Tag: Stryper
0 M3 Rock Festival – Saturday Review Part 1
After a fantastic night of hard rock on Friday night, it was going to take a lot to top Friday night’s performances.
One big surprise this year was the new permanent side stage that was erected for this and other festival shows. The new second stage is far bigger than the original side stage at M3, and its placement at the base of a hill gave a better vantage point for the fans in attendance. This was the beginning of a day of surprises at M3.
When the M3 Rock Festival began late Saturday morning, Heavens Edge quickly set the stage with a blistering performance of their biggest songs, most of which came from their outstanding 1990 debut. Much to my surprise, this wasn’t a bunch of hired hands playing with Heaven’s Edge singer Mark Evans, this was the original band. Evans voice was in perfect form, and Reggie Wu was delivering with all of these heavy riffs that I expected from Heaven’s Edge. I have always loved this band, and thought their debut was severely underrated. Their debut album/CD has been reissued for Rock Candy records, and I highly recommend that you check it out.
Shortly after Heavens Edge’s set, KEEL was ready to rock on the main stage, and they came out all guns firing. Ron Keel looked and sounded great, as did Marc Ferrari, Brian Jay, and company. One of my favorite KEEL albums is their 1987 self titled disc on MCA records. Needless to say I was very happy to hear “Somebody’s Waiting”, but I would have loved to have heard a couple of more from this album. KEEL’s set was way too short in my opinion, but they were great, and I enjoyed their music.
Next up on the second stage was former The Scream, Union and Motley Crue front man John Corabi. I had no expectations with John’s set whatsoever, but I have never seen him live, and was greatly looking forward to his set. I thought he may just do his acoustic thing that he has been doing in the clubs, but he had with him a full electric band. John’s set list made me very happy. I was excited to hear one of my all time favorites”Man in the Moon” (from the Scream), and lost Motley Crue tunes “Uncle Jack” and “Hooligan’s Holiday”. It is a shame that Motley Crue has forgotten about that great album with John Corabi. I am so glad that Corabi still does this music. I really dig Corabi’s new look too.
On the main stage, Jack Russell’s Great White was next, and this was another band that my expectations were kind of low on. I gotta say, Jack Russell’s Great White is far better than I expected them to be. While I thought Jack Russell was looking a little frail on stage, his voice was in great form, and I gotta give him a lot of credit. This version of Great White may not have all of the original members, but I gotta say this version sounds the most like the band I remember from my late teens and beyond. I don’t know where Jack Russell found his guitarist Robby Lochner, but this guy is great, and a lot of fun to watch perform. Kudos to Great White for bringing it at M3, and putting on a great show. I hope I can catch this band live again soon.
Femme Fatale is another band that I never got to see back in the day. I still remember the day when I found their out of print CD in a local record shop. I squealed like a school girl when I found it. I was tickled to death to see Lorraine Lewis and company perform. This was obviously not the original band. Lorraine brought an all female band with her and I gotta say they definitely rocked. Lorraine Lewis was having a great time, and the fans seemed to love the band’s set as much as I did.
Moving back to the main stage was Stryper. I still remember their last appearance at M3 vividly, and I was kind of miffed by their shortened set that year. 2014 made up for that show with a longer set. Of course I gotta hear a bunch of my Styper favorites including “To Hell With The Devil”, “Soldiers Under Command”, “Free”, “Calling On You”. One of the nice surprises, was Stryper doing a a cover of “Shout It Out Loud” from KISS. I love their version on their CD The Covering, but it was awesome to see them do this live. Stryper set was one of the highlights at the 2014 M3 Rock Festival, but the best performances of the day were yet to come.
More on those later in our Saturday Review part 2.
2 The Sixth Annual M3 Rock Festival Begins Next Friday Night
The Sixth Annual M3 Rock Festival starts next Friday, and the 2014 lineup is stronger than ever. Each year, the fine folks at the Merriweather Post Pavillion bring in some of the finest classic rock acts in the U.S This year’s festival includes some first time acts at M3 including Autograph, Heaven’s Edge, Jake E. Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel, Femme Fatale, and John Corabi. (Corabi has been at M3 before with RATT, but never as a solo artist).
Friday Night’s headliner is Kix, and Saturday Night’s is Tesla. If you haven’t had a chance to check out Queensryche with Todd La Torre, or Jack Russell’s Great White, look no further. If you haven’t seen Extreme, Night Ranger or Stryper live, don’t miss this excellent opportunity to see them perform.
Overall, it is seventeen bands for a reasonable price, and tickets are STILL available. Don’t miss your chance to check out one of the coolest music festivals of the year.
You can buy tickets at this link!
Check out clips from Heaven’s Edge, Femme Fatale and Autograph below.
Heaven’s Edge – Skin to Skin
Femme Fatale – Falling In And Out of Love
Autograph – Turn up the Radio
9 Hard Rock Hideout’s Top 10 Hard Rock & Metal Albums for 2013
There were a bunch of great releases in 2013 and each year it seems harder and harder to pick the 10 best. Ryo Vie and I have listed our 10 best hard rock and metal albums of 2013. Agree or Disagree? Let us know what your picks are in the comments below!!
Rob Rockitt’s Top Hard Rock & Metal Albums of 2013
I am glad 2013 is now in our rear view mirror. 2013 has hung heavily over my family on the injury and overall health and wellness. Not only has it affected my family members, I laid to rest two of my furry family members, Jake & Mia. On the music front, 2013 was pretty good. maybe not as strong as some of the recent past years. That doesn’t mean we were without quality music. There was a lot of great music that was released, and 2014 looks to be another great year for hard rock & metal music.
10. Death Angel – The Dream Calls for Blood
It had to happen sooner or later…. a band has out-thrashed the Big 4. Death Angel’s The Dream Calls For Blood is the best thrash metal album of 2013. When I first heard the title track “The Dream Calls For Blood” I was immediately hooked. This album is heavy, dark and sometimes brutal. It is Bay Area metal at its finest. This album also has a killer cover of Black Sabbath’s Heaven & Hell”.
9. Motörhead – Aftershock
You have heard one Motörhead, you have heard them all right? WRONG! Lemmy Kilmister and company prove they have plenty of fire left in them, and have crafted one of their best albums to date. I have all of 21 of their albums, and I have found Aftershock to be completely satisfying. Lemmy pulls out a bunch of new riffs for Aftershock, making this one of the most surprising albums of 2013. Fair warning, you may want to set your cruise control if playing this album while driving. It may be hazardous to your driving record.
8. Michael Monroe – Horns & Halos
Michael Monroe has done it again with his latest effort Horns & Halos. Monroe has crafted another great album. Horns & Halos is a little more punky and a little less glammy than 2011’s Sensory Overdrive, but it is a solid album all the way through.
07. Alter Bridge – Fortress
Man oh man, Alter Bridge quietly released their new album Fortress in October.With their album Blackbird being so great, I thought ABIII (2010) was a step backward for Alter Bridge. The band righted any wrongs with their new album Fortress. Fortress is Alter Bridge’s heaviest album to date. Myles Kennedy dishes out some powerful vocals, and Mark Tremonti’s riffs are drifting ever so closer to his metal roots.(Check out the video for Addicted to Pain below) Fortress is another one of 2013’s great surprises.
06. Stryper – No More Hell To Pay
If someone would have told me Stryper would release one of their best albums in 2013, I wouldn’t have believed it, but that is exactly what happened. No More Hell To Pay is packed with heavy riffs,and the fantastic vocals of Michael Sweet. No More Hell To Pay is one of Stryper’s heaviest albums, and packed with great songs. I am hopeful to see Stryper perform some of these in 2014. That would be a real treat!
