Ranking the Albums: Stryper

[@joshuaekstedt1810]

Love Stryper since I first heard THWTD when it first came out. Back in the day Christian metal had some top notch bands like Tourniquet, Believer, Deliverance, Vengeance Rising, Bloodgood, Mortification and many other that dont get the recognition they deserve. Great show!

[@godetonter4764]

I wouldn't call Vengeance Rising good

[@MrZenkman]

Add to your list Bride, Barren Cross, Angelica, Shout, and the newer ones like Theocracy and August Burns Red. I’m sure the list can go on…

[@petetobey3933]

I have been a Stryper fan since 1984, being a 15-year-old neophyte metalhead at the time The Yellow and Black Attack landed in my sonic wheelhouse. Soldiers Under Command and To Hell With the Devil are still among my favorites. I saw them at the Palace in Albany, NY in 1986, they opened the show with “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and went into “To Hell With the Devil” - what an opener! I’m also a Christian, so I have always appreciated their lyrical content, especially in my preferred genre of heavy rock/power metal. People who weren’t involved in church at the time have no idea the controversy Stryper stirred in Christian circles - my folks were a little more open about my music than others at church who were honestly horrified by the idea of Christian metal. Stryper did lose me with the overproduction on IGWT, but about 8 or 10 years ago, I discovered their later albums, and I absolutely love their last five albums. It reminds me of how Saxon has gotten heavier and beefier sounding over their last several albums than their original run. These guys have riffs for days, Michael Sweet’s voice is still incredible and the guitar work is brilliant. I’ll take a blind stab at an album ranking from my ears: 1. Fallen 2. No More Hell to Pay 3. To Hell With the Devil 4. Soldiers Under Command 5. The Final Battle 6. Even the Devil Believes 7. The Yellow and Black Attack 8. Against the Law 9. God Damn Evil 10. Murder By Pride 11. Reborn 12. In God We Trust I really like them all because there’s a lot to like on all of Stryper’s albums. It’s like choosing my favorite Iron Maiden albums - they all have their merits, and even the ones I like less have something to offer. Thanks, Pete and Rich, for doing this ranking, as always a fantastic listen.

[@t702942]

Great band! I have everything by Stryper - CDs, DVDs, books, solo albums, side projects and so on. Amazing live band as well, and really nice guys that I had the pleasure to hang with back in 2012.

[@timothymorrismusic]

I've spent the last few months with Stryper, and this is where I stand. 12. Reborn 11. The Yellow & Black Attack! 10. God Damn Evil 9. No More Hell to Pay 8. In God We Trust 7. Murder by Pride 6. The Final Battle 5. To Hell with the Devil 4. Soldiers Under Command 3. Against the Law 2. Fallen 1. Even the Devil Believes

[@SteveAuger2021]

Rich, great to see you back on an SOT video and talking about one of your favorite bands. Stryper has always been one of my favorites when I first heard the rock that makes you roll. People need to listen to the last five albums if not, they’re missing out. Better yet, just listen to the whole catalog.

[@4themusicman]

Could not agree more. As a believer, I listen to most secular bands DESPITE the lyrical content. Great music is great music. If anyone never gave the Stryper boys a chance, you might have missed out on some of the best power metal ever recorded, sappy ballads notwithstanding. But I happen to like most of them with Lady probably being my favorite. And yes, great to see Rich again.

[@johndelaurentis9294]

Glad to see this ranking! Great band! The reason why Reborn sounds so different than the typical Stryper sound is that it was written and conceived first as a Michael Sweet solo album. Stryper decided to rerecord it and release it as a Stryper album. Michael himself has recently rereleased this album as a solo record called Reborn Again and he added some guitar solos and things to it. I still like the album, but it definitely doesn't sound like Stryper. #1 favorite Stryper album is Soldiers Under Command, with the title track being my favorite Stryper song. Rich mentioned remasters of the original Stryper albums. Japan did remasters in 2020.

[@johnkatsoudas4767]

I agree with you. Soldiers Under Command is a phenomenal song. I didn't know about the Japanese 2020 remasters until a few months ago. I got all of them, and just ordered Against The Law a few days ago. Excellent band for sure.

