STRYPER - When We Were Kings Coming out Sept 13, 2024

[gzarruk]

 

[wolfking]

What's with the eye patch? 

[MinistroRaven]

What's with the eye patch? 

I guess you know it already, but in case you don't, Michael suffered a problem on his retina, and had to go through 3 different procedures to correct the problem.

[wolfking]

Oh shit, no I didn't know that.  If I did, I wouldn't have asked and laughed about it.

[TAC]

Oh shit, no I didn't know that.  If I did, I wouldn't have asked and laughed about it.

[wolfking]

Haha.  I did for a brief moment thought there must have been something behind it, but thought maybe it's a pirate themed album.    As someone who has worn glasses/contacts since grade 5, yeah, no laughing matter.  Hopefully he fully recovers.

[MinistroRaven]

Haha.  I did for a brief moment thought there must have been something behind it, but thought maybe it's a pirate themed album.    As someone who has worn glasses/contacts since grade 5, yeah, no laughing matter.  Hopefully he fully recovers.

Apparently he is doing better, the latest procedure they removed some oil from the retina, or at least that's what I understood.

[MinistroRaven]

NEW SINGLE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQThdzzsPF8

[MinistroRaven]

Ashes to Ashes official lyrics video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcmO8zsq3u0

This is my final track of the album, a great closer for a great release.

[MinistroRaven]

I am sooooo into this album, it's pure bliss to my ears, not a single weak track.
Michael delivers on each and every song, the melodies are so diverse, the riffs are nuts.
man! I think I have my AOTY

[Samsara]

Well, this is the beauty of music. I'm just about finished with my first listen to the record and frankly, I'm kind of bored.

Michael Sweet shines vocally and the guitar work is amazing. Musically, it's all there. But the songs are kind of flat and boring. They aren't BAD, per se. But there isn't a lot of excitement in the songs themselves. The spots where Michael shoots off some cool high notes to emphasize are great, the solos are great. But the songs...I'm wondering if they should have taken a little more time. So much going on with that band, with Oz's medical condition and Michael's scary situation with his eye. I know it was for this reason, Michael wanted to push through and get things recorded. But I also feel the material isn't as strong as previous releases, and maybe it would have been better to have demoed most of these, and then looked to write another batch once Michael recovered and Oz was in more solid shape (I don't know where Oz is these days, other than knowing he's had tumors taken out).

I'm not trying to rain on the parade - I'm a big fan of Stryper. But the highlights for me are the vocal embellishments and the solos, not the songs themselves.

[MinistroRaven]

Well, this is the beauty of music. I'm just about finished with my first listen to the record and frankly, I'm kind of bored.

Michael Sweet shines vocally and the guitar work is amazing. Musically, it's all there. But the songs are kind of flat and boring. They aren't BAD, per se. But there isn't a lot of excitement in the songs themselves. The spots where Michael shoots off some cool high notes to emphasize are great, the solos are great. But the songs...I'm wondering if they should have taken a little more time. So much going on with that band, with Oz's medical condition and Michael's scary situation with his eye. I know it was for this reason, Michael wanted to push through and get things recorded. But I also feel the material isn't as strong as previous releases, and maybe it would have been better to have demoed most of these, and then looked to write another batch once Michael recovered and Oz was in more solid shape (I don't know where Oz is these days, other than knowing he's had tumors taken out).

I'm not trying to rain on the parade - I'm a big fan of Stryper. But the highlights for me are the vocal embellishments and the solos, not the songs themselves.

Oz is fully recovered he's been touring with the band and doing great.

I love it even more with each listen, man, my only complain is not getting the Japanese import version to listen to Near in acoustic version.

[Samsara]

Oz is not fully recovered. He's good enough while he continues to fight things. IIRC, they took out the tumors that were the biggest. But the one that is wrapped around what controls his fine motor function were just treated to make them smaller...and thus give him the ability to tour. But Oz is not "recovered."

Glad you are enjoying the album though. Obviously, music is like that. What one person finds amazing, another may not find as good. That's the case here.

[MinistroRaven]

Oz is not fully recovered. He's good enough while he continues to fight things. IIRC, they took out the tumors that were the biggest. But the one that is wrapped around what controls his fine motor function were just treated to make them smaller...and thus give him the ability to tour. But Oz is not "recovered."

Glad you are enjoying the album though. Obviously, music is like that. What one person finds amazing, another may not find as good. That's the case here.

Oh, I thought he was, bummer, thanks for the clarification.

[EPICVIEW]

this was another album I was excited to check out,  Its ok , it has the Stryper signature sound for sure, and I saw them early on, I think it was 1986, and always loved their first releases , I think this is sort of album for me that I will like a few tracks a lot but have a hard time with a whole album of it at a time.  kudos to them for being consistent and still sounding good 30 plus years later

[Samsara]

I've warmed up to the songs a bit on subsequent listens.

