Stryper got hate from the secular and christian side. They were getting stones in the middle. They have good recent material and are very well seen by their metal peers nowadays. Michael kept his pipes “Sweet”... Ah... Ah... Ah... ;)
Yeah, they came on my radar through this album. I knew of them, but they hadn’t gotten much mainstream airplay. Then they put this album out and we happened to get a Z-Rock affiliate in Cleveland, at the same time. Z-Rock had this song as well as several others from Stryper in regular rotation, so I heard what I needed to hear and started buying their albums before I even heard them. I got this first and it was on white vinyl. Then i got their debut and it was on blue vinyl. So cool!!!
They are way way underrated!! Michael sweet has 1 of the best voices EVER!! And his brother Robert!! Is 1 of the most underrated drummers!! That is only 1 song of atlest 20 I can name..
Actually most metal fans are pretty open-minded. Stryper took more heat from christian organizations that judged them superficially based on their appearance, thinking they couldn't possibly be playing music for God. Stryper's lyrics are very positive and uplifting. The band is really talented as well as you heard. I recommend you also check out a band called Petra, who were another christian rock band that started around the same time as Stryper. My favorite album from them is "Jekyll and Hyde". It's a pretty heavy record. Check out the title track, Jekyll and Hyde", I think you would really like it.
Petra actually started around 1973 I believe. I compare them to Styx a lot. Kinda proggy too. They didn't start enjoy any remote success until about 1983-1984 with Not Of This World & Beat The System (both VERY solid releases). Got to see them at Magic Mountain and if I'm being honest, the album they were supporting wasn't as interesting (probably because Greg X Volz wasn't singing. I dunno, his vocals definitely were the perfect fit for them. It's kinda like Led Zeppelin without Robert Plant wouldn't be AS good).
While it is true that Pharisees in the church DID cause issues, It is NOT true that metal fans were open minded about them. They were taking hits from both sides.
Given that they were getting their own bibles thrown at them while opening for Anthrax (or closing, I don't know), I wouldn't say the Metal community was that kind to Stryper either.
I never got judged wearing my To Hell With The Devil signed jumper. Except for when I wore it to church with my best mate to watch him play. Everyone was smiling at me like in Black Hole Sun. Still got it. Yer
Great reaction T as always. When I was a teenager in the 80's, Stryper were the "Christian band" so it wasn't considered cool to like them. I'm glad you reacted to this because now I can truly appreciate what a good band they were! Also, please react to more Triumph! "Magic Power is an excellent choice ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-8yqN8GkZBXI.html
They were not glam. They were a hardcore Christian band. They used to play at Calvary Chapel produced shows in OC. They slowly branched out and started playing clubs in Hollywood and North Hollywood.
they were a glam band and My youth pastor who was a Calvary chapel youth pastor and he took our youth group to go see Stryper for "TO Hell with the devil" tour , and later I bought my Soldiers under Command at the store when I was at youth Camp at the Calvary chapel Twin Peaks conference center and the album was a Limited edition white album . Christian Hardcore bands were More like the Crucified which was one of my fav Christian bands in the Late 80s.
@@MH-zg5yw they were and still are a melodic heavy metal band. Hardcore has punk hints while Stryper has been focused on melody and the prominency of the wide vocal range of the vocalist Michael Sweet. They were included as glam metal band but they don't belong to the glam metal genre because glam metal has 70s glam rock influencies, specially Alice Cooper, first KISS albums, Sweet, Slade, T-Rex, etc and has a punky touch that you can not find in Stryper because Stryper has melodies and glam metal has theatrically and shocky sounds.
