The Master Plan, the brand-new solo album from Michael Sweet, acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer, and frontman of Christian rock icons Stryper, is releasing, via Frontiers Records, on April 3, 2026!
Legendary, long-running metal band STRYPER are setting the stage for a great year with a new single entitled “End of Days.” Accompanied by a new lyric video, the track also helps announce the band’s 40th Anniversary Tour dates which begin this fall. After an appearance at the Alive Music Festival in July, tour dates kick off September 11th in Greenville, TN, and conclude November 16th in North Myrtle Beach, SC. A full list of dates is below.
About the new track, the band shared this:
“’End of Days‘ is a heavy track musically and lyrically. It has a classic sound with a few modern twists and turns along the way. Lyrically, it’s probably the most fitting message according to the times we are living in. It really does feel like the ‘End of Days‘ in many ways. We’re not only a divided nation, we’re a divided world. It’s time to make things right.”
Looking ahead, STRYPER has completed recording a new studio album set for release in fall 2024, which they hope will continue their trend of improving with each release. The band is also working on a Kickstarter-funded documentary film directed by Chris Atkins. With career album sales exceeding 10 million worldwide and a history of Billboard Top 40 hits, STRYPER continues to record, tour, and perform for devoted fans globally.
The current lineup includes original members Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet, and Oz Fox, along with bassist Perry Richardson, as they create what they consider their finest and most powerful music yet.
We are gearing up for our first-ever Acoustic Tour – To Hell with the Amps, to support the release of our first-ever Acoustic Album by the same name. If we are not coming to your City and you’d like to see the show, here’s your chance….
On May 30, 2024 we will be broadcasting, worldwide, the sold-out show from Madlife Studios in Woodstock GA. This will be a professional broadcast of the entire show. Tickets are only $11.99 for this one-of-a-kind event.
No other show on this tour will be broadcast, and we will not be adding other acoustic dates. This is your one chance to see the acoustic tour if it’s not coming to your city. Worth mentioning – each ticket purchased has a 7-day rewatch period. So if you can’t watch the show live as it happens, that’s okay, you’ve got 7 days to watch it at your convenience (as many times as you’d like).
Get your tickets now at Volume.com/stryper or at Stryper.com
Do you live in Australia, New Zealand, or anywhere in the United States? GOOD NEWS! Stryper is putting together an impressive list of LIVE concert dates that will take them to Australia, New Zealand and cities across the United States (including the east and west coasts)!
For the week ending April 5th, 2014, Demon Hunter’s Extremist has debuted on the Billboard Top 200 at #16! Well deserved, cause Extremist is a keeper! Whoa! Metal be thy name!
Also:
#2 Independent Albums and #2 Hard Rock Albums! Metal has invaded the Billboard Charts once again!
Ryan Clark – Vocals
Patrick Judge – Lead Guitar
Jeremiah Scott – Rhythm Guitar
Jonathan Dunn – Bass
Yogi Watts – Drums
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For a recently related DEMON HUNTER post, as featured on Metal Odyssey, click on the link below:
DEMON HUNTER – Seattle, by way of Nashville’s DEMON HUNTER have seen their seventh studio album released this past week: Extremist via (Solid State). Still boasting a fiery, melodic and potent wall-of-Metal-sound, DEMON HUNTER ceases to buckle over when it comes to constant and never-ending improvement with their albums; Artificial Light, from Extremist, is one example of this.
The all-encompassing, strong Metal grooves, intensity and inspiring lyrics from this Christian Metal band have always stopped me in my Metal tracks. Below is the official music/lyric video for Artificial Light; turn it up and receive a muscular dosage of Metal from DEMON HUNTER. Metal Be Thy Name.
DEMON HUNTER – Artificial Light Is: Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day!
MICHAEL SWEET – The legendary Michael Sweet has released (March 4th – Big 3 Records) a grand new music video, I’m Not Your Suicide, which is also the title track of his forthcoming solo album. I’m Not Your Suicide carries a positive message to young people: that choosing suicide from being abused or bullied is not the answer and help is available to those being tormented.
Child abuse in all its forms must be addressed and Michael Sweet has succeeded in raising the awareness to this troubling social crisis, through his song and music video. A suicide crisis hotline number is also shown at the end of this music video: 1-800-4-A-CHILD.
I love this song, both for its incredibly positive message to young people and for its melodic and inspiring music. A brilliantly beautiful song is I’m Not Your Suicide. The vocals of Michael Sweet are filled with intense and undeniable emotion. Amazingly well done. Listen and watch for yourself, below:
Find out more about Michael Sweet’s new single and how a portion of the proceeds are graciously going to benefit Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline:
* The full-length album, I’m Not Your Suicide, will be released on May 6th, 2014, via Big 3 Records.