05. Black Sabbath – 13
While the drama between Bill Ward and Black Sabbath continues, one thing is for certain, 13 is the strongest albums that Sabbath has ever released, and definitely one of the strongest with Ozzy Osbourne singing. If you didn’t pick up the bonus edition CD of 13 (available at Best Buy), you missed out one not one, but three killer Sabbath songs “Methademic”, “Peace of Mind” and “Pariah”. “Methademic” was a staple in Sabbath’s concert list this summer.
04. Tom Keifer – The Way Life Goes
Tom Keifer worked on his solo album for many years before finally releasing The Way Life Goes in 2013. The wait was well worth it, as the Cinderella front man has turned in one of 2013’s best rock albums. Getting to see Tom perform with his solo band was one of my favorite concert moments of 2013 too.
03. Airbourne – Black Dog Barking
Sooner or later, Airbourne is going to get the respect they deserve. The band released their third and arguably best album in 2013. This album has gotten countless plays from me in 2013, and will continue to be played for many years to come.
02. Winery Dogs – S/T
Billy Sheehan, Mike Portnoy, Richie Kotzen are some of the best hard rock musicians to ever grace the stage. With this in mind, I knew the Winery Dogs album would have to be awesome, and it is. Great songs, vocals and musicianship. The Winery Dogs are a dream band for any hard rock fan and should not be missed.
01. Brand New Machine- The Devil Made Me Do It
Sometimes simple is better…. Ever since I stumbled upon this album by complete accident in August of this year while music shopping with my buddy Ryo Vie, I have not been able to stop listening to The Devil Made Me Do It. Former Beautiful Creatures guitarist Michael Thomas has breathed some serious life into Brand New Machine. I am a sucker for good old 80’s style sleaze rock and The Devil Made Me Do It delivers from beginning to end. Check out the clips below and buy the album here!!
There were so many great albums in 2013, it wouldn’t be fair to not mention those albums that nearly made my top list. All of the albums below are very worthy of your hard earned dollars.
Age of Days – Radioactivity
Avenged Sevenfold – Hail To The King
Buckcherry – Confessions
Deep Purple – Now What?
Krokus – Dirty Dynamite
Megadeth – Super Collider
Pop Evil – Onyx
Sammy Hagar – Sammy Hagar & Friends
Sideburn – Electricity
Skillet – Rise
Suicidal Tendencies – 13
Voodoo Circle – More Than One Way Home
Ryo Vie’s 10 Favorite Hard Rock Albums For 2013
Another year is over. A new one has just begun. 2013 was a solid year for hard rock music lovers. Some exceptional albums were released by new comers, young stars, and the royal guard of the past. We were blessed with new music from Pearl Jam, Black Sabbath, and the return of Suicidal Tendencies.
Young bands like Pop Evil and Five Finger Death Punch released their best material to date. And a new band put out one incredible record. All in all 2013 was a fantastic year for music. We can only hope that 2014 will be just as great. And as we look forward to the new releases of 2014, let’s take a moment to reflect on the best releases of the past year. Here’s Ryo’s picks for the 10 best hard rock albums of 2013.
10. Suicidal Tendencies – 13
“Suicidal’s back, Suicidal’s back!” So sang Cyko Miko on the latest Suicidal Tendencies record, 13. This was a fantastic record that heralded the return of one of the best hard rocking bands around. 13 was a solid release that made me glad Suicidal Tendencies were back in action. Layered with multiple infectious grooves, powerful hooks, heavy guitars, and lots of funk and fun, 13 is a powerful album that takes the listener on a journey of musical styles with thrash always remaining as the main focus. Suicidal is back indeed— and we couldn’t be happier.
09. Five Finger Death Punch – The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 1
2013 was a very good year for Five Finger Death Punch. They released two terrific albums in the span of 10 weeks and both charted high on the Billboard charts, deservedly so. Both albums are exceptional works of art, and worthy of multiple listens. Volume One was an enjoyable, unexpected delight that really caught my ear and got my attention. And it was only the beginning of what was to come for this band in 2013. However, if this was the only record the band put out, it would have been good enough. Thankfully for hard rockers everywhere, Five Finger Death Punch wasn’t stopping at just one.
08. Hell Or Highwater – Begin Again
Atreyu drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller’s side project released one hell of a record this year. Begin Again is a stellar modern rock album packed with gems. The album had plenty of staying power and longevity and I found myself returning to it again and again as the year went on. That’s always the sign of an amazing record, which is just what Begin Again is. If this album somehow passed you by, I still recommend that you seek it out.
07. Buckcherry – Confessions
It was nice to see Buckcherry back with a new record in 2013. Most people may have forgotten about this album since it came out so early in the year (early January) and that’s a real shame, because Confessions is a strong record filled with enjoyable songs that rock eardrums hard. It was interesting to see Buckcherry put together a themed album, and they pulled it off, delivering a grand collection of songs on Confessions. I still listen to “Wrath” on a regular basis and it has become one of my favorite Buckcherry songs, up there with “Lit Up.” Yes, I did just state that.
06. Tom Keifer – The Way Life Goes
No Cinderella? No problem. Tom Keifer went solo and released the biggest surprise of 2013 with The Way Life Goes. I had no expectations when this record was released, and it absolutely blew my mind. After all that he has been through, it was amazing to see Tom Keifer can still make meaningful music, and that his voice still sounds as terrific as ever. It may be the best he’s ever sounded. The Way Life Goes has me hopeful to see Mr. Keifer at some of the festivals this year, particularly M3. With or without Cinderella, Tom Keifer is a force, and The Way Life Goes proves it.
05. Black Sabbath – 13
The godfathers of heavy metal reunited (sans Bill Ward) and released a record. 13 is bound to be on everyone’s top 10 list this year, simply because it’s Black Sabbath and that creates a lot of exposure. However, the record deserves to be on most top 10 lists because it’s a spectacular album. Returning to the early sound of Black Sabbath (from their debut release), 13 is a mind trip of amazing music performed by real heavy metal pioneers. Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Ozzy Osbourne worked hard to create a sound that was true Black Sabbath—and they succeeded marvelously. 13 is a magnificent release and one that any hard rock fan should own.
04. Avenged Sevenfold – Hail To The King
Avenged Sevenfold just keeps getting better and better with every record they release. If there is any successor to the great Iron Maiden, Avenged Sevenfold are it. Their music is complex, layered in multiple guitar riffs, complicated drum beats, and heavy bass lines that pull every note together into a harmony of joyful sound. Hail To The King is certainly Avenged Sevenfold’s best album yet and catapults the band to the next level of greatness. If you haven’t spent much time with Avenged, or if you don’t own any of their albums, Hail To The King is a great place to start.
03. Pop Evil – Onyx
2013 was a good year for Pop Evil fans. The band continued their endless touring opening for any band that would have them, their live act became better than it ever has been, and they released their hardest album to date, Onyx. I admit, it took me a few spins to get into Onyx, but once I did, I couldn’t get out. I still listen to this album on a weekly basis and continue to find new parts to fall in love with. Pop Evil worked hard to get away from the acoustic ballads they were becoming known for and went to a much darker place. The result was magnificent and Onyx was a serious contender for best album of 2013.
02. Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt
As is usually the case when Pearl Jam releases a new record, expectations were high. It had been four years since their last release, which was scattered at best. Many fans were wondering if Pearl Jam still had the goods and if they did, could they still deliver. And then the band released the first single, “Mind Your Manners.” Most doubts were squashed right there. Then the band released their next single, “Sirens.” Even critics jaws dropped at that point. “Sirens” is one of the best Pearl Jam songs ever recorded, and Lightning Bolt is one of the band’s best records ever released. In 2013, only one band could make a record better than Lightning Bolt.
01. Five Finger Death Punch – The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2
When a band has two albums in a top 10 list for one year, it’s obvious that the band has had one magnificent year. Such is the case for Five Finger Death Punch. After the release of Volume 1, I was curious to see what Volume 2 would bring, but felt there was no way it would be better. I have never been more wrong about an album in my life. Volume 2 is one of the greatest records I have ever heard. It blends the perfect mix of hard, heavy, angry, introspective, and soft at just the right times. Volume 2 contains power, emotion, and a level of magnificence that is hard to find on a record. Without question, if you only purchase one release from 2013, The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell Volume 2 has to be it. It will be a long time before you hear a better record.
0 Stryper – No More Hell To Pay (2013) – CD Review
The wait is over! Stryper’s eighth studio album No More Hell To Pay is finally here. Good things come to those who wait, and No More Hell To Pay pays the listener massive dividends. This album delivers Stryper’s strongest and heaviest material since their 1988 classic album, In God We Trust. Big Vocals, bigger riffs and great songs, No More Hell To Pay has it all!
The album starts off with the heavy song “Revelation”. This song is classic Stryper all the way, and a fantastic lead off song for No More Hell To Pay.
The guitar tone for “No More Hell to Pay” takes me back to the Stryper classic “To Hell With The Devil”. This is a killer cut, and if you wondered if Michael Sweet lost any range in his voice, the answer is a most definite “no”! (Check it out in the video below).
Michael Sweet pushes his voice to new limits on the heavy rocker,”Saved By Love”. You have to hear this song to believe it. This is one amazing tune, and my new favorite from Stryper. I hope to hear them do this song live.
Stryper tears the roof off with their smokin’ cover of the Doobie Brothers hit, “Jesus is Just Alright”. This is easily one of the best cover songs I have heard in a long time. Stryper gave this song a great, heavy face lift, and it really works well.
“The One” does a good job changing the tempo on the album, and delivers a song that could get airplay, if DJ’s out there had a soul.
“The Legacy” is another face melting rocker that demands several replays just to register what you just heard. This is easily one of the heaviest Stryper songs to date.
“Marching Into Battle” sounds like it came out of the early 80’s and that is a great thing. This is one of those deep cuts that may not be hit material, but fans will appreciate this nonetheless. Michael Sweet again pushes his screams to the max on this tune.
I immediately hit replay after hearing “Te Amo” the first time. This is another tremendous rocker that is a feast for the ears. This song ought to be another big sing along tune for Stryper’s live set.
“Renewed” closes out No More Hell to Pay with another amazing rocker, and a song that is easily as good as the first.
Major kudos to Michael Sweet, Oz Fox, Robert Sweet and Tim Gaines. The yellow and black attack have released one of the best albums of their career. Michael Sweet’s voice has never been stronger, and the guitar work on this album is fantastic.
Clearly, No More Hell to Pay is an album that Stryper made for the fans, and it delivers all the way through. If you have ever listened or have been a fan of Stryper in the past, you are going to LOVE this album. If you do one thing this Tuesday, you should download the album from iTunes, or if you are old school like me, run (don’t walk) to your nearest music store and pick this CD up asap. You won’t be disappointed. No More Hell To Pay is one of the best albums of 2013. Get it now!! Highly recommended!!
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
01. Revelation
02. No More Hell To Pay
03. Saved By Love
04. Jesus is Just Alright
05. The One
06. The Legacy
07. Marching Into Battle
08. Te Amo
09. Sticks & Stones
10. Water Into Wine
11. Sympathy
12. Renewed
Stryper is:
Michael Sweet – Lead Vocals / Lead Guitar
Robert Sweet – Drums and Visual Timekeeping
Timothy Gaines – Bass / Vocals
Oz Fox – Lead Guitar / Vocals
0 Stryper – BMI Karts Indoor Speedway – 9/28 – Review & Photo Gallery
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 This is the bible verse from which Stryper takes it name. And Stryper brought their healing power in the form of awesome rock n’ roll to the BMI Karts Indoor Speedway in Versailles, Ohio last Saturday (9/28/13).
It was far too long since I have seen Stryper perform live, and I was quite to excited to see the band perform once again. The last time I saw Stryper was at the 2012 M3 Rock Festival. They were excellent then, and even better this time around.
Aside from some minor struggles with the band’s monitors, Stryper forged on and never sounded better. Stryper’s set was a heavy one. Their set list included the songs “To Hell With The Devil”, “Soliders Under Command”, “The Rock That Makes Me Roll”, “Calling On You”, “The Way”, “Free”, “Loud N’ Clear”, “Heaven & Hell” & “Shout It Out Loud”. I was a little disappointed that they didn’t do “In God We Trust”, or “Honestly”, and I was really hoping to hear some songs off of their up and coming CD, No More Hell To Pay.
It was a short intimate set from Stryper, in a very unique and cool venue. I was quite glad that a made the trip to see the band play, and hope they return for another show after the new album has been released.
5 Vie’s Verses – The Autumn Preview
Autumn has finally arrived. Football kicks off tonight, the kids are back to school, and most of us don’t have another day off from work until Thanksgiving break. Wow, that’s a long time away. And with the arrival of fall, I think about new music releases. Autumn is usually the last time I have to purchase a highly anticipated new album until spring, so I relish the fall releases. Here are some of the fall discs that I am looking forward to.
Nine Inch Nails – Hesitation Marks
Release Date: Out Now
In college I was a huge fan of Nine Inch Nails. The Downward Spiral was on constant replay in my CD player and I was in love with the band. As the 90s progressed, I fell out of touch with Nine Inch Nails and never really got back into them. Now with the release of their (Trent Reznor’s? his?) first album in years, this could be a jumping on point for me. I haven’t heard any of the new songs yet, but I am interested in seeing what Trent Reznor has produced for his latest Nine Inch Nails album. The album is in stores now, so maybe I will kick off my football weekend by purchasing a copy.
Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt
Release Date: October 15th
There is no album that I am more eager to get my greedy music loving ears on than Pearl Jam’s Lightning Bolt. I have been a huge fan of Pearl Jam since I first heard “Alive” in college. From that moment on, I was in love with the band. Their last record, Backspacer, was decent, but I felt it lacked a lot of what I had come to expect from Pearl Jam, and I worried that perhaps the band had peaked and hit their swan song with their self-titled album. Now the band has a chance to prove me wrong and if lead single “Mind Your Manners” is any indication of what to expect from Lightning Bolt, then consider me all in. I have a gut feeling that 2014 may just be Pearl Jam’s biggest year yet.
Five Finger Death Punch – The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell: Volume Two
Release Date: Autumn
Prior to volume one of this release, I was not much of a Five Finger Death Punch fan. I thought they were okay at best, and then I had the opportunity to review their last record for Hard Rock Hideout (review to be posted soon). Now I am a lover of this band and I anxiously await the release of The Wrong Side Of Heaven And The Righteous Side Of Hell: Volume Two. If Volume Two is anywhere near as magnificent as Volume One, I will be spending a lot of my Autumn days listening to Five Finger Death Punch.