[@Trifyllonews]

FINALLY! MOST UNDERRATED BAND EVER. GREETING FROM GREECE!

[@neugey]

Lifelong fan! Thanks Rich and Pete. Here's mine: 12) Murder by Pride 11) Reborn 10) In God We Trust 9) No More Hell to Pay 8) Fallen 7) Against the Law 6) God Damn Evil 5) Yellow and Black Attack 4) Even the Devil Believes 3) The Final Battle 2) Soldiers Under Command 1) To Hell With the Devil

[@matthewdavis418]

you got a good list, but no more hell to pay is shockingly low.

[@torturetuesday5191]

That's a pretty accurate list.

[@AllanM-i1s]

Many thanks gents for such a respectful review. As a Christian myself, Stryper are such a boon in this genre. While I will always have a special place for the first 4 80’s albums (which I have on LP), I agree with Pete, the last 5 albums are on a completely different level - absolutely brilliant!. A.

[@DokkenSabbath]

1. To Hell with the Devil 2. Soldiers Under Command 3. Fallen 4. Even the Devil Believes 5. No More Hell to Pay 6. The Yellow and Black Attack! 7. Against the Law 8. Murder by Pride 9. The Final Battle 10. In God We Trust 11. God Damn Evil 12. Reborn So stoked that you guys are doing this! One of my top 10 bands. Pretty hard to rank.

[@kevinsmith7-7-7]

switch 2 6 10 5 and yeah🤘777🤘

[@randychambers1704]

I`d swap 1-2 and 3-5. Otherwise dig your list.

[@godetonter4764]

I'd swap SOC with THWTD as 1 and 2 ,and that would be my list.

[@matthewdavis418]

The Final Battle is great bro

[@skolsaw1080]

So glad you finally did STRYPER!! 🤘🤘 One of my favorite bands. Got tickets to see them later next year and can’t wait. The first time I saw them was at Knott’s Berry Farm in the mid 80’s. They were doing like 30 minute multiple shows and I saw them 3 times that night. AWESOME! My ranking is: 12) Reborn 11) Against the Law (Good album, but not Stryper. More like them doing Van Halen or Extreme). 10) Murder by Pride 9) In God We Trust (The Writing on the Wall is one of my favorite Stryper songs. Few other real strong ones but unfortunately rest of the album falls victim to lack luster production that is flat and thin sounding). 8) Yellow and Black Attack 7) No More Hell to Pay 6) To Hell with the Devil 5) God Damn Evil 4) The Final Battle (Great sound that they captured on this album. A lot of it has this rawness of Yellow and Black Attack especially in the guitars and a harder The Fallen “edge” to it). 3) Soldiers Under Command (For nostalgia purposes only. Came out when I was just a young lad and absolutely rocked my world. Battle Hymn of the Republic. Absolutely spine tingling. What a way to close out an album🤘). 2) The Fallen (Favorite Stryper song, Let There Be Light ☀️) 1) Even the Devil Believes (Maybe my favorite album cover of all time. Perfect mix of 80’s sounding Stryper and modern day).

[@camrock3534]

Matt Bachand was from Shadows Fall, Pete. He’s the other guitarist and backing vocalist. Great ranking!

[@danielwolski873]

I also prefer Stryper's more recent catalogue. I think Michael Sweet's voice sounds better now than in the early days, his voice got deeper and the music now is much heavier.

[@madkinski]

This is one of the most bonkers ranking episodes this channel has ever produced

[@jasonellsworth1972]

Stryper was the 3rd concert I ever saw in my life. Stryper with White Lion opening in 1988 in Sioux Falls, SD. Seen Stryper last year at Rockfest in Wisconsin and they are so good live. Their guitar tone is to die for. A thrash tone in a non-thrash band. Although though have moments of thrash I suppose in their music.