* Michael Sweet is the vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and co-founding member of the iconic Christian Heavy Metal band: Stryper. Michael Sweet is also an ex-vocalist and guitarist for the super-legendary Boston.
Michael Sweet’s autobiography, Honestly – My Life And Stryper Revealed, will be released on May 6th, 2014.
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* For more related news features on Michael Sweet:
As written by Michael Sweet and originally posted on the STRYPER Facebook page:
It’s an opportunity for me to express myself in new ways, and experiment a little more musically. As a writer, I respect all styles of music and although hard rock/metal is where I lay my head, it’s cool to be able try different things and reach outside the box. Stryper has a particular style and sound and it’s important that we don’t venture too far away from that. My new solo album has some heavy music on it and at the same time, it also has a little more diversity and different instruments going on which makes it very interesting. I used steel guitar on a few tracks, 12 string guitar here and there, mellotron, live cellos, B3, and all kinds of instruments that you don’t or most likely here on a Stryper album.
It’s exciting for me to be able to go into a studio and have the freedom to incorporate new sounds, techniques and instruments. I also brought in quite a few guest singers and musicians to add to the overall sound of the album. Kevin Max, Electra Mustaine, Tony Harnell, Chris Jericho, Doug Aldrich, Kenny Aronoff, Paul McNamara, Charles Foley, John O’Boyle & Pete Adams all helped to make this album the best solo album to date and a record that I’m most proud of. I look forward to all of you hearing it and I want to thank you all for being friends and fans, solo or not:-)
Love & Respect, Always ~ M
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* I’m Not Your Suicide will be released on May 6th, 2014, via Big 3 Records.
* Michael Sweet’s autobiography Honestly will be released on May 6th, 2014.
STRYPER – Released on November 5th, the NEW studio album, No MoreHell To Pay, from the ever-legendary STRYPER has accumulated impressive Billboard Chart positions; while receiving critic and fan praise around the globe!! Another new and official music video from this sensational album has been released and it’s Sympathy.
Michael Sweet sounds ultra-fabulous on vocals and guitar, once again!! The entire band is Rocking on all fired-up Metal cylinders!! This new album isn’t about STRYPER being back. Nope. These Christian Metal icons have never deniedtheir fans of Rockin’ inspiration! STRYPER are always touring, along with consistently reaching out to their fans via social media. No More Hell To Pay is about STRYPERbringing on their Heavy Metal attack!! This is STRYPER’s Metal 2013!! Dig it!! Metal be thy name!!
Below, Listen To Sympathy And Crank Up The Volume, While You Allow The METAL Of STRYPER To Flood Your Soul! Whoa!!
STRYPER Will Be Recording This Concert For Their Upcoming Live CD/DVD!
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STRYPER – Live At The Whisky! Stryper records their live CD/DVD at The Legendary Whisky A Go Go! Don’t miss this opportunity to be a part of history as they perform classics along with all new material from the new release, “No More Hell To Pay”.
ARE YOU AN ULTIMATE STRYPER FAN? THEN YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THE STRYPER FAN WEEKEND! BOOK NOW, LIMITED TO 100 ULTIMATE FANS!
As Reported on the STRYPER Facebook page:
Following last month’s announcement of the first annual Stryper Fan Weekend, to be held in Nashville, Tennessee from October 11-13, 2013, the multi-platinum rock band is pleased to release additional details and the complete schedule.
The three-day fan event, limited to only 100 fans, will be packed with live performances from Stryper, exciting events, surprise guests, giveaways (including Michael Sweet’s very own Merida C35-OMCES custom guitar) and exclusive access to the band. In addition, the entire weekend will be filmed for an upcoming live DVD to be released worldwide by Frontiers Records in 2014.
VIEW COMPLETE STRYPER FAN WEEKEND SCHEDULE & PURCHASE PACKAGES ON OUR WEBSITE: http://www.stryper.com
No More Hell To Pay – Releasing on November 5th, 2013, via FrontiersRecords. You can pre-order by clicking the link below! Whoa!
STRYPER – The greatest and most famous Christian Heavy Metal/Hard Rock band of our time has this Rockin’ gem available now: Second Coming – on double yellow vinyl… autographed!!
Second Coming is a collection of 16 STRYPER classics, including 2 NEW studio recordings: Bleeding From Inside Out and Blackened. The other 14 songs are re-recorded STRYPER songs that have been re-energized and given new hard-to-resist magic! Both new studio songs are overflowing with Heavy Rockin’ relevancy; a welcomed relevancy that showcases the everlasting musical prowess that is… STRYPER!
