STRYPER – Even The Devil Believes (2020)

Once again proving their lasting durability, iconic hard rock band STRYPER return with their 13th studio album, ‘Even the Devil Believes’, via Frontiers Music Srl. Filled with the band’s signature riffs, harmony-laden melodies and positive themes, the eleven song project is Stryper’s first studio album with Perry Richardson (Firehouse) on bass and backing vocals.
Slowly steering away from their successful 80s commercial sound, in recent time the band went into a heavier direction, crystallizing on this brand new album, where past and present fuse extremely well.
Yes, there’s hot metallic numbers here, but also commercial, catchy melodic tunes to enjoy.

Where ‘God Damn Evil’, ‘Fallen’ and ‘No More Hell To Pay’ displayed the band’s heavy metallic outline, without subduing their aesthetics, the new album adds a more thrust to the throttle.
The opening riff and piercing scream on ‘Blood From Above’ instantly makes clear the band means business. The song bursts into action with a fierce riff interaction between Fox and Michael Sweet over the powerful drum strokes from Robert Sweet. Newcomer Perry Richardson (ex-Firehouse) adds his low vibrant bass lines to the mix. With Richardson handling chorus duties in his previous band we are assured of the signature Stryper choruses being sticky and recognizable as ever.
Harmonizing the Michael and Oz’s highs and closing the gap with Robert deeper sound, the layers of vocals are more powerful than ever. Michael Sweet’s stand out voice is pitching high and packs tremendous power sparking the heavier direction. Not having degraded, but aged like a top shelf wine, he sounds inspired and forceful.

Dynamics increased as you can hear on the following ‘Make Love Great Again’, the spin off to the US president’s credo ‘to make the country great again’, a controversy for sure. Double kicked and with exquisite dynamics Sweet brings the song to live with both guitarists adding an insane riff and melody swagger. Richardson clearly is in the right place adding bass riff with low-end vibes.
Micheal roars and whales and the chorus is sticky sweet contrasting with the impressive musical extravagance of the track. The ominous mid-section is impressive and the open production of the track adds to the dynamic feel. Trademark solo interaction between Sweet and Fox with swirling melodies and blistering arpeggios is just jaw dropping.

Both players capable of handling lead duties makes Stryper sounding very sharp. Their harmonized trade-off solos are dominating the entire album, which is also strongly leaning on the duos insane riff interaction.
Pushing the pedal to the metal the band shoots into action for ‘Let Him In’ again packing a memorable chorus and scorching riffs.

‘Do Unto Others’ fires on the same engines with sparkling guitar interaction laid down with utmost precision. Echoing bridge and sticky chorus over progressive kicked pre-chorus enhance the track.
More melodic than any of the last recordings the song flourishes with lush layered vocals in its spot-on chorus. But it is the vocal interaction and layers making this song shine brightly. With Michael Sweet drawing from his most melodic and his deepest roaring register, you’re in for one of the best vocal performances of the year. On top the track is enhanced further with insane soling from both marksmen unloading in a swirling twin solo fretboard magic.

The title track rumbles into your eardrum with Robert’s typical dynamics switching between floors, double kicked and single kick bass drums propelling the track. In its chorus he lays down extraordinary drumrolls and fills increasing dynamics. Lyrical it adds to the Stryper discography perfectly and the choirs are sticky but not too Sweet. Its guitar chunks are amplified tenfold and downtuned to increase power.

‘How To fly’ bears the same ingredients and rolls onwards with an organic open sound until the choirs barge in. The song will bring back memories of 80s Stryper: has an anthemic fist-pumping feel to it and roars.
Another track featuring the dynamic guitar-drum energetic combustion is ‘Divider’. Rooted in the 70s, the metallic Stryper sauce makes it thick and sticky as molasses. Its gut wrecking chants and Richardson’s whammy bass lines and string bending give it face. Taking it back a knot or 10 the band delves deep for the mandatory slow mover-moment.

‘This I Pray’ is acoustically driven and has hovering electric soling giving it an extra dimension. Above all it is Michael who colors it brightly. The treble edge on his voice still vividly present, he injects a sincerity and emotion most bands miss. Powering up for the chorus the song starts to gain momentum and moves from its bluesy Americana time signatures and starts eluding from the expected. This is how you compose a semi-ballad.
The song would have shot up in the 80s charts.

‘Invitation Only’ is hammered into life once again by Robert with intense guitar harmonies transforming into cock-rock solid riffing before going all Stryper on us. Lush distorted keys are added for atmospherically purpose only. The song is an exclamation point to Oz and Michael’s crazy guitar interaction, beefed up heavily, precise and appealing. Midway the track picks up the band’s dynamics during the choir section before diving into another nut wrenching chunk of guitar wizardry.

If ‘God Gave Rock ‘n Roll To You’ is considered a hymn, then ‘For God & Rock ‘n Roll’ will be Stryper’s personal praise for the both. Packing an arena vibe it starts to rumble with powerful loud rock chanting pushing it forward with stride. Stripped to the bear essence the song oozes a genuine classic rock appeal with meaty hooks. It is the perfect tune before the band comes storming onto us once again on the album closer ‘Middle Finger Messiah’, which packs tremendous power.
Dynamic powerhouse drumming and chunky guitars firing on all engines the song is one big combustion of fist pumping energy. Over all this musical marksmanship Michael’s vocals add the edge and grit needed to make the song speak. Less sweet choruses but focusing on power and persistence, the song delves deep emotionally, topped off with another jawdropping execution of Fox and Sweet’s guitar interaction which is out of this world. Again, the production from Michael Sweet himself is open and transparent adding to the organic feel of the album.

”Even The Devil Believes’ fuses the best of both Stryper worlds. Present are the band’s signature nesting and multi-layered choruses, more than ever before. Less sugar-coated but still as comfy and nesting as in their ’80s they infused it with a wider range of appeal.
It all blends well with the spectacular dynamics of their last efforts and the addition of Richardson provides an entirely different vibe. More than once their songs combust with a genuine contemporary vibe that gel perfectly with the catchy choirs and Michael’s pristine powerful voice.
I’m not gonna call out this as their best album to date, but I am convinced this will nest among the top favourites of the 777 catalog. And the best… Hell, that’s yet to come.
HIGHLY Recommended

01. Blood From Above
02. Make Love Great Again
03. Let Him In
04. Do Unto Others
05. Even The Devil Believes
06. How To Fly
07. Divider
08. This I Pray
09. Invitation Only
10. For God & Rock ‘n’ Roll
11. Middle Finger Messiah

Lead Vocals, Guitar – Michael Sweet
Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals – Oz Fox
Bass, Backing Vocals – Perry Richardson (Firehouse)
Drums, Percussion – Robert Sweet
with:
Keyboards – Paul McNamara
Backing Vocals – Keith Pittman

PRE Order:
www.amazon.co.uk/Even-Devil-Believes-Stryper/dp/B088GNKFCX