Quote from: MinistroRaven on June 26, 2024, 08:56:03 AM
End of Days Lyrics Video

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

Tour dates:

https://stryper.com/tour

I like it ,   its nothing really new from them but more of the same, but enjoyable

New single:



This one sounds A LOT like a MS solo tune. 

Super weird, but the band/label released a second single today

I liked the first single they released, but these two aren't clicking with me yet. Still looking forward to the album

Was listening to their covers album from the aughts yesterday and I really love that. The Covering it's called.

Quote from: Dream Team on July 19, 2024, 02:11:08 PMWas listening to their covers album from the aughts yesterday and I really love that. The Covering it's called.

That's a GREAT selection of songs. Best Stryper album!

Quote from: MinistroRaven on September 18, 2022, 09:43:17 AMI 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.

Awful.

The album is available for review

Gabriel, thanks for your review of the album:

https://lotsofmuzik.com/stryper-when-we-were-kings-album-review-by-gabriel-zarruk/

 

I've been listening to the album at least once a day for the past week. It's a good album, but to me, it sounds more like a Michael Sweet solo project than a STRYPER album. I mentioned this on YouTube after the third single, and Michael replied telling me to stop! I asked him why I couldn't share my opinion if that's how I felt about it.

I also posted the same thought on the Official forum and got a lot of backlash from other fans, eventually getting blocked from the forum and Michael's FB page as well. The reason I've been listening to the album every day is to see if my initial thoughts were off. I'm not upset with Michael or the admins who blocked me; honestly, I'm just surprised.

But the more I listen, the stronger I feel that it has the vibe of a Michael Sweet solo album. The only two songs that really feel like STRYPER to me are "Trinity" and "Imperfect World."

I've always been a Stryper fan, but I can't really say it's one of my favorite bands. The new album is really solid but had a hard time reviewing it because it sounds too samey all around to find some stand out things to talk about without repeating myself too much. Like I wrote there, some experimentation in the songwriting department would be a nice change for the band, instead of just writing a bunch of songs and calling it an album. They're still very enjoyable, I just can't take a lot of their stuff in a row before getting tired of it.

I haven't listened to any of it yet. But the talk about it being "samey" or sounds like more of a Michael Sweet solo album - I'm not surprised. If anyone pays attention to how Michael has positioned himself over the last decade or so, he's clearly pushed that he's the songwriter of the band and it's his vision. It was probably always that way, but he's been marketing it that way.

Also, sometimes when a band has developed the kind of audience that Stryper has, who expect a certain thing, the songwriter just caters to it, because they are "building the brand" or "staying true to the brand" to keep things rolling. Experimentation, at this stage of Stryper's career, is a dangerous proposition. With bands such as Stryper (and many, many others from the 80s), new albums are created not for the sake of having something new to say, as much as it is a marketing ploy to entice promoters to book them. Because there's no money in new music - the money is in touring.

In short, Stryper is doing what any business in their position does. Painting by numbers, with very little experimentation (to be fair, they do usually try to do a couple of different songs each album), so that the product matches the brand, and then that's the hook to get promoters to book them for tours, where the band makes their money.

It's just the world and times we live in now, at least in terms of established heavy rock bands extending back to the 80s. In some ways, it makes you really appreciate those bands of that era that experimented heavily with their sound from record to record.

I'm sure the new Stryper will be a solid addition to their catalog. It won't be anything groundbreaking, but I am sure, like all the records from them over the past decade, there will be a handful of really good tunes.

Quote from: Samsara on September 06, 2024, 10:16:40 AMI haven't listened to any of it yet. But the talk about it being "samey" or sounds like more of a Michael Sweet solo album - I'm not surprised. If anyone pays attention to how Michael has positioned himself over the last decade or so, he's clearly pushed that he's the songwriter of the band and it's his vision. It was probably always that way, but he's been marketing it that way.

Also, sometimes when a band has developed the kind of audience that Stryper has, who expect a certain thing, the songwriter just caters to it, because they are "building the brand" or "staying true to the brand" to keep things rolling. Experimentation, at this stage of Stryper's career, is a dangerous proposition. With bands such as Stryper (and many, many others from the 80s), new albums are created not for the sake of having something new to say, as much as it is a marketing ploy to entice promoters to book them. Because there's no money in new music - the money is in touring.

In short, Stryper is doing what any business in their position does. Painting by numbers, with very little experimentation (to be fair, they do usually try to do a couple of different songs each album), so that the product matches the brand, and then that's the hook to get promoters to book them for tours, where the band makes their money.

Yes, I think it was in his biography where Michael Sweet mentioned regretting that he gave away too much control of the band in the early days. He believes that if he had had the control then that he has now, they would be more successful and in a better economic position. Maybe that's why he takes charge of everything now, from music to vocals, and then has the guys come in to record their parts.

As for experimenting, I don't see Stryper doing much of it at this stage. When they tried with "Take It to the Cross," it wasn't well-received and got some backlash from a significant part of the fanbase.

Quote from: MinistroRaven on September 06, 2024, 10:49:14 AMAs for experimenting, I don't see Stryper doing much of it at this stage.

That's what I said. lol.

QuoteWhen they tried with "Take It to the Cross," it wasn't well-received and got some backlash from a significant part of the fanbase.[/color]

Exactly my point. Meaning, Sweet, who writes the songs, isn't going to stray from the formula much. Wash, rinse, repeat, because it is a business. Art comes secondary to a band Stryper's age with retirement goals in mind. And that's not a knock on them whatsoever. It's just reality.

So while listening to music on Spotify at work today, after a couple albums finished, Spotify played new Stryper. I thought, jeez, it doesn't sound bad. Then I realized it's a new album, so I thought I'd give it a spin. Man, I was really impressed. I just finished an at home headphone listen, and this album is excellent.

I find that most Stryper albums never..quite...get....there.
But man, chalk this up as another surprisingly excellent release for 2024.

Quote from: TAC on September 19, 2024, 03:39:19 PMSo while listening to music on Spotify at work today, after a couple albums finished, Spotify played new Stryper. I thought, jeez, it doesn't sound bad. Then I realized it's a new album, so I thought I'd give it a spin. Man, I was really impressed. I just finished an at home headphone listen, and this album is excellent.

I find that most Stryper albums never..quite...get....there.
But man, chalk this up as another surprisingly excellent release for 2024.

I haven't liked the last couple at all truthfully, so didn't even bother.  I'll give it a listen today.

Quote from: wolfking on September 19, 2024, 04:43:49 PMI haven't liked the last couple at all truthfully, so didn't even bother.  I'll give it a listen today.

I typically have struggled to make it through new Stryper albums, but I thought this was very solid throughout. It starts and ends very strongly.

I love Stryper but over the last bunch of albums I can probably compile 1 good album with them.

Quote from: Glasser on Today at 10:26:33 AMI love Stryper but over the last bunch of albums I can probably compile 1 good album with them.

Agree.  I didn't think much of the new one either unfortunately.