Saliva – In It To Win It
Release Date: Available Now
I will admit that I am very curious about this album. I was a huge fan of Saliva in the days of Josey Scott and Jonathan Montoya. After their greatest hits record, I stopped listening to Saliva for reasons that I don’t even know. I did not purchase their last record, Under Your Skin, and then when Josey Scott left the band after Jonathan Montoya, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I honestly thought the band was finished. And yet, here they are, having just released another record, In It To Win It. Bobby Amaru has taken over the vocal duties for the departed Scott, and I am very interested in seeing if this new lead singer will breathe new life into the band, or if this is the end of Saliva as we know it.
Stryper – No More Hell To Pay
Release Date: November 5th
Without question, I am going to pick up the latest release from Stryper. After Pearl Jam’s Lightning Bolt it is the must have release of the fall for me. I’ve always been a huge fan of Stryper and the fact that they are still releasing new material excites me to no end. I can only hope that their new songs are as good as other 80s metal bands who have released new albums lately (Tom Keifer and Jackyl come to mind). If Stryper can continue to make music as solid as the bonus tracks from their hits records, or Murder By Pride, then fans will rejoice. The best news about this new release is that it will contain original material. No more cover albums or re-recorded hits for Stryper—it’s going to be brand new music all the way. That makes me very happy!
Those are the albums that I am most looking forward to this fall. What about you? What are your Autumn Anticipations? Drop a line in the comments section or tweet me (@ryovie) and let me know if I am missing out on anything good.
0 ICONIC ROCK BAND STRYPER REVEALS AUDIO SAMPLES FROM FORTHCOMING STUDIO ALBUM!
“NO MORE HELL TO PAY” DUE OUT NOVEMBER 5TH IN NORTH AMERICA VIA FRONTIERS RECORDS
Legendary rock band Stryper reveals audio samples for three tracks from their forthcoming studio album, NO MORE HELL TO PAY. Check out snippets of “Revelation,” “Saved By Love” and “Marching Into Battle” below.
NO MORE HELL TO PAY is set for a November 5th release in North America and will be available in two formats – standard CD and deluxe digipak featuring exclusive video content. Produced by frontman/guitarist/songwriter Michael Sweet, the set features some of Stryper’s strongest and heaviest material ever.
Stryper is one of the top Christian rock bands of all time. Comprised of the original line-up of Michael Sweet (lead vocals/guitar), Tim Gaines (bass), Robert Sweet (drums) and Oz Fox (guitar), Stryper has been going strong since 1984, and is responsible for such ’80s metal classic albums as SOLDIERS UNDER COMMAND, TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL, IN GOD WE TRUST and such MTV hit singles/videos as “Calling on You,” “Free” and “Honestly.” After a sabbatical for much of the 1990’s, Stryper returned strong in the early 21st century. To date, the band has sold upwards of 10 million records worldwide and is a Dove Award-winner and GRAMMY nominee. Stryper is the first band to have two songs in MTV’s Top 10 simultaneously.
NO MORE HELL TO PAY track listing:
*Revelation
*No More Hell To Pay
*Saved By Love
*Jesus Is Alright
*The One
*Legacy
*Marching Into Battle
*Te Amo
*Sticks & Stones
*Water Into Wine
*Sympathy
*Renewed
0 ICONIC CHRISTIAN ROCKERS STRYPER’S NEW STUDIO ALBUM “NO MORE HELL TO PAY” DUE OUT NOVEMBER 5TH IN NORTH AMERICA VIA FRONTIERS RECORDS
Frontiers Records is proud to announce the release of iconic Christian rockers Stryper‘s new studio album, NO MORE HELL TO PAY; the offering has been confirmed for a November 5th release in North America and will be available in two formats – standard CD and deluxe digipak featuring exclusive video content. Produced by frontman/guitarist Michael Sweet himself, the set features some of Stryper‘s strongest and heaviest material ever. Check out a special video message from Michael Sweet here. Sweet also commented, “NO MORE HELL TO PAY marks our 30 year anniversary and what a journey it has been! It’s our eleventh studio release since our first album in 1984 (THE YELLOW & THE BLACK ATTACK) and it’s quite possibly our best record to date. Why? It’s everything you might expect from a Stryper record – high octane vocals, layered vocal harmonies, guitar solos galore, driving drums and bass and an energy that hasn’t been achieved since our glory days. The message is equally as powerful as it offers hope and inspiration to anyone listening. If you’re a Stryper fan, it’ll make you proud to be one. If you’re not, listen with caution as you may actually become one. We’ve been waving the striped flag for 30 years and we’re proud to say that it’s an honor to still be making music with you and for you. The best is yet to come and it’s coming November 5th!”
Stryper is currently playing select tour dates around the nation as a warm-up for an upcoming extensive tour around the release of NO MORE HELL TO PAY. Please see below for remaining tour dates.
Stryper is one of the top Christian rock bands of all time. Comprised of the original line-up of Michael Sweet (vocals/guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Tim Gaines (bass), and Robert Sweet (drums), Stryper has been rocking since 1984, and is responsible for such ’80s metal classic albums as SOLDIERS UNDER COMMAND, TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL, IN GOD WE TRUST and such MTV hit singles/videos as “Calling on You,” “Free,” and “Honestly.” After a sabbatical for much of the 1990’s, Stryper returned strong in the early 21st century. To date, the band has sold upwards of 8 million records worldwide and is a Dove Award-winner and Grammy nominee. Stryper is the first band to have two songs in MTV’s Top 10 simultaneously.
NO MORE HELL TO PAY track listing:
1. Revelation
2. No More Hell To Pay
3. Saved By Love
4. Jesus Is Alright
5. The One
6. Legacy
7. Marching Into Battle
8. Te Amo
9. Sticks & Stones
10. Water Into Wine
11. Sympathy
12. Renewed
Stryper tour dates:
AUGUST
9 Bolingbrook, IL Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill
10 West Allis, WI Wisconsin State Fair
13 San Juan Capistrano, CA The Coach House*
14 West Hollywood, CA The Whiskey A Go Go*
16 Henderson, NV Club Madrid at Sunset Station Hotel & Casino*
30 Wendover, NV Peppermill Casino
*Michael Sweet and Oz Fox acoustic set
5 Vie’s Verses – Missing M3 Bands
We are less than a month away from this year’s M3 music festival. It’s the only festival that revisits all the best from the hair metal days and lets us party like a long lost rock star all weekend long! I really
enjoy the annual Hard Rock Hideout trip to Maryland for this festival and I think 2013 may be our best trip yet.
And while this year’s lineup doesn’t contain much to complain about (how can you complain when WASP, KIX, Jackyl, and Twisted Sister are all on the same bill?), there are a couple of bands missing that I
would really like to see. Perhaps M3 can keep them in mind for 2014.
Stryper
Stryper got screwed at last year’s festival. They had a lousy time slot, they had to cut their set short due to poor scheduling and they weren’t even allowed to play one additional song despite strong demand
from fans. It does not surprise me that they are not going to be at this year’s M3 after what happened last year. However, they should be there and they should be given a prime slot. Stryper had one of the
best performances in 2012 and had they been allowed to play a little longer, they may have had the performance of the weekend. And while I think that WASP, Twisted Sister, Bret Michaels, and KIX are
all fine headliners, Stryper would fit that bill as well. If Bret Michaels went missing and Stryper took his place, I don’t think anyone would complain. And no, that’s not a knock on Bret, it’s more of a testament
to Stryper.
White Lion
For the love of all that is holy, when are Vito Bratta and Mike Tramp going to make up and get a full on White Lion reunion together? Could it be that hard for these two guys to talk to each other for one tour?