[EPICVIEW]

Im diggin this album more and more.... very catchy stuff and well done IMO

[bl5150]

Good to see a band that can survive when all power goes on them (let alone a laptop)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB0OuyosMLw

[EPICVIEW]

Good to see a band that can survive when all power goes on them (let alone a laptop)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB0OuyosMLw

[Samsara]

Good to see a band that can survive when all power goes on them (let alone a laptop)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB0OuyosMLw

The show must go on!

[MinistroRaven]

Good to see a band that can survive when all power goes on them (let alone a laptop)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB0OuyosMLw

[bosk1]

Wow, that's really cool.

[wolfking]

Sounds like the album is a grower but after one listen, I feel the intro song is amazing but then it falls off a cliff from the second song into a sea of mediocrity.  Some wonderful solo sections but I wish they could keep the energy and heaviness of the first track throughout.

[TAC]

I haven't even checked this album out, because what you said perfectly describes every one of their albums.

[wolfking]

I haven't even checked this album out, because what you said perfectly describes every one of their albums.

I did think that when typing but at least some of the others had a few more peaks as it went along.  This was flat from song 2 to the end.

[EPICVIEW]

So..... I bought the CD...... I love it,  its not perfect but its really good IMO and could be my fav Stryper album.

[MinistroRaven]

Michael Sweet shared an update of the upcoming projects (personal and band) a couple of days ago:

1 - I start on the new @iconicofficialmusic album this week. Tommy, Joel, Nathan, Marco and myself are really excited! Coming 2024.

2 - The new band that me & @alessandro.del.vecchio started is called "SoleDriver". The album is complete and we're shooting two music videos at the end of August. The album will be released this year. It's an amazing album that Ale and myself are very proud of🙏 I can't wait for you all to hear it!

3 - The new @stryper acoustic album is coming! It's complete and we're finally ready to release it!

4 - My inspirational album is finally going to be released worldwide. Stay tuned as I'm certain you will love this album! It's something I've wanted to do for a long time and finally it has become reality. Stay tuned👊

5 - I start recording vocals for the 2nd @sun_bomb album in October. It will be released next year as well. I've heard all the music and @traciiguns did a killer job!! Wait till you hear it🙌

6 - The music is complete on another project that was started a few years back with CJ Grimmark oh @narniatheband - once I can schedule writing lyrics and tracking vocals, that album/project will become reality as well. Absolutely stellar👊

7 - Stryper will be recording a new album early next year. I'll begin writing the music for that album in November/December of this year.

I'm thankful to be able to do what I do passionately love. Music!

Thank you all for your constant support and for helping me accomplish it all🙏🙏

[MinistroRaven]

Michael Sweet has shared the following

Hello my friends,

I wanted to give you all an update on my eyes and my thyroid.

First, my eyes are actually doing fairly well right now. My right eye is still attached (after 2 detachments and 4 surgeries) and although there is still some retinal swelling, I'm very thankful that I did not lose my vision in that eye.

They will continue to observe both eyes (my left eye has two tears and lots of floaters) and I do feel that I have been blessed to be able to retain vision at this point🙏

Regarding my thyroid nodules, unfortunately my left side was biopsied and came back 95% suspicious of cancer. Because I'm a singer, my local doctor recommend that I see a specialist since the risk of vocal nerve damage is at a higher risk during a thyroidectomy.

I met with a specialist in Boston who basically wrote the book on this type of procedure and is able to monitor the vocal nerve to lower the risk of nerve damage. It appears to be a slow growing cancer and at this point, he is recommending removing the left side of my thyroid. Although the right side has a nodule as well, it is however a little smaller in size and they will continue to monitor that. Removing only one side of my thyroid will allow for me to most likely not have to take any type of thyroid hormone medication, and I should be able to get back to a regular quality of life relatively quickly.

Praying for him.

[Samsara]

Prayers for Michael. Man, this band is taking hits. Oz, now Michael. Here's hoping 2024 brings a lot of healing.

[ProfessorPeart]

I'll admit, I took that title completely the wrong way. I thought it had something to do with him 95% not believing cancer was real. Makes more sense after reading the post.

[EPICVIEW]

Wishing Michael quick and full healing

[Grappler]

I'll admit, I took that title completely the wrong way. I thought it had something to do with him 95% not believing cancer was real. Makes more sense after reading the post.

I had a similar reaction to the thread title.

[MinistroRaven]

Michael shared a post on IG yesterday:

I'm out of surgery and feeling relatively good. Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers and no matter what KISS May claim, we have the best fans/friends in the world🙌

[TAC]

I'll admit, I took that title completely the wrong way. I thought it had something to do with him 95% not believing cancer was real. Makes more sense after reading the post.

Well, we know what he meant but the thread title still doesn't make any sense. 

[MinistroRaven]

End of Days Lyrics Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAO-o9bOUyg

Tour dates:

https://stryper.com/tour