Stryper – Fallen

The new album by Stryper is doing anything but fallen in the charts since it’s release. This band once thought of as a gimmick or a flash in the pan has continued with music for over 30 years with each release sounding better like an aged wine.

The one of many things I have noticed are the lyrics and the music evolving into a more intellegent unit of songwriting. The Stryper sound is there, great vocals, harmonies, dual guitar solos. This album feels heavier to me than past albums and seems to draw from more influences.

Yahweh has that Classic Stryper sound with a great hook. Pride the song that was the first video is heavy with a great riff along with Fallen and King of King’s the song that was actually played in the early days. The song Big Screen Lies has a different feel to it and almost has a Foo Fighter feel to it at times. The lyrics deal with Hollywood putting Christians in a dim light and are very well written. Heaven has a great chorus and is one of my favorites on the album. The Black Sabbath cover rocks and who knew Geezer could write the gospel so eloquently I really love Michael’s vocals on this one. Love You Like I Do is a catchy guitar ballad that fits really well among the heavier tunes. Michael’s voice overall hits those notes we are all expect but he is a little raspier which fits well with the heavier sound and reminds me of some of the vocals on Against the Law album.

This album is one of the best albums they have done over the years and it looks like there is no slowing down. Perhaps the next album with be called Upwards because they seem to be getting more popular with age for such a so called "gimmick".
-Marty Phillips