Stryper – Fallen
Release Date: October 16, 2015
Label: Frontiers
So just how good can a new Stryper record be in 2015? Well, I will answer that question by saying really fucking good and that’s no lie. Fallen pretty much picks up where 2013’s No More Hell To Pay left off by delivering yet again another flawless collection of songs. The opening track “Yahweh” opens things up and right out of the gates I just let out a big ol’ “Fuck yeah!” Just when I thought things couldn’t get any better, “Pride” kicks in and it just blew my mind. Michael Sweet delivers one of his most intense and heavy vocal performances to date on this song and at this point we’re only 3 songs in.
Lyrically, Fallen isn’t nearly as ambiguous No More Hell to Pay was yet it still manages to not be preachy. It also seems to be the heaviest one that Stryper has done to date with songs like “Big Screen Lies”, “Let There Be Light”, and the spectacular closing song “King of Kings.” “All Over Again” is a fantastic ballad that just may be one of my favorite ones to date in general. I loved hearing so many different elements in there from Southern Rock to even a Beatles/Queen influence. And while we’re at it, can we just talk about their stellar cover of the Black Sabbath classic “After Forever”? How ironic is it that this is pretty much a Christian metal song and they didn’t even have to change a single word?
Stryper once again has managed to put out one of my favorite metal albums. I’ve always said that I love a band that has a message and has the fire and passion to deliver that message in their lyrics and music. Just because I don’t necessarily adhere or agree with said message, it doesn’t make me any less a fan. Everything about this album is just fucking on par. Amazing vocals, heavy, driven, and at times groove oriented metal music that you just can’t help but nod your head to and smile while listening to. It’s classic metal made in modern times by a band that knows how to do it well. Pardon me while I even go as far to say that this record is so fucking killer and heavy that even Jesus himself would throw horns at this one. Fallen is hands down one of the best albums I’ve heard in 2015.
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