I like the fact that Michael Sweet isn’t afraid to do what he wants on his albums. Ten feels to me as if it is a more retrospective Michael Sweet, hitting various key points of his career, whether it was paying tribute to his heroes to hitting the high spots of his own bands…
Lyrically, I would describe this latest album as fearless.
It’s not so much of a statement as a prayer request; it’s us asking God to damn evil. It’s that simple. It has created controversy.
beyond a shadow of a doubt One Sided Army is is heaviest album, rivaling the power of most of Stryper’s catalog
Stryper frontman Michael Sweet returns with his most intense solo release to date
Stryper Announces 30th Anniversary To Hell with the Devil Tour
I did that from 1996 all the way to 2000. That was where I got to a point where I said “music is not doing anything for me now.” I ended up wanting to get back into music and getting that passion and desire.
In keeping with 2013’s album “Second Coming”, Stryper have indeed been ‘reborn’ and are currently riding high on a second career. Whether they ever manage to reach the heady heights of their career in the 1980s remains to be seen but on the strength of recent releases, the quality of their output cannot be brought into question.
So what of their latest offering, ”Fallen” to be released 16th Oct? Will it be “The Rock That Makes Me Roll” or will it be heading straight to the “Abyss”?
Ending on a pulsating note with title track Only to Rise, this song bears all the hallmarks of a relentless jam. Lynchs’ no frills riff work and Tichys’ animalistic skin battering are monstrous. It would be a crying shame if this project was a one off. Sweet and Lynch clearly have a smokin’ hot compatibility. Their energy and enthusiasm are all over this wonderful album.