[@jimmyandersson59]

Interesting and great ranking guys. Mine ranking goes: 1. To hell with the devil. 2. Soldiers under Command. 3. The Final Battle. 4. Fallen. 5. Even the Devil Believes. 6. Against the Law. 7. In God We Trust. 8. The Yellow and Black Attack. 9. God damn Evil. 10. No more hell to Pay. 11. Murder by Pride. 12. Reborn. Awesome show guys. Totally agree that the latter records rocks hard. :)

[@zackamanda9799]

Love your channel Pete , I'm very surprised you haven't hit 100,000 subscribers yet. I've been a fan of Stryper ever since I heard there cover of "Winter Wonderland" back in 1985. I 100% agree with you that there last 5 albums are really , really good. P.S. "Against The Law" is the only Stryper album to not have the signature Stryper logo on it.

[@johnkatsoudas4767]

My oldest sister got me the E.P. Reason For The Season on cassette back in 1987 for my 9th birthday, and I have been a huge fan ever since. They are still releasing amazing albums. My favorites are still Soldiers Under Command and In God We Trust.

[@rafaelcruz4176]

One of my favorite bands ever, I grew up in the classic 80s era albums, that's why they are my favorites My ranking 12. Reborn (2005) 11. Murder By Pride (2009) 10. Fallen (2015) 9. The Final Battle (2022) 8. God Damn Evil (2018) 7. Even The Devil Believes (2020) 6. No More Hell To Pay (2013) 5. Against The Law (1990) 4. The Yellow And Black Attack (1984) 3. In God We Trust (1988) 2. Soldiers Under Command (1985) 1. To Hell With The Devil (1986)

[@stevenbruno2752]

Cool, nice to see a video on Stryper. Wow, I'd have to review them all to do a ranking, but To Hell with the Devil is no doubt No. 1 for me. Yellow and Black Attack and Soldiers Under Command would also be up there. Always liked Against the Law as well. All of the newer stuff is great as well, some better than others. Thanks!

[@AtariGimp]

During the 80s do you recall the cassingle of Winter Wonderland. The Stryper song "Near" is what we hoped Dennis DeYoung would have done in his solo career.

[@toneman8478]

Agree with Pete.. Fallen is an awesome album!!

[@tylermorrison7051]

I was briefly introduced to Stryper in the mid-80's, but became properly exposed to them in early 1987. I saw them with opening act, White Lion, in 1988. I saw them three more times in the 2000's, and they never failed to put on a top-notch show. Watch the footage of them on the recent Kiss Kruise. They're still fantastic. Back in the day, some people hated/disliked the band because of their Christian lyrics and beliefs. Musically and vocally, Stryper was (IMO) as good as, or better, than their contemporaries. Those first three albums, in particular, are 100 percent solid. As for the ballads...name the very few hair bands who didn't do them. Anyway, Stryper had it then, and they still have it now.

[@charlesdoyle7600]

I saw Stryper live at Benson HS 1985/1986 with Bloodgood opening band - another great Christian band. Soldiers is always my #1 as it was my first Stryper LP I liked.

[@meloralovesdarkness2495]

Stryper in 1984 was one of the Big 3 Christian bands that started in 1984. The other 2 being "Saint" & "Messiah Prophet". Leviticus started in 1982, "Petra" in 1974, & Resurection band "REZ Band" in 1972! 1986 was Huge for this brand of Metal with "Stryper" getting quite a following, and the bands "BloodGood" "Barron Cross" and "Bride" Getting their launch in this year! 2 things about BloodGood is Oz Fox was part of BloodGood until Michael BloodGood, (an under rated Bassist) died earlier this year. Stryper is the most succesful act of this genera followed only by Petra and Bride, I do beleive. I am Not counting the newer or more extreem bands like Flyleaf, Mortification and Torniquet Etc.. BTW Any KANSAS fans out there Should check out the second Era of PETRA! They Always reminded me of Kansas. These 2 bands were great friends and helped each other out on the road quite a bit so I have read, as Livgren I do beleive became a Christian in the era of the early 80's.