Vito Bratta is one of the greatest guitarists to ever perform in the 80s and I still can’t understand how we haven’t seen him at one of these nostalgic festivals. I don’t think that there is any band that I would
love to see perform at a festival like M3 more than White Lion. I missed them the first time around. I didn’t get to see them tour behind Big Game. So yes, I am being a little selfish here, but White Lion was
a terrific band. If nothing else couldn’t White Lion perform at least one show? How hard would that be to coordinate? It’s not like they have much else going on. Give your fans what they want already!
Vain
While they may not have huge, memorable, chart topping hits ala White Lion and Stryper, Vain is an exceptional sleaze metal band that got their start in the 80s. Recently the band released a brand new
album of material titled Enough Rope. It was another solid album from this great band. Yet, with all the fantastic music they’ve recorded, and despite the fact that I saw several Vain T-shirts at M3’s past, Vain
continues to be left off the bill. Now, I don’t know if it’s because the promoters contacted them and Vain is not interested, but I seriously doubt that. Maybe the money isn’t right, but I am only speculating.
I do not know the reason that Vain is not performing at this year’s M3 (or any year’s M3 for that matter),
I just know that they aren’t there. And that is a disappointment. Vain is definitely an act that should be
added to the roster.
Pretty Boy Floyd
Two years ago, Pretty Boy Floyd opened the second stage and put on what I feel is one of the best performances in M3 history. It is still one of my top 5 moments in festival attendance. So why the hell
hasn’t this band been back since? Not only should Pretty Boy Floyd have returned, they should be in a prime slot on the main stage. Perhaps not a headlining slot, but the slot just before that would be good
for this band. They give a solid performance and there is no reason why the fans wouldn’t love them. All of their songs weren’t huge hits, but that doesn’t really matter. Pretty Boy Floyd is so talented as a live
act, fans will love the entire performance by the time it is over, whether they know the songs or not. The only advice that I would have for the band is to make sure they kept copies of their album(s) on hand,
because after dominating the stage, fans would want to scoop them up. Alas, it won’t matter much, because the band is not on the 2013 bill. Again, I reiterate—why the hell not?
Europe
Can someone say headliner? M3 is always looking to mix up their headlining acts and bring in bands that will draw fans. Why not reach out to Europe and get them on the bill? The band released a new album
last year and they have plenty of well known, stateside hits that would bring the audience to their feet and leave them screaming for more. “Carrie,” “Superstitious,” “Rock The Night,” and of course, “The
Final Countdown” all qualify this band to be headliners, so why haven’t we seen them at an M3 yet? Warrant has been there. Cinderella has been there. Ratt was there last year. Even Nelson has made it
to the show. Why not Europe? What is it that could be holding them back? Promoters? Demand? Pay? I have no idea, but if M3 really wanted to blow us all away in 2014, they would announce that Europe is
going to be the closer for one of the two nights. Now, I will admit that I’ve never seen the band live and I don’t know how their current live performance is—perhaps it’s not headliner worthy. But, something
tells me that is just not the case.
Those are the missing bands that I think belong at this year’s M3 Festival. What about you? Which bands do you think should be there?
1 ICONIC CHRISTIAN ROCKERS STRYPER SIGN TO FRONTIERS RECORDS FOR MULTI-ALBUM DEAL; RE-RECORDED COLLECTION “SECOND COMING” DUE OUT MARCH
Frontiers Records is proud to announce the signing of iconic Christian rockers Stryper to a multi-album deal. The first release due out will be a new re-recorded collection; SECOND COMING will hit streets on March 22nd in Europe and March 26th in North America.
The album features sixteen tracks, including new recordings of fourteen songs from the band’s early years as well as two brand new songs recorded especially for SECOND COMING, and is produced by Stryper frontman Michael Sweet.
Sweet commented, “We’re really excited about this record. The re-recorded songs are sounding awesome…better than the originals in many ways! One word to describe the record? Heavier. We’ve hooked up with some great people – we’ve got new management, a great album, a great label. We just feel like everything is coming together, and hopefully some big things are to follow.” Please see below for the complete track listing.
Stryper is one of the top Christian rock bands of all time. Comprised of the original line-up of Michael Sweet (vocals/guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Tim Gaines (bass), and Robert Sweet (drums), Stryper has been rocking since 1984, and is responsible for such ’80s metal classic albums as SOLDIERS UNDER COMMAND, TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL, IN GOD WE TRUST and such MTV hit singles/videos as “Calling on You,” “Free,” and “Honestly.”
After a sabbatical for much of the 1990’s, Stryper returned strong in the early 21st century. To date, the band has sold upwards of 8 million records worldwide and is a Dove Award-winner and Grammy nominee. Stryper is the first band to have two songs in MTV’s Top 10 simultaneously.
SECOND COMING track listing: Loud N’ Clear; Loving You; Soldiers Under Command; Makes Me Wanna Sing; First Love; The Rock That Makes Me Roll; Reach Out; Surrender; To Hell With The Devil; Calling On You; Free; The Way; Sing Along Song; More Than A Man; Bleeding From Inside Out (New song); Blackened (New song)
Weblinks: www.stryper.com / www.frontiers.it
0 Stryper & The All-Star Jam At the M3 Rock Festival
One of the bands I was looking forward to the most at the M3 Rock Festival was Stryper. I never got to see the band play live before, and they rarely ever come to my area. Due to the messed up start times on Saturday, Stryper’s set was greatly shortened, and I couldn’t have been more disappointed. The band only got to play 6 songs, and there was no “the Rock That Makes Me Roll”, no “In God We Trust, and no “Honestly”. M3 kind of redeemed themselves by bringing out Oz Fox, Tim Gaines and Michael Sweet to perform “Heaven and Hell” with both Vinnie Appice and Carmine Appice on drums during the All-Star Jam. That was a cool rock and roll moment that I will never forget. I hope Stryper gets asked to come back to M3, and to play a longer set. They were easily one of the best bands at M3.
The All-Star Jam overall was cool but overall disappointing. How do you have an All-Star Jam without George Lynch or Warren DeMartini? The possibility was there to something very cool, but the short Jam session seemed much more like an after thought than a planned segment of the M3 Rock Festival. Who did participate in the All-Star Jam? Robert Mason, Terry Ilous, Michael Sweet, Mark Kendall, Oz Fox, Chris Taylor, Tim Gaines, Sean McNabb, Carmine Appice and Vinny Appice.
Stryper’s set list consisted of the songs: “Sing-Along Song”, “Reach Out”, “Calling On You”, “Free”, “To Hell With The Devil” and “Soldiers Under Command”.
The All-Star Jam set list was: “Rainbow In The Dark”, “All Right Now” and “Heaven And Hell”
Check out our Stryper and All-Star Jam photo gallery below!
0 STRYPER – Four New Dates Added to Tour Schedule!
STRYPER – NEW TOUR DATES ADDED
The Yellow & Black Attack is Back World-Wide For Select Intimate Shows
The Yellow and Black Attack is back – STRYPER is about to embark in a string of select dates world- wide – mark your calendars!