I have seen Stryper so many times and met them at a record store signing as well. They are truly a light in the dark. Currently guitarist Oz Fox is dealing with brain tumors and is about to undergo surgery. They are no joke live, the vocals are solid and Oz has amazing vocals himself. Believe it or not, Stryper was an MTV staple when they came out, especially when they had the ballad "Honestly" hit, and the songs "Calling On You" and "Free". Stryper are still going today and recently released an album called "Even the Devil Believes" that hit the top of the Christian rock charts. The first time they have ever done that, so that's pretty impressive this far into their career. Also, they are not afraid to wear their influences on their sleeve and credit the bands that gave them the inspiration to start rocking. Seriously, if you want to hear a really catchy song, do "Reach Out" from this album. Let your wife hear it too, it gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!
Stryper brings it! Not many other bands that have the chops to back it up and sing so much about positivity. And they’re unapologetic about who they are and what they stand for, not many bands can say that!
enjoyed your review...Styrper are insanely talented and hard working musicians...they have always been the real deal! Michael has one of the cleanest vocals in all of rock music.
We all had Stryper patches on our jackets right next to Slayer and Anthrax back in the day. They weren't that underrated by 80s metalheads. I new plenty of people that liked them. Very niche area that they carved out for themselves. There were a lot lesser known Christen Rock bands out there. None of them made it to MTV like Stryper did.
my best friends mom did oil paint art and painted their logo on my jeans jacket back in the 80s highschool days for me. I was very proud of that jacket. The whole back was was their logo, and all over the rest of it was my buttons and patches of other metal artists I was a fan of.
Some did...Barren Cross and the Galactic Cowboys for example, but none to the level that Stryper did. Although Stryper's next album went platinum..(double platinum?) they did get mad heat from a lot of the metal scene in the day. and many missed out. Oh, one band (def not metal) that made it big was Six Pence None the Richer.
This is their best album in my opinion I've been a fan since 84 the songs you really need to listen to on this album and feature is the rock that makes makes me roll and surrender their epic Stryper songs!!!!🤘💛🖤🤘💯🎤
they were one of my favorites growing up , part because they were one of the few Christian bands that broke into mainstream music , saw them in concert and they were AWESOME, one of the best concerts ive ever seen , plus they sing about our Creator positively , BIG plus for me ;)
Well, they did end up getting rotation on MTV in 86/87. The "Soldiers Under Command" album went Gold and their "To Hell with the Devil" went Platinum. They were on Enigma records, which was a label known for metal and punk bands. They had their moment in the spotlight. But, with the rise of grunge, metal bands were no longer the thing.
As a guitarist cutting his teeth in the 80s, this riff was next level! Just a very talented band. Stryper could venture into being corny much of the time, but when they got it right, they were epic!
As an old guy from the 1980’s. “Mom! Check it out! Christian heavy metal!!” I let her listen to a couple Songs from the first album. And she said. ‘…..I don’t think so…’. Her style of Christian music included Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin (when she did gospel). The Jordanaires , the Gaither Band. Etc. But Stryper was the one that went big into the MTV rotation. (back when it was about the music). I still crank these guys almost 40 years later!
don't know if they would be considered a christian band, But they we're blokes that we're christians, just as MXPX.. They did After Forever by Sabbath few yrs ago.. Their first 3 albums I've heard are great. Peace
T, if you like this, I would suggest you check out the best Christian band, in my opinion, Tourniquet. The bass player for Stryper actually sat in with them on recordings a few times. And, they were good enough, that Marty Friedman from Megadeth, actually played with them on the cd Where Moth and Rust Destroy, and he played most of the solos. They are a hugely underrated band.
T, I love you. Unlike a lot of folks who make reactions to metal bands, you really like that style of music, so it makes your reactions carry much more weight, as we know you come from a place of understanding and liking this kind of music. As far as the vocalist, Michael Sweet goes, when Boston’s lead vocalist died, he took over for him. He is one of the few singers out there who could have, as he has the range and power to match anything that singer ( Brad Delp). ever did. The guitarist, Oz Fox is also revered by many, although he is also extremely underrated. He is my age, so I love hearing him play.
Legend has it Stryper got their signature sound by essentially Jackson guitars into redlined Mesa Boogie head units-- only later finding out the the read light wasn't supposed to be a good thing. I believe Jimmy P Brown of Deliverance did similar.