[@skolsaw1080]

Awesome! Check out Kerry Livgren Seeds of change. Great to hear somebody else talking about all this great Christian Metal and hard rock. I get what your saying and couldn’t agree more. I love the Rez Band Glenn and Wendy Kaiser are unbelievably, and incredibly under looked and underrated. Rez Heads rule! 👍

[@christianhaynes1954]

Great show guys ! Saw stryper live in 87 ' they were great 👍

[@robertmorris8371]

Nice to see Rich back on the show always love his knowledge of power and trad metal bands the latter era stryper albums definitely sound like something I could get into will have to keep an eye out for used copies turning up at my local record shop

[@MetalAsylumNJ]

Thank you

[@timhyde5677]

I was a fan back in the 80s but their new stuff is really good

[@deathmetal661]

hi guys i am a big fan of the 1st 4 albums really brings back memories of my childhood great video big fan from new zealand

[@mikebrant4615]

I saw them two times during their covering tour. Definitely a good show. Great production for those shows.

[@pvdguitars2951]

Thanks for doing a review of my favorite band! Good to see Rich on the show. I’m aligned with Pete’s ranking, you can’t go wrong with the latest 5, just a perfect run. For the fans of Heavy guitar laden Stryper, check out Michael’s solo album Ten : absolutely furious heavy fast bone crushing! Also One sided war of 2016 is very solid! For me, the lyrics and themes of the Stryper songs are so much better than the usual childish metal themes.

[@skolsaw1080]

Amen 🙏 🤘 Couldn’t have said it better!

[@MetalAsylumNJ]

Thank you. Nice to be back on

[@KyleAlvine]

Thanks for this episode. I like Stryper. If this goes over as well as you hope, maybe it would be a good idea to rank the Mortification (AUS) albums. They sing about Hell more and I don't think they play any ballads.

[@nicholasscott7860]

Pete In God We Trust last place wow, oh well we all hear things differently and that was when I jumped off with Stryper. Based on this I will check out there recent offerings. Thanks for doing this.

[@Hvymetal4life1]

I never laughed so hard in a while than I did observing Rich’s reaction to Pete’s placement of To Hell with the DevilLol 😂😂😂😂

[@mickeylilly6057]

Peter obviously has bad taste in Stryper albums.

[@samhouston1979]

i just bought the new cd & spun it in my car on the way back from Thanksgiving…pretty good & i bought it after hearing Pete’s recent review

[@4themusicman]

Rich and Pete, just to let you guys know, Reborn was supposed to be a Michael Sweet solo album. The band had "reunited" to do some Stryper Expos for the fans. After a couple of these, the guys started to think about getting the band back together. Things really intensified in late 2004-early 2005. Michael had already recorded the demos for his upcoming album. The band agreed the quickest way to get a new Stryper album released was to just record Michael's album as a band and slap Stryper on the cover. So that's what they did. Most fans were very disappointed in the "new" sound and let the band know through various message boards and online fan polls but the true evidence was found in lack of album sales. So the band regrouped and recorded a better, more promising album Murder By Pride in 2009. It was decent and gave a nod to their old sound but the fans still weren't completely sold. So Michael and the boys finally went full-on back to their signature sound with the release of No More Hell To Pay in 2013. Rich is correct about Second Coming. It was simply a rights issue to gain control of their music once again and ironically, the band never intended to release those recordings. But because of fan and label pressure, they reluctantly agreed to do so. One other note, 7: The Best of Stryper was originally released in 2003. Rich stated 2013 so he either misread the copyright year or has a later reissue of that release.

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

I was just about to post the same thing. Thank you

[@axis2320]

I will revisit this video in a couple of weeks after I get my Stryper albums in the mail, I will agree with Pete. The albums from their rebirth of the 2010's are more satisfying to listen to than their 80's albums.

[@axis2320]

Discarding the covers album & ''Second Coming'', here is my Stryper list: 1. Fallen 2. No More Hell To Pay 3. God Damn Evil 4. To Hell With The Devil 5. Murder By Pride 6. Even The Devil Believes 7. Against The Law 8. The Final Battle 9. Reborn 10. Soldiers Under Command 11. The Yellow & Black Attack! 12. In God We Trust

[@michaelbritt3137]

Guys this is the fourth time I’ve watched this video! The first time was a couple of months ago and it inspired me to go out and get the last 5 modern Stryper albums. For that, thank you! lol. They rock! I had to go back and watch video again to see where I was on my favorites compared to you guys. Thank you for covering Stryper. They are my new favorite rock band. Great video!

