STRYPER – No More Hell To Pay [Japan edition +1] (2013) *HQ*
Christian Metal heroes STRYPER are back with completely new song material since 2009 on “No More Hell To Pay”, their brand album to be released by Frontiers Records next week.
Stryper have always been a White Metal band with a catchy note in their songs. Forget about all that, because with “No More Hell To Pay” you’ll get to hear much more sharp guitar-riffs and tons of screams which will leave your ears ringing.
The Sweet bros and co. have managed to create here a face melting, jaw dropping collection of songs that not only maintains the signature Stryper style but it also sounds modernly relevant and fresh. This isn’t your average nostalgic hard rockin’ band that is out of ideas and just going through the motions trying to survive in the present scene.
This is a band that has found that spark and turned into a passionate, youthful, and intense fire that burns from song to song on “No More Hell To Pay”.
Michael Sweet’s high octane-er, octave-vocals sound as good now as they did in ’84. You are advised not to drink anything out of a glass container when listening to this album because when Michael hits those high screams, you’ll be wearing the contents.
The rest of the ‘yellow and black’ pack is in equally fine form. Robert Sweet absolutely punishes the drums and resisting the urge to head-bang to the beats is futile. Oz Fox is a rock ‘n’ roll animal (to borrow a phrase from Keel) on the guitar, slinging the axe like a man on steroids. And it’s great to hear Tim Gaines’ bass given prominence in the mix for a change, providing the beefy backbone upon which all great metal thrives.
As with all Stryper efforts, there are a couple of skip-worthy songs, but the bulk of the album consists of keepers. The cover of the Art Reynolds tune “Jesus Is Just Alright” is one of the highlights, transforming this poppy track and completely Stryper-izing it with pounding rhythms, tear-it-up guitars, slick harmonies, and the kind of catchiness most bands would kill for.
“Sticks And Stones” is a heavy-rocking commercial track with a big, polished chorus that would have been right at home on In God We Trust. Your head will bang, your body will move, and you will sing along … everything you want from a Stryper tune.
And then there is “Water Into Wine”, one of the best songs the band has ever recorded. A heavy riff, ripping guitars, gut-punch drums, huge hooks, soaring chorus. It’s hard to imagine any Stryper fan not getting excited by this one.
There’s more solid pounding anthems like the title track “No More Hell To Pay”, “Legacy”, “Revelation” and “Saved By Love” proving that Stryper recorded their heaviest album to date.
Stryper promised one hell of an album in “No More Hell To Pay” and they have kept their word, cranking on all cylinders and delivering an excellent hard hitting opus.
With thundering drums and a crushingly powerful production, plus slamming guitar hooks and solos with more sizzle than ice cubes dropped on a hot griddle, this is a surprisingly heavy album for a band so often associated with the ‘80s hair-metal heyday.
While there are a few nods to the style of To Hell With The Devil and In God We Trust, most of this release is reminiscent of the more metallic days of The Yellow and Black Attack and Soldiers Under Command. Less concerned about commercial hooks —though they are also here in abundance— and more interested in just rocking the hell out of you.
Very Recommended.
01. Revelation
02. No More Hell To Pay
03. Saved By Love
04. Jesus Is Just Alright
05. The One
06. Legacy
07. Marching Into Battle
08. Te Amo
09. Sticks and Stones
10. Water Into Wine
11. Sympathy
12. Renewed
Michael Sweet: Lead Vocals, Guitar
Robert Sweet: Drums
Oz Fox: Guitar, Vocals
Timothy Gaines: Bass, Vocals
Pre-Order:
www.amazon.com/No-More-Hell-Pay-Stryper/dp/B00EEPFRGE
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