Great reaction to a great band! “Yahweh” is another great song (so many) by Stryper. Thoughts to Oz Fox (guitar player) in his recovery from recent brain surgery to remove tumors.
I grew up listening to alot of metal in the 80's including Stryper.......didn't care what fellow metal heads thought if it sounded good I liked it. A underrated Stryper song is "Makes Me Wanna Sing"
Great reaction! About time you got to some Stryper. Other great tracks to check out from them is "To Hell With The Devil", "The Reign", "Writings on the Wall", and a lot of there newer stuff is awesome too like "Yah Weh", "Blood From Above", Dividerand "Divider".
You should react to one of their newer songs next, check out the song Yahweh. Its a Stryper classic. They're one of the few 80s bands that can still bring it just as good now as they did back in the day, and maybe even better.
This is the loudest concert I've ever been to but it was in a hall that only sat 500 people And I was on the front row. I couldn't hear for 2 days.. Ears were ringing... By the way I've been to many metal concerts. Iron maiden ,motley crue This killed my ears
This has only happened to me once, and like you, I have been to many many metal shows ( over 30 I believe ). You'd probably never guess who killed my ears, cause I never would.....but it was Night Ranger at a fair concert ( inside ) 1987, so loud it literally hurt to listen to, and I didn't have a good time, even though they were fantastic.
Wow. Where's Tasha? Anyway. This is off their second LP, The Soldiers Under Command. The most amazing song on this LP is the final track - the incredible rendering of Battle Hymn of The Republic. Insane drumming by mr. Robert Sweet.
Stryper's "Soldier's Under Command" is easily Stryper's best song - but Stryper has a metric ton of incredible songs. Still my favorite song from Stryper all of these years. So fortunate I've got to see them so many times. Stryper deserved more recognition - because, they were caught between two worlds - the pastors and Churches didn't like Stryper, because they were "heavy metal" and people who listened to heavy metal didn't listen to Stryper, because of their lyrics. I've loved Stryper and so glad to see you dropping some love on Stryper! Keep rocking! (And if you've not done it yet - need to surf your channel - came here from the right side!) - but SAVATAGE's "Hall of the Mountain King" (the song... or heck, the entire album) is BEYOND amazing.
If you want to hear the best songs Stryper has to offer, musically speaking, listen to these 5 songs: 1. Rock The Hell Out Of You 2. The Reign 3. Yahweh 4. To Hell With The Devil 5. Blood From Above (previous) These songs are their best musically. They deliver!
My brother (who is a musician, or at least was till COVID) and I were big into CCM back in the 80s and early 90s. There were some huge talents there...Phil Keaggy, Dann Huff, Michael Omartian, Greg Volz, Matthew Ward...
look up HOLY SOLDIER , they were similar but in my opinion rocked harder , also look up BARREN CROSS , lil heavier but one of the best Christian bands out there
The next song you might want to listen to is, I believe, the best modern Christmas carol, Reason for the Season. Other songs to check out by them are Loud and Clear, Reach Out, Makes Me Wanna Sing, To Hell With the Devil, Calling on You, The Reign, The Way, Free, Shining Star (Yes, the Earth, Wind and Fire song. They covered it.) and Lady. Check them out and see what you think.
Hey brother. I believe that if you liked this song from Stryper you will LOVE their version of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" God bless you really good now and forevermore.
This was the first Stryper song I heard. My senior year (class of 86), our drama department put on a variety show and a group of kids decided to do a lip sync performance to this song. As I ran the theater and had been working sound for my drum teachers band, I ran the entire production for this show. I remember my buddy Glenn handing me the album and I thought, "oh jeez a Christian rock band, this is going to suck." I pulled out the all white album, put it on the turn table and I was immediately hooked within 5 seconds. I was a casual Christian, I believed in God, I belonged to the youth ministry Young Life, but I hated Christian rock bands because they all sounded like AC/DC rip offs and their lyrics were lame. But after hearing this song I immediately went out and bought the album and I was hooked.
