply fantastic, making a late charge for the Album Of The Year title.
Now, did I just describe the previous song as “the hardest foot stomper on offer”…? Well methinks I need to revise that statement, for ‘No Rest For The Wicked’ puts ‘The Way, The Truth, The Life’ well and truly in the shade. ‘No Rest For The Wicked’ is heavier, and features a level of menace not heard on the album so far. And while the band have included a ballad on ‘The Final Battle’, Stryper has remained firmly rooted in the heavy metal genre. And for the first time, the old school sound of the band comes to the fore with ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ reminding me of eighties-era Stryper. What an album this is, and what an absolute pleasure it has been to review. And with one song left to go, I can honestly say Stryper haven’t let anyone down, crafting a massively attractive album that’ll remain on listener’s playlists for a long time. So, ‘Ashes To Ashes’, the album’s final song – an energetic barnstormer, proves the band are an exemplary force of nature. From minute one to minute forty-six, the band have rocked, rolled, and run around the metal genre like crazed lunatics! And delivered one of the year’s best albums.
Overall, a barnstorming and bombastic barrage of melodic heavy metal from one of the finest bands in the industry.
TRACKLIST
Transgressor
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Same Old Story
Heart & Soul
Near
Out, Up & In
Rise To The Call
The Way, The Truth, The Life
No Rest For The Wicked
Till Death Do Us Part
Ashes To Ashes
Stryper: Facebook
Release Year: 2022
Label: Frontiers Music s.r.l.
Category: Album
Country: USA
Reviewed by Iron Mathew for Frenzy Fire, and Metal-Roos.
