STRYPER – To Hell With The Devil [Japanese Edition 1st press]

STRYPER are about to release their new 2018 album, and one of you asked for remasters of their more celebrated ’80s records. None of classic Stryper albums have been remastered with ‘modern’ technology / equipment.
Their first LP’s received a ‘vintage’ Nineties remastering (beefed up gain), and Michael Sweet did his own ‘retouch’ to To Hell With The Devil in 2000’s. But nothing more.
Regarding Stryper’s most famous, platinum hit album “To Hell With The Devil“… which edition sound the best?

I listened to some “To Hell With The Devil” editions all over the years; the original Enigma Records LP, the Enigma CD manufactured in Germany, The Hollywood Records so called ‘remaster’ and this Japanese original CD pressing.

I remember the US Hollywood CD reissue sounding really fine, as good as this Japanese first press, which, by the way, featured the original artwork with angel warriors on the cover.

At the time – 1986 – Japanese CD manufacturing was far superior in quality to any other part of the world.

So here it is, if you still don’t have Stryper’s “To Hell With The Devil” in your collection you are missing an essential piece of ’80s US hard rock / glam, and this Japanese pressing (very hard to find nowadays) is the one to get.
Highly Recommended

01 – Abyss (To Hell with the Devil)
02 – To Hell with the Devil
03 – Calling on You
04 – Free
05 – Honestly
06 – The Way
07 – Sing-Along Song
08 – Holding On
09 – Rockin’ the World
10 – All of Me
11 – More Than a Man

Michael Sweet – lead vocals, guitar
Robert Sweet – drums, background vocals
Oz Fox – lead guitar, background vocals
Tim Gaines – bass, background vocals
additional musicians:
John Van Tongeren – keyboards
Brad Cobb – session bassist

Out Of Print
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