Listen to The Valley or The Devil Doesn’t Live Here (God Damn Evil album)or Yahweh (Fallen album) by Stryper. It’s some of their newer heavier stuff over the past 3 albums
Actually Metal Heads liked Stryper, they got heat from Christian organizations because they were metal. They toured with WASP at one time and had a pretty big following. Check out Divider it's more recent.
Stryper is considered a Christian band (The first to gain mainstream popularity) although they didn’t label themselves that way. They were quoted as saying, we don’t consider ourselves a Christian band. We just write about what we love, and we love God. And yes they did get flack back then, and were even marginalized because of it. Still they survived.
Yes! Stryper!!! Other songs for possible future videos: To Hell With The Devil, In God We Trust, Yahwah, Big Screen Lies, Two Bodies (One Mind One Soul), Lady
Soldiers Under Command is a great album... we could listen to Mercyful Fate and Stryper and appreciate all of it, even if we didn't agree with everything they wrote about.
they were actually getting alot of love and played with band like Merciful fate and slayer on Metal shop I have a recording from the 80s on a show called Metal shop . they were like one of the first Christian metal bands to make it secularly and make it big! they played with bands I saw them with like Leatherwolf and Rough Cutt. I think was the concert I saw at Universal ampitheatre , cuz I remember asking a Cylons from Battlestar Gallactica for direction and from the original show back in the 80s lol I grew up in the Valley in LA Van Nuys and Reseda area.
Stryper was told when they fist came out) that what they wanted to do (which was to put out heavy metle songs about Jesus that it wouldn't work because nobody would by it) they proved everybody wrong because their experiment worked. They had a few hits. NOTE: All the membes of Stryper were Christians and they attended church every Sunday evenon the road. If they couldn'tmake it to a church then they held their on private services either on their bus, in their hotel room, or backstage, and they always prayed before every show.
Stryper is a great band love what they stand for great vocalist,Michael sweet has the pipes his brother Robert great drummer and Oz fox great guitarist and Tim Gaines great on bass ,great songs do unto others,sorry,take it to the cross great new styper while in God we trust,the way,believe, all for one ,the writings on the wall all great songs that's just a handful they have many more
Yeah if you can get past the preachy lyrics Stryper are a kick ass band in the Traditional Metal sense. Free is a great song imo....Image wise they were a little on the glammy side, but musically more Trad imo.
Try out some Petra, a christian rock band great songs to jam to in the 90s they where real heavy in albums like beyond belief, and unseen power best songs to check out is i am on the rock (is a must) and Beyond belief, Seen and not heard check them out please
I’m so happy you like them they are awesome guys I use to go to same church with them my father through a Stryper concert in 1984 they have new cd coming out it’s awesome 😀
They were certainly one of the first Christian metal bands around. And yes they got heat for their stuff. But they are truly Christian and they are extremely talented.
Their last 4 albums or so have actually been their best to date…. No more hell to pay, Fallen, God damn evil, and Even the devil believes…. And man do they still have it…. Sweets vocals are in pretty good shape, not to mention his songwriting and guitar skills. And the rest of the band as well, definitely worth a listen, their early stuff is great too. A lot of material to listen to….
those then, and now, judging them because they are a "hair" band, or because they wore matching yellow and black costumes, or because they write songs about God, or stop listening to them in the 90s because you jumped on the grunge/alternative/ nu "metal" bandwagons... then you are either ignorant, a follower, or just not musically educated enough to have an "opinion".
Dude, check out Free, Calling on You, In god We Trust, Yahweh, To hell with the Devil, Two Time woman, Writings on the Wall, so much great heavy melodic metal.
Their name is a reference to Isaiah 53:5 “...by His stripes we are healed”, but it’s spelled with a “y” as a tribute to the band styx. That’s probably why their singer, Michael Sweet, sounds so much like Dennis DeYoung from styx.