[@virtualsignals1215]

Reborn was supposed to be a Michael Sweet solo album but he changed it to a band release after the successful Stryper Expo. So, I guess the writing on that album reflects his solo side more than subsequent releases.

[@bryanandrews8588]

Love Stryper ranking. Hey Pete the latest 5 albums are killer. Thanks enjoyed

[@davetyson1550]

Not a big stryper fan only liking few songs here and there over there career except for the fallen album which is a masterpiece and I agree by far their best album.

[@SteveAuger2021]

At my wedding reception, I sang to my wife, My love, I’ll always show I like the slower versions of that song I don’t like how they rocked it up on other releases.

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Looking Forward to check in this whole episode out I used to be in the striper back in high school I still have two DD's the yellow and black and to hell with the devil.

[@kevinsmith7-7-7]

The Intro was Funny and I have to add that I was at the Paramount Theater in Seattle in 1986 where they shot the FREE video off THWTD and I am somewhere in the Balcony that is my Chris Alo moment

[@donnybrookdetritus]

Great to see Rich back on the channel

[@artiesilva1023]

Great review Pete & Rich. I agree some of their newer albums are really outstanding. Murder By Pride very underated album The new one Final Battle & Fallen are 2 of the best all time Stryper albums!!! Soilders Under Command & THWTD classics

[@daveycretin664]

“Shining Star” is an Earth, Wind & Fire song. Welcome back to SoT, Rich!

[@daveycretin664]

Of course, after l type it, Pete looks it up. Doh 😣 on me! 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@j.woodbury412]

@@daveycretin664 I know the feeling...lol

[@torturetuesday5191]

My favorite albums ranked best to least. To hell with the devil. Soldiers under command. In god we trust. Yellow and black attack. Against the law. Even the devil believes. God damn evil. The final battle. Fallen. No more hell to pay. Murdered by pride. Reborn.

[@Brother_MarkG]

Maybe you can do album surveys of other major league Christian rock/metal bands like Rez Band, Bride, Petra, Tourniquet, and Deliverance

[@l.salisbury1253]

Check out the pre-Stryper Christian band from Iowa BARNABAS! Active from the late 70s through mid 80s Barnabas were SO GOOD even people who don't like Christian Rock have come back for more! Their best LP is probably their 4th "Feel the Fire" (1984) with their most incredible moment "the Dream"/"Breathless Wonderment" but I'd recommend starting with their 3rd "Approaching Light Speed" (83), featuring "Crucifixion" (which sets the 22nd Psalm to music) and the Sci-Fi nightmare "waiting for the Aliens"...!

[@Icedsymphony7]

Awesome episode Pete i have the opinion that frontiers label era albums are more appealing to me but the 80s stuff is super solid

[@charlesdoyle7600]

Thanks for covering their Later Albums which I think are amazing!

[@diesel3333]

In GOD we trust!! Amen!! 🙏✝️🙏

[@RanterInShades]

12. Reborn 11. Murder By Pride 10. The Final Battle 9. Even the Devil Believes 8. The Yellow & Black Attack 7. God Damn Evil 6. No More Hell to Pay 5. In God We Trust 4. Fallen 3. Soldiers Under Command 2. To Hell With the Devil 1. Against the Law

[@Jamesharris-lo9nn]

Really enjoyed this one guys! I'm agreement with Pete as i favor the last five records over their earlier material. I own and enjoy all of their records but the ballads from the early albums bring down their ratings with me. The last five are just awesome! They keep getting better!!! I agree with Rich on their covers record. Every song on it absolutely kills it! The records Michael did with George Lynch are excellent and the Sunbomb record he did with Traci Gunns is great too. Also, Michaels last two solo records are killer also! Long Live Stryper!

[@mikeryanmikeryan4740]

Welcome back Rich. I never got into Stryper back in the day. This sounds like Europe where some of the latter albums were really good and possibly heavier than the earlier albums.

