Stryper, L to R: Robert Sweet (drums), Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Timothy Gaines (bass, vocals) and Oz Fox (guitar, vocals).
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As written by Michael Sweet and reported on the facebook of Stryper:
We start recording our 8th, full length album on Monday 4/1 and I’d like to start it the right way. I’d like to ask all of you to continue to pray for the band and the process of recording what we hope and pray will be our best and most powerful record to date. God is in control and He could take a band like us, a record like this, and do things that have never been done before. I’ve seen God work first hand and many things have happened over the years with Stryper that are nothing short of miraculous! I pray that this record will have the power, message and energy that all the others have had combined, so much so that it’s undeniable to anyone that hears it.
People ask all the time if our faith is still in tact, if we still believe, if we’re still a Christian band and the answer is a loud n’ clear – YES! More so than ever before.
We’re a little tired, beat up and exhausted from the past 30 years but our hearts desire is to continue spreading Gods love through the gifts, talents and abilities that He has blessed us with. God is leading the way, not any one of us.
God bless you for your undying support, belief and encouragement for all that we have done and all that we do.
This record can be our best record yet and we appreciate your prayers. We love you guys and could not have made it this far without you. Love and Respect to all of you, always!!!
Michael
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LONG LIVE STRYPER.
Stone.
Stryper – “To Hell With The Devil” was released on October 24, 1986. I already was an avid listener to Stryper and their brand of Christian Heavy Metal Music when this album came out. I had purchased their album “Soldiers Under Command”, (released on May 15, 1985), within months after it’s release, therefore I already took a liking to Stryper. I always have been and forever will be, diversified with my adoration for Metal music. I hate sounding like a broken record by saying… if I have said it once, I shall say it again… I listen to all Hard Rock and Metal Music genres. The songs on this album are exquisitely inspirational, they are enormously melodic and yes… commercial 1980′s Heavy Metal. It is the power that comes across to me, from these songs, that makes this Stryper album my all time favorite. Anytime any religion plays a role within the framework of a Heavy Metal band and their lyrics, it is better left up to the individual listener, to make the choice if this is what they want to embrace. In my Metal opinion, it is all about personal preference and interpretation, when it comes to any specific form of music. I will still play this album and benefit from the Heavy Metal and lyrical contents that are found within.
This is the original demo of Roxx Regime, from 1983, (“The Roxx Regime Demos”), before they became Stryper. (This CD was released on July 10, 2007). The songs are all excellent, with an unpolished, raw, under produced feel and spirited energy. (This is what really makes the Heavy Metal sound even better, in my Metal opinion). There are seven songs in all on this disc, including one drum solo. These tunes really thump, they have the early 80′s Heavy Metal/Hair Metal sound. “Honestly” is a ballad that really touches off tremendous emotion, the most mellow tune on this disc and a future hit for Stryper. “From Wrong to Right” and “Loud N Clear” are catchy tracks, with a definite early ’80′s Heavy Metal/Hair Metal vibe. “Tank” is a drum solo from Robert Sweet, nothing really fancy – cool to have in the mix of songs just the same. If you are already familiar with Stryper, you will hear and recognize the talented musicianship, a band in their Metal infancy, that would become a premier Christian Heavy Metal band of the 1980′s and beyond.