TOUR DATES – (more to come) – Bold denotes added dates~
6.15.12 BamJam New Brockton, AL
6.22.12 House Of Blues Hollywood, CA
7.06.12 Seaside Festival Risoya, Norway
7.07.12 Gulbranna Festival Halmstad, Sweden
7.14.12 Kavarna Rock Festival Kavarna, Bulgaria
7.25.12 House Of Blues Orlando, FL date changed
7.27.12 Wild Horse Saloon Nashville, TN
7.28.12 HalfwayJam Royalton, MN
8.11.12 Scriba Town Inn Summer Oswego, NY
Concert
9.19.12 Indira Gandhi Stadium Kohima, India
9.22.12 DDSC Dimapur, India
11.16.12 Poliedro de Caracas Caracas, Venezuela
11.17.12 Complejo Ferial Bicentenario Barqusimeto,Venezuela
Over 25 years later the band continues to deliver an inspiring message with their electrifying stage show, performing in front of audiences worldwide. For more information go to: www.stryper.com.
0
The Yellow and Black Attack is back – STRYPER is about to embark in a string of select dates world- wide – mark your calendars!
TOUR DATES – (more to come) – Bold denotes added dates~
5.25.12 Showcase Live Foxborough, MA – ALL AGES
6.01.12 The Marque Tempe, AZ
6.02.12 Speaking Rock Casino El Paso, TX Special Guest Stephen Pearcy/ RATT
6.03.12 El Corazon Seattle, WA
6.15.12 BamJam New Brockton, AL
6.21.12 Placer County Fair Grounds Roseville, CA
6.22.12 House Of Blues Hollywood, CA
7.06.12 Seaside Festival Risoya, Norway
7.07.12 Gulbranna Festival Halmstad, Sweden
7.14.12 Kavarna Rock Festival Kavarna, Bulgaria
7.26.12 House Of Blues Orlando, FL
7.27.12 Wild Horse Saloon Nashville, TN
7.28.12 HalfwayJam Royalton, MN
8.11.12 Scriba Town Inn Summer Oswego, NY
Concert
9.19.12 Indira Gandhi Stadium Kohima, India
9.22.12 DDSC Dimapur, India
11.16.12 Poliedro de Caracas Caracas, Venezuela
11.17.12 Complejo Ferial Bicentenario Barqusimeto,Venezuela
Over 25 years later the band continues to deliver an inspiring message with their electrifying stage show, performing in front of audiences worldwide. For more information go to: http://www.stryper.com.
0 Vie’s Verses – Reflections on M3 2012 – Part One: The Highs
Another M3 Festival has come and gone leaving behind only the memories. 2012 was once again a great year for the M3 festival, and although Saturday’s portion of the show had a few hiccups and missed cues, overall, the festival was fantastic. A fun filled day of hard rocking, hair metal music, after a fun filled night of the same. As usual both days of the festival flew by and before I knew it, I was on my way home with a music hangover.
As with any major music production, there were plenty of highs, a few lows, and some pleasant surprises. Let’s look at each of these in a little more detail, shall we? Welcome to this very special 3-part edition of Vie’s Verses.
The Highs
WOMEN
Let’s start with the good stuff. There were a lot of great things to see at the 2012 M3 Festival, but one of the most immediately noticeable was all of the beautiful women. It’s great to know that hair metal still has women who love the music and look terrific. It’s also great to know that there are younger women who love hair metal and look terrific! Now granted, I am a happily married man, but if I wasn’t, the M3 festival is where I would go to find the next love of my life. These beauties were absolutely stunning! As Steve Whiteman said from the stage, “There are no ugly women here!” Well stated, Steve.
KIX
For the second year in a row, KIX headlined night one (dubbed the Kix-Off Party) and once again produced an amazing performance. I am always in awe of the energy that Steve Whiteman and Kix bring to the stage each time they perform live. This latest performance was no exception. Whiteman and company brought the goods in both the songs they played and the energy they performed them with. Classic Kix hits were all done to perfection, including surprises like “Lie Like A Rug.” And while Whiteman stated that Night Ranger should have headlined the show, there is no replacement for Kix. They were the true headliners of the evening.
STRYPER
One of the best performances at this year’s M3 was also one of the shortest (see Part Two: The Lows). Stryper came on during the early part of Saturday and after having to do a quick live sound check, they kick-started their 6-song performance with passion. Reach Out, Free, Calling On You, To Hell With The Devil, Soldiers Under Command, and Sing-Along Song were all performed during the condensed set. Each song was performed note perfect and Michael Sweet still has the range to hit all of the notes on every song. And while I would have loved to hear him sing Honestly (to truly test his range), the M3 guffaw to start the Saturday show prevented that from happening. All in all though, Stryper was the best performance of day two. I hope that they return next year as headliners.
QUEENSRYCHE
Wow! Geoff Tate not only looks great, but the man can still sing too! Queensryche absolutely blew me away during their performance. I had never been a huge Queensryche fan, I only own two albums and one of them is Hear In The Now Frontier, so I did not know a lot of the songs they performed. However, that didn’t matter. Their performance was so mesmerizing and intense, that I was mystified by all of the songs. And while I may not run out and buy their entire back catalog, if Queensryche were to schedule a future show near me, I would certainly have to check it out. Having never seen Queensryche before, my first experience was a grand one.
WARRANT
Once again, Warrant with Robert Mason made me a believer and renewed my membership in the Warrant fan club. This is the best that Warrant has sounded since Cherry Pie. Warrant not only performed all of their massive hits, they also took the time to play new material from their latest release, Rockaholic. The new songs sounded as fantastic as the classic material and if you’re a Warrant fan, I hope that you have a copy of Rockaholic. If not, you need to purchase it. Robert Mason looked as buff and beautiful as ever and his voice and energy has not shortened one bit. The rest of the band seemed rejuvenated by Mason’s lead and they all brought the energy of the early 90s with them. By watching Warrant perform, you would have sworn they were headlining a huge arena, not serving as a middle act for the M3 Festival. In a perfect world, Warrant would be one of the top bands on next year’s bill, perhaps co-headlining with Stryper. Hmmmm, maybe these two bands should get together for a summer tour? I know that I would go see that.
Be sure to check back tomorrow for part two…The Lows.
Follow RyoVie on Twitter at Twitter.com/RyoVie
3 Five Great Reasons to Attend the M3 Rock Festival This Week – Reason # 2 – Stryper
Even with the recently released Tour Dates, Stryper doesn’t tour very much, so your chances to see the band play live are few and far between. Stryper will be performing on the main stage at the M3 Rock Festival at 1:30 P.M. on Saturday May 12th. This will be my first opportunity to see them live, and I can’t wait!
0 STRYPER – LEGENDARY CHRISTIAN ROCKERS ON TOUR; The Yellow & Black Attack is Back World-Wide For Select Intimate Shows
The Yellow and Black Attack is back – STRYPER is about to embark in a string of select dates world- wide starting May 10that Tailgaters in Bolingbrook, IL just outside of Chicago.
STRYPER is one of the few bands from a decadent era that features “All Original Members”. They continue to tour the world and produce Billboard-charting albums. Brothers Michael Sweet and Robert Sweet, along with Oz Fox and Timothy Gaines, make up the legendary hard rock quartet.