[@kevinturchin]

I’m with you Pete, I love the recent albums and I don’t think the older albums hold up as well. I love Michael Sweet’s more mature voice. So I listen to Second Coming for the older stuff and then the last 5 albums. They have to be considered one of the bands producing their best work late in their career. 1. Fallen 2. The Final Battle 3. Even the Devil Believes 4. No More Hell to Pay 5. God Damn Evil 6. To Hell With the Devil 7. Against the Law 8. Soldiers Under Command 9. Murder By Pride 10. Reborn 11. In God we Trust

[@ronstewart6362]

Being a Huge Stryper fan since the beginning Reborn was a micheal Sweet solo album converted to a Stryper album. I personally Love it and at the time my 15 year old son fell in Love with Stryper because of this album. Im probably on the other side of you two. I love the old stuff because of melody and solid playing. The new stuff is great but it's really heavy. They're still Great players and i respect the hell out if them as players. Great band now and then, i just prefer the then more 👍🎸

[@davidjackson5818]

1. Soldiers under command 2. To hell with the devil 3. God damn evil 4. Even the devil believes 5. The final battle 6. Yellow and black attack 7. No more hell to pay 8. Fallen 9. Reborn 10. In God we trust 11. Murder by pride 12. Against the law

[@EDGECRUSHER555]

12. Reborn 11. IGWT 10. Murder By Pride 9. No More Hell To Pay 8. To Hell With The Devil 7. The Final Battle 6. The Yellow and Black Attack 5. Even The Devil Believes 4. God Damn Devil 3. Soliders Under Command 2. Fallen 1. Against The Law

[@diannecarpenter7718]

Thank you, Pete and Rich for your ranking of, Stryper !! Glad to see, Rich back !! All the damn time. I really enjoyed watching and listening to your picks !! I saw, Stryper, in concert and they rock !! My Picks: 1. Soldiers Under Command 2. Fallen 3. The Final Battle 4. To Hell With the Devil 5. Even the Devil Believes 6. The Yellow and Black Attack !! 7. No More He’ll to Pay 8. In God We Trust 9. God Damn Evil 10. Murder By Pride 11. Against the Law 12.Reborn Honorable Mentions: * The Covering * Live at the Whisky * Second Coming * 7 🎤🎸🎵🎹🥁 Life is better with music.

[@amysson5151]

You said darker themes don’t feel like you’re being pummeled over the head with it. That’s because it’s human nature to be evil so you accept it easier. That’s a dangerous thing. You touched on a universal basic principle of why mankind needs Jesus Christ, the Bible, and therefore positivity to pummel us over the head. God bless and Metal on!

[@markboller4313]

Great video ❤❤❤

[@OkieAllDay]

I wish there were more Christian metal bands!

[@1978soloalbums]

Great show as always

[@amanbatra1501]

Pete Pardo's revelation is a nuclear bomb. He has To Hell with the Devil 3rd last at number nine!!! Truly gives meaning to the phrase - To each his own

[@inmyhouse11]

Good to see Rich back ranking the great old school hair metal bands.

[@Abinitio777]

Pete/Rich, Great show fellas. For some heavier/and even more thrashy classic Christian metal, check out Believer, Living Sacrifice, Vengeance (Vengeance Rising), Mortification, Deliverance, Sacred Warrior.

[@awesomebeard1973]

The first 2 tracks are the best on No more Hell to Pay.

[@lightunseen896]

Finally got to see Stryper live twice in 2019 (2 different tours!). It was an unfulfilled dream of my middle-school self haha. Newer albums are great! Other good Christian metal bands: Tourniquet, The Crucified, early & late Mortification, Extol, Crimson Thorn, & Deliverance. 12. IGWT 11. Reborn 10. No More Hell to Pay 09. Murder By Pride 08. Yellow & Black Attack 07. The Final Battle 06. Soldiers Under Command 05. Even the Devil Believes 04. God Damn Evil 03. Against the Law 02. THWTD 01. Fallen

[@MetalAsylumNJ]

Thanks for watching everyone and the welcomes back.

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Matt Bachand is the rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist for Shadows Fall.