Take a look below at all the details for this whiz-bang STRYPER exclusive! Metal be thy name!
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Released in the UK, STRYPER now has a limited number of these available in the online store.
STRYPER – The forthcoming newSTRYPER studio album will be titled: No More Hell To Pay. I’m not certain if the following track list for this hotly anticipated album will change. I sure hope it stays as 12 songs… or more for that matter!! Metal be thy name!!
This photo below I discovered on the Stryper Music facebook page on Tuesday night! Bassist Timothy Gaines wrote the following caption to go along with this photo:
New Stryper album – No More Hell To Pay kicks!! Listening to it non stop… Can’t wait for ya’ll to hear it!! ~ Timothy Gaines
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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* For more info on STRYPER, click on the links below!
STRYPER – When I think of the band that pioneered Christian Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, STRYPERisnumber one. Across their catalog of seven studio albums, the words melodic and memorable jump out at me; while their 80’s arena style heaviness never seems to grow stale. After listening to STRYPER after all these years, I’m readily admitting that their inspirational lyrics and vibes never sounded so grand!
STRYPER has proven their Heavy Rock relevancy with Murder By Pride (2009) and The Covering (cover song album from 2011). With a newly inked record deal with Frontiers Records, the future looks even more positive for a band that has been Rocking positive energy into their fans souls… for decades strong.
To celebrate STRYPER being Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day, I have compiled a chronological list of ALL the STRYPER features, album reviews and news that has ever appeared on Metal Odyssey. This list of links below begins with the most recent of STRYPER posts. Scroll and click away… and enjoy some STRYPER history! Metal be thy name!
Frontiers Records is proud to announce the signing of iconic Christian rockers Stryper to a multi-album deal. The first release due out will be a new re-recorded collection; SECOND COMING will hit streets on March 22nd in Europe and March 26th in North America.
The album features sixteen tracks, including new recordings of fourteen songs from the band’s early years as well as two brand new songs recorded especially for SECOND COMING, and is produced by Stryper frontman Michael Sweet.
Sweet commented: “We’re really excited about this record. The re-recorded songs are sounding awesome…better than the originals in many ways! One word to describe the record? Heavier. We’ve hooked up with some great people – we’ve got new management, a great album, a great label. We just feel like everything is coming together, and hopefully some big things are to follow.” Please see below for the complete track listing.
Stryper is one of the top Christian Rock bands of all time. Comprised of the original line-up of Michael Sweet (vocals/guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Tim Gaines (bass), and Robert Sweet (drums), Stryper has been rocking since 1984, and is responsible for such ’80s metal classic albums as SOLDIERS UNDER COMMAND, TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL, IN GOD WE TRUST and such MTV hit singles/videos as “Calling on You,” “Free,” and “Honestly.”
After a sabbatical for much of the 1990’s, Stryper returned strong in the early 21st century. To date, the band has sold upwards of 8 million records worldwide and is a Dove Award-winner and Grammy nominee. Stryper is the first band to have two songs in MTV’s Top 10 simultaneously.
SECOND COMINGtrack listing: Loud N’ Clear; Loving You; Soldiers Under Command; Makes Me Wanna Sing; First Love; The Rock That Makes Me Roll; Reach Out; Surrender; To Hell With The Devil; Calling On You; Free; The Way; Sing Along Song; More Than A Man; Bleeding From Inside Out (New song); Blackened (New song)
FOR TODAY are a Christian Metalcore band (with Hardcore influence) from Sioux City, Iowa that formed back in 2005. Their fourth studio album, Immortal, will be released on March 29th, 2012, via Razor & Tie Records. Immortal will be the band’s debut for Razor & Tie Records, having their prior albums released via Facedown Records.
* I bought this Fearless single and I’ll have to admit, it’s one heavy song. A very memorable chorus, along with some punishing drums and face-melting hardcore vocals, combines to make Fearless a dominating sonic experience. Metal be thy name.
Southern California Death Metal road warriors, IMPENDING DOOM are releasing their next onslaught of gorship “Baptized in Filth” three weeks from today on March 13th, 2012. Produced by Andreas Magnusson (The Black Dahlia Murder) and Machine, this is the bands fourth full length and most ferocious effort to date. Bassist David Sittig comments:
“Baptized in filth represents the mindless indulgence and self worship in the vile world we live in. This album is meant to scare the hell out of you!”
IMPENDING DOOM has also confirmed for this years Metal Alliance Tour along side acts like Devildriver, Job For a Cowboy and Dying Fetus. If that wasn’t enough the band is also playing select dates on this years VANS Warped Tour this Summer.
(Source: eOne Music)
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* For more info on IMPENDING DOOM, click on the links below:
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
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