TOUR DATES – (more to come) – Bold denotes added dates~
5.10.12 Tailgaters Bolingbrook, IL (Chicago)
5.12.12 M3 Festival Columbia, MD
5.17.12 House of blues Dallas, TX
5.18.12 House of blues Houston, TX
5.19.12 Santa Fe Station Las Vegas, NV
5.24.12 BB Kings New York, NY
5.25.12 Showcase Live Foxborough, MA – ALL AGES
5.26.12 Rock Junction West Greenwich, RI
6.01.12 The Marque Tempe, AZ
6.02.12 Speaking Rock Casino El Paso, TX Special Guest Stephen Pearcy/ RATT
6.03.12 El Corazon Seattle, WA
7.06.12 Seaside Festival Risoya, Norway
7.07.12 Gulbranna Festival Halmstad, Sweden
7.26.12 House Of Blues Orlando, FL
7.27.12 Wild Horse Saloon Nashville, TN
7.28.12 HalfwayJam Royalton, MN
9.19.12 Indira Gandhi Stadium Kohima, India
9.22.12 DDSC Dimapur, India
11.16.12 Poliedro de Caracas Caracas, Venezuela
11.17.12 Complejo Ferial Bicentenario Barqusimeto,Venezuela
Over 25 years later the band continues to deliver an inspiring message with their electrifying stage show, performing in front of audiences worldwide. For more information go to: www.stryper.com.
1 Set Times Announced for the M3 Rock Festival
The set times have been announced for the 4th Annual M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, MD. Check below for bands and start times. Good Tickets are still available for the M3 Rock Festival at this link.
0 STRYPER – MORE SHOWS ADDED
STRYPER – LEGENDARY CHRISTIAN ROCKERS ON TOUR
The Yellow & Black Attack is Back World-Wide For Select Intimate Shows
The Yellow and Black Attack is back – STRYPER is about to embark in a string of select dates world- wide starting May 10th at Tailgaters in Bolingbrook, IL just outside of Chicago.
STRYPER is one of the few bands from a decadent era that features “All Original Members”. They continue to tour the world and produce Billboard-charting albums. Brothers Michael Sweet and Robert Sweet, along with Oz Fox and Timothy Gaines, make up the legendary hard rock quartet.
Looking back over the past 25 years, STRYPER is considered to be a groundbreaking act on all accounts. They are one of the first Christian rock bands to achieve unprecedented success in the mainstream. Their 1986 album To Hell With The Devil is listed among CCM’s “100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music” and the band’s popular power ballad “Honestly” became a Billboard Top 20 hit and reached number 1 on MTV. Their pop-rock hit “Calling On You”, also entered MTV’s top 10, simultaneously with “Honestly” being one of the first bands to have two top 10 videos on MTV. Even as recent as 2010 and 2011 STRYPER found their way once again on the Billboard Charts with their albums Reborn, Murder by Pride and The Covering.
“After almost 30 years in this business, we are blessed to be able to continue doing what we love most – making music,” explains Michael Sweet, lead singer/ lead guitarist and songwriter. “God has blessed us with talents and abilities so we plan to continue on this path as long as God calls us to do so.”
TOUR DATES – (more to come) – Bold denotes added dates~
5.10.12 Tailgaters Bolingbrook, IL (Chicago)
5.12.12 M3 Festival Columbia, MD
5.17.12 House of blues Dallas, TX
5.18.12 House of blues Houston, TX
5.19.12 Santa Fe Station Las Vegas, NV
5.24.12 BB Kings New York, NY
5.25.12 Showcase Live Foxborough, MA
5.26.12 Rock Junction West Greenwich, RI
6.01.12 The Marque Tempe, AZ
6.02.12 Speaking Rock Casino El Paso, TX Special Guest Stephen Pearcy/ RATT
6.03.12 El Corazon Seattle, WA
7.06.12 Seaside Festival Risoya, Norway
7.07.12 Gulbranna Festival Halmstad, Sweden
7.28.12 HalfwayJam Royalton, MN
9.19.12 Indira Gandhi Stadium Kohima, India
9.22.12 DDSC Dimapur, India
11.16.12 Poliedro de Caracas Caracas, Venezuela
11.17.12 Complejo Ferial Bicentenario Barqusimeto,Venezuela
Over 25 years later the band continues to deliver an inspiring message with their electrifying stage show, performing in front of audiences worldwide. For more information go to: www.stryper.com.
2 STRYPER – LEGENDARY CHRISTIAN ROCKERS ON TOUR
The Yellow and Black Attack is back – STRYPER is about to embark in a string of select dates world- wide starting May 10that Tailgaters in Bolingbrook, IL just outside of Chicago.
STRYPER is one of the few bands from a decadent era that features “All Original Members”. They continue to tour the world and produce Billboard-charting albums. Brothers Michael Sweet and Robert Sweet, along with Oz Fox and Timothy Gaines, make up the legendary hard rock quartet.
Looking back over the past 25 years, STRYPER is considered to be a groundbreaking act on all accounts. They are one of the first Christian rock bands to achieve unprecedented success in the mainstream. Their 1986 album To Hell With The Devil is listed among CCM’s “100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music” and the band’s popular power ballad “Honestly” became a Billboard Top 20 hit and reached number 1 on MTV. Their pop-rock hit “Calling On You”, also entered MTV’s top 10, simultaneously with “Honestly” being one of the first bands to have two top 10 videos on MTV. Even as recent as 2010 and 2011 STRYPER found their way once again on the Billboard Charts with their albums Reborn, Murder by Pride and The Covering.
“After almost 30 years in this business, we are blessed to be able to continue doing what we love most – making music,” explains Michael Sweet, lead singer/ lead guitarist and songwriter. “God has blessed us with talents and abilities so we plan to continue on this path as long as God calls us to do so.”
TOUR DATES – (more to come)
5.10.12 Tailgaters Bolingbrook, IL (Chicago)
5.12.12 M3 Festival Columbia, MD
5.17.12 House of blues Dallas, TX
5.18.12 House of blues Houston, TX
5.19.12 Santa Fe Station Las Vegas, NV
5.24.12 BB Kings New York, NY
5.25.12 Showcase Live Foxborough, MA
5.26.12 Rock Junction West Greenwich, RI
7.06.12 Seaside festival Risoya, Norway
7.07.12 Gulbranna Festival Halmstad, Sweden
7.28.12 HalfwayJam Royalton, MN
9.19.12 Indira Gandhi Stadium Kohima, India
9.22.12 DDSC Dimapur, India
Over 25 years later the band continues to deliver an inspiring message with their electrifying stage show, performing in front of audiences worldwide. For more information go to: www.stryper.com.
0 That Metal Show – New Episode With Jani Lane Now Available
If you missed Last Saturday Night’s episode of That Metal Show on VH1 Classic with Jani Lane, Michael Sweet, and Taime Downe, you can check it out here!!
Vodpod videos no longer available.
0 UFO Lands on Monsters of Rock Cruise
The Monsters of Rock Cruise announced the addition of UFO to their star studded lineup which includes Cinderella, Tesla, Kix, Keel, Stryper, Lynch Mob, Y&T, Firehouse, Faster Pussycat, XYZ, Bang Tango, Black N’ Blue, Eric Martin and Jon Corabi.
The Monsters of Rock departs Fort Lauderdale on February 25th, 2012. For more info, please visit, MonstersofRockCruise.com
2 Michael Sweet Departs Legendary Rock Band BOSTON to Devote Full Attention to His Longstanding Role as Frontman of Re-emerging Rock Band Stryper
Stryper frontman and accomplished solo artist Michael Sweet announced his departure from legendary rock band BOSTON today, in order to devote his full attention to his longstanding role as the lead vocalist and lead guitarist for multi-platinum rock outfit Stryper – a band he co-founded in 1983. Sweet joined BOSTON in 2008, sharing lead vocals and playing guitar on a headlining tour of North America, performing the band’s classic hits like “More than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind,” “Amanda” and “Don’t Look Back.”
Following the BOSTON tour, Stryper released the 2009 studio album “Murder by Pride” (featuring a cover of BOSTON’s “Peace of Mind”), which led to a yearlong world tour with all of the original members. In 2010, Stryper released “The Covering,” and another world tour recently concluded. Stryper is currently in the studio working on an untitled release for 2011, with tour dates already announced for this fall.
“My focus and my loyalty lies with Stryper, the band that I’ve committed almost thirty years of my life to,” says Sweet. “The guys in Stryper are my brothers and I’m excited about our future together. The music of BOSTON helped shape who I am as an artist, and the opportunity to be a part of their musical legacy is overwhelming. It’s been an honor to share the stage with them, and a bigger honor to call them my friends.”
In addition to the increasing demands for Stryper, Sweet has been spending some of his time off the road in Nashville, writing with A-list songwriters such as Blair Daly (Rascal Flatts, Uncle Kracker, Lynyrd Skynyrd), Luke Laird (Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw), Britton Cameron (Steel Magnolia, Lonestar, Eden’s Edge) and others.
“I’ve always loved the writing process and to be able to collaborate with some of the greatest writers in Nashville is an absolutely amazing experience for me,” explains Sweet. “I’m looking forward to many more successful trips to Music City.”
Stryper has sold more than 8 million albums worldwide. The group’s unprecedented 1986 album “To Hell with the Devil” went double-platinum and was named one of the “100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music” by CCM Magazine.
3 Have You Purchased Stryper’s The Covering Yet? Listen to This Track! Amazing Stuff!!
So you haven’t purchased Stryper’s new album, The Covering yet? Let me whet your appetite! Listen to this new track, “God”. This might be the best Stryper song ever!
2 Stryper – The Covering (2011)
Stryper’s new album, The Covering is finally here! This album has been heavily hyped for close to a year now, and finally has received a proper release. Typically, cover albums are not really my cup of tea. In the case of Stryper, I have been a huge fan of the band since the ’80’s. I was definitely willing to give this CD a shot.
The Covering shows Stryper paying homage to all of the bands who influenced their career. Stryper didn’t try to reinvent the wheel when doing these songs. They did the songs in their traditional forms. The major difference on the Stryper version of these songs, are the awesome guitar tones of Oz Fox, and the excellent vocal harmonies of Michael Sweet. They did a terrific job with the songs, and The Covering shines as a result. Did Stryper pick the best songs to cover from the artists who inspired them? Probably not. There are better songs from Van Halen, Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne and Iron Maiden that Stryper could have covered. With that being said, the versions of the songs on The Covering, are handled with such grace, that I can find much fault with this CD at all.
I found it ironic that one of the choices on the CD was Black Sabbath’s “Heaven & Hell”. I was pleasantly surprised how good the Stryper version is. Michael Sweet has always been an incredible singer, and his vocals just blow me away on this song. It is awesome! One of my other favorites is the cover of UFO’s “Lights Out”. This version is so good, even Eddie Trunk will love it! Van Halen’s “On Fire” requires a lot of screaming, and Michael Sweet nails it perfectly on this one too!
To close out the album, there is a great new studio track “God” that has me clamoring to hear more new Stryper material. Hopefully 2012 will bring us another new Stryper disc. Until then, I will definitely be rocking out to The Covering. If you are a fan of Stryper, you gotta get this CD!! You won’t be disappointed!
For more information on Stryper, check them on the web at Stryper.com, or on Facebook at this link. If you have been having trouble finding a copy of The Covering in your local stores (as did I), you can purchase it here! You can check out previews of the songs below!
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track listing:
1. Set Me Free (Sweet)
2. Blackout (Scorpions)
3. Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath)
4. Lights Out (UFO)
5. Carry on Wayward Son (Kansas)
6. Highway Star (Deep Purple)
7. Shout it Out Loud (Kiss)
8. Over the Mountain (Ozzy Osbourne)
9. The Trooper (Iron Maiden)
10. Breaking the Law (Judas Priest)
11. On Fire (Van Halen)
12. Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin)
13. God (new studio track)
Stryper is:
Michael Sweet – Vocals
Robert Sweet – Guitars
Oz Fox – Drums
Timothy Gaines – Bass
0 Stryper Announces New North American Tour Dates!
Hot on the heels of their new release The Covering, Stryper has announced some new date for their North American tour!
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
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DATE
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CITY
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VENUE
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TICKETS
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INFO
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March 2, 2011
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Seattle, WA
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El Corazón
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||
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March 3, 2011
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Portland, OR
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Aladdin Theatre
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March 5, 2011
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Santa Clara, CA
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Avalon Nightclub
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| March 8, 2011 | San Juan Capistrano, CA | The Coach House | ||
| March 9, 2011 | Los Angeles, CA | Club Nokia LA Live | ||
| March 11, 2011 | Las Vegas, NV | Santa Fe Station Casino | ||
| March 13, 2011 | Lubbock, TX | Jake’s Sports Cafe | ||
| March 14, 2011 | Houston, TX | Scout Bar | ||
| March 15, 2011 | San Antonio, TX | Backstage Live | ||
| March 16, 2011 | Dallas, TX | Trees | ||
| NEW DATE! March 18, 2011 |
Nashville, TN | Wildhorse Saloon | ||
| NEW DATE! March 19, 2011 |
Detroit, MI | Harpos Concert Theatre |
TBA
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| NEW DATE! March 20, 2011 |
Chicago, IL | House of Blues Chicago | ||
| NEW DATE! March 22, 2011 |
Baltimore, MD | Bourbon Street Ballroom | ||
| NEW DATE! March 23, 2011 |
Pittsburgh, PA | Diesel |
TBA
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| NEW DATE! March 24, 2011 |
New York, NY | B.B. Kings | ||
| NEW DATE! March 26, 2011 |
Foxborough, MA | Showcase Live | ||
| NEW DATE! July 31, 2011 |
Zion, IL | Ignite Festival |
TBA
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1 New Stryper Song on iTunes
Stryper has released their cover of the Black Sabbath classic, “Heaven and Hell” on iTunes.
4 New Stryper Record In The Words
Michael Sweet posted the following update on Stryper’s blog:
Wow! Typically (and historically) speaking, a new Stryper record comes out every 2-3 years. I’m pleased to announce shocking news – we are starting pre-production at the end of February (of this year) and we begin recording the 2nd week of March (of this year)! We will have a new record completed by early May 2010 and we will be planning for a release later in the year!!!
I don’t want to say too much at this time but I will write an update by next week describing what we’re going to do and I can tell you this – it won’t be what anyone expects and it will show a completely different side to Stryper that the world has never heard before. Let the controversy begin………..
More to come at http://www.michaelsweet.com and http://www.stryper.com by 2/15.
The band is incredibly excited about this project and the label is equally as excited… Great things ahead!
Always,
Michael
2 Get A Free Download From Stryper
Starting tonight @ 9pm EST (until 12/13 @ 9pm EST) you can download the Stryper song “Alive” for FREE at http://www.stryper.com/
The pass code to enter is: 777
That’s it! Tell your friends! Give the gift of FREE Stryper music to everyone you know!
PLEASE share this and spread the word!
5 Stryper – Murder By Pride (2009)
Stryper is back with their follow up effort to 2005’s come back effort “Reborn”. I believe their new disc, Murder by Pride is going to please a lot of fans of classic Stryper.
Michael Sweet is in fine vocal form, and Oz Fox plays some excellent guitar on this disc.
Murder By Pride kicks off with the rocking tune “Eclipse of the Son”. This song gets the disc going quickly with its high speed rhythm, and howling vocals of Michael Sweet.
“4 Leaf Clover” keeps the pace going. Oz