[@ericwalker6068]

Really dig later Stryper. Does kill me how every Stryper discussion has an asterisks because of the Christian themes and how it comes across as preachy. If you align with their faith (which,…I try to do [GASP!]), then personally I don’t think it comes off as preachy. Yet, bands on the opposite end of “the faith” gets a free pass in these types of discussions. Now, probably going to be pummeled with comments because social media is all accepting, ya know.

[@johann_casparbaumgartner6972]

THANK YOU so much for saying that!!! Exactly like you saying, nobody talks about the 'satanism worshipping' on every third song on all those Slayer, Annihilator, Testament, Onslaught, Mystic Prophecy, Crystal Viper, Battle Beast... and thousand other albums with all this dark vibe and energy!!! ( And I am not even talking aboth those black metal idiots in Norway, that burned churches like that murderer from a band called Burzum)

[@ericwalker6068]

I mean, let's call a spade a spade. If I were to look up any Mercyful Fate reviews on Don't Break The Oath, do you really think there would be any double takes on the song "The Oath"? Possibly a glancing comment on how dark it is, but certainly no side notes or 'buyer beware' warnings on just how anti-Christian the song is. I just don't know why it has to be mentioned in every Stryper review video. If people want to listen to Gorgoroth or King Diamond, then more power to them. Just not my thing.

[@nickhouse9591]

Let's be honest, though--Stryper's lyrics do tend to be very on-the-nose , preachy,. and obvious. As a Christian, I don't have a problem with the subject matter, but the way that they write about it is not particularly interesting. "Satanic" music doesn't tend to have the same issues as much because most people making it aren't satanists. That's not to say that there isn't stuff that's cringey because of how over -the-top "evil" it is, but that often that stuff is more an expression of fantasy or personal beliefs and not necessarily trying to push some kind of agenda.

[@ericwalker6068]

@@nickhouse9591,…with all due respect, that’s utterly ridiculous. I still stand by my comment.

[@seekerp67]

Good to see you, Rich! 🤘🏻😜🤘🏻

[@dantewhiterose1958]

Good job Rich and Pete! Enjoyed it!

[@dancalmpeaceful3903]

Saw them around 1986-87, killer show.....Got tix to see them in May with KIX opening. Mainly, I am going to this show to see KIX as I have been a fan of this band since high school when that first album hit and I"ve NEVER seen them.

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

I would argue that out of these four bands Stryper, Accept, Iron Maiden & Judas Priest that Stryper and Accept have put out the best content as of lately.

[@ericwalker6068]

I dig the recent Accept albums. I’d put Saxon in there, too.

[@chrispulsipher91]

If I remember correctly reborn was supposed to be a Michael Sweet solo album

[@Hvymetal4life1]

Shining Star was released by Earth Wind & Fire

[@lening9]

1) Soldiers Under Command 2) To Hell With the Devil 3) Against the Law 4) Fallen 5) The Final Battle 6) God Damn Evil 7) Even the Devil Believes 8) No More Hell to Pay 9) In God We Trust 10) Murder By Pride 11) Reborn

[@AtariGimp]

I think Reborn is a fair album, a 6/10 which is the lowest score I will give a Stryper album, I got to know that album because the CD was stuck in my car player for a couple months, would never eject. Every night after leaving work at Midnight, during my one hour commute I would blast the CD as long as RedBeard wasn't on W-Tue.

[@rickmay6932]

Shining Star I believe was done by Earth, Wind and Fire.

[@joshsimpson79]

From what I've read, Stryper didn't censor the THWTD cover. It was either form their label or Christian bookstores, which would've sold a lot of albums back in the day.

[@garyjoyce2160]

Tremendous entertaining show. Watch the episode ! Perfect example of how “ We allllll hear things DIFFERENTLY! Thx Rich / PETE 👍💯

[@Artrocks77]

1.THWTD 2.Soldiers Under Command 3.NMHTP 4.Fallen 5.Against The Law 6.The Yellow and Black Attack 7.The Final Battle 8.In God We Trust 9.God Damn Evil 10.Even The Devil Believes 11.Murder With Pride 12.Reborn

[@kamranmalik8546]

We missed ya Rich

[@Hvymetal4life1]

My only live experience with Stryper was during the Reborn tour.

[@xMidan]

My most prized possession is a original artwork THWTD signed by the members. It's the only record I own I've never played.

[@Earthdog777]

I love the last 4 albums. I can't handle 80s stryper.

[@martythemusicmonster6772]

Stryper we’re really popular here in Australia they got a lot of their videos played on music shows and they toured here twice 87 89 the only other hard rock metal band to do that was Bon Jovi 87 89

[@spiffy8576]

Four Leaf Clover on Murder By Pride might be my favorite Stryper song ever.

[@2012Darkknightrises]

I saw Stryper on the Reborn Tour and those songs sound much better live. That album was supposed to be a Michael Sweet solo record and just kinda of like Twisted Sister's Love Is For Suckers, it turned into a Stryper record minus their sound.

[@meloralovesdarkness2495]

Good show here! I got into Christian Metal, bacause my mother used to go to a christian bookshop, and I was bored and started getting into their cassette tape section in the early 80s, and heard Lots of Really cool Music, where I first heard Stryper Soldeirs! i remember that Motly Crew Shout at the Devil was the shit about that time! For me though, "Music is not about religion.. IT IS About the Music!"

[@leylaa.2095]

Rich looks funny wearing his glasses like Santa Claus

[@christianhaynes1954]

I agree Pete , I do not like in God we trust at all . My favorite is the yellow n black attack .

[@guylanglois1802]

Love this. Maybe we can see a night ranger albu. Ranking?? But love stryper but tbh only have the debut and SUC in vinyl and the newer stuff I love but haven't heard anytbing after Soliders

[@policyjunkie3312]

“To hell with the devil”.

[@jeffreywebb7932]

Fallen is prob my no.1.Good vid👍Good to see Rich.

[@ericdinse5047]

"Shining Star" was originally done by Earth Wind & Fire

[@JuanTondiniComediante]

I lost track of their new stuff and I barely remember the classic albums.. what I can say! to hell with the devil is not my favorite, my all time favorite is "against the law" because that album is not a christian album, but I dig the so called "christian metal" I don't mind the lyrical content BUT bands like stryper tend to write really cheesy songs such as power metal bands still do, so that's hard to digest... I don't like the ballads at all! It's a band that deserves more recognition and get even bigger... can you imagine stryper at wacken open air?! hellfest?! come on !

[@ronaldeccles5147]

Interesting rankings - thanks for this. I identify as 'christian'. Not Conservative or tight but certainly within 'christianity' I am with Pete in preferring the later stuff. It is consistently metal. Their 80s lighter stuff seems influenced by 80s contemporary church music. Mission praise books 1 and 2! Graham Kendrick. Doesn't work for me. I wasn't that much of a fan in the 80s - totally am in.the 10s guitars have always been fantastic. Last 5 the best for me; Fallen the best. Starting to become formulaic to an extent though - same sort of thing each album. Not many metal songs better than Yahweh. Lyrics - I would like them.to go somewhere in between where they mostly are and where they went on against the law. So they are a Christian band with a big Christian following - do that - yet also broaden out to other subjects. There are bands that are 'darker' who do a similar thing. For example Incantation - the subject of every song is the same. Thing is - I would say say the same to them as stryper - broaden out lyrical themes at times. The other thing I note is - criticism as 'satanic' of bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest was total nonsense and rightly dismissed as being that. We should note though that there are bands in the black metal movement especially that do exactly what Maiden and Priest were wrongly criticised for, and mean it. There are authentic satanists, and also characters (who are known if you look into it) who have done some pretty extreme things (not musically!). There are also bands who use satanic themes simply as imagery - and I would categorise them with Maiden and Priest. For me the best Christian metal band is Antestor - a black metal band (called 'unblack' by some, however I would categorise always by musical style). Thing is this band has had a really tough time because 'black metal' won't have them because they are Christians; Christians often won't have them because they are black metal. 'The Forsaken' from 2005 for me is just about the best of the genre - and isn't produced through a cement mixer, which helps.

[@ronaldeccles5147]

BTW - 6 Songs every gig from to hell with the devil. A real shame!! Not enough newer stuff