If your only exposure to Stryper is their 1986 platinum-selling album, To Hell With the Devil, you’re missing out on an incredible discography spanning four decades, including their 12th studio album, When We Were Kings, dropping September 13 via Frontiers Music Srl.
Stryper features brothers, Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Robert Sweet (drums), Oz Fox (guitar, vocals) and Perry Richardson (bass, vocals). Originally called Roxx Regime during their early days on the Sunset Strip, the Christian hard rock/metal band later changed their name before releasing their debut album, The Yellow and Black Attack, in 1983.
Much like their gifted contemporaries in Winger, Extreme and Tesla, the off-the-chart musical talent of this band cannot be overstated.
Michael’s distinctive vocals have only improved with age and his chilling harmonies with shredder Oz Fox are the best in the business. Robert is called the “visual timekeeper” for good reason – check him out on YouTube! And relative newcomer to Stryper, bassist Perry Richardson founded and anchored the amazing band Firehouse for years, selling more than seven million albums worldwide.
When We Were Kings opens with “End of Days.” If you’re a fan of crunching and catchy rock and metal guitar, you’ll be hooked in the first 20 seconds. The band’s talent is on full display right out of the gate. And the dueling solo…just wow!
The first track seamlessly transitions into a Metallica-like riff in “Unforgivable.” This is the song you need to hear if you think Stryper is just a pop rock band. You would be very wrong.
Up next is the title track, When We Were Kings. Remember those harmonies I mentioned earlier? They’re front and center on this one. As is a killer trade-off solo between Michael and Oz.
“Love’s Symphony” is one of two new singles out now. Michael says, “We’re always trying to merge the past with the present. Trying to incorporate the classic sound that older fans miss with the modern sound that newer fans hope for. ‘Love’s Symphony’ is a great combination of both. It not only represents who we were but also who we are.”
There’s not a soft spot on this album. The riffs, hooks and melodies carry all the way through to the closer, “Imperfect World.” How Michael can still hit those high notes after all these years is a testament to Stryper’s resilience and dedication to their craft.
If I’ve left you with any doubt on the merits of this album, let me be clear…it rocks! Kudos to Stryper for never taking their foot off of the gas. More than 40 years after it all began on the stages of Gazzari’s and the Whiskey in West Hollywood, they’ve never wavered from their Christian faith and hard rock artistry.
Without a doubt, When We Were Kings is one of my favorite albums of 2024 thus far!
I’m Music Magazine Writer Steve Pawlowski
Great review! If any other band had put out six albums in a row of the quality of the last six Stryper albums, they would be receiving near unanimous praise as one of the greatest bands of all time. But not Stryper. The refusal of so many to give them the credit they deserve is a shame. Thanks for not being one of the idiots—the album really is every bit as good as you say!
Appreciate you taking the time to read the review Dexter! We agree those last six albums have been bangers dude! Yet, the band always falls way short of getting the kind of praise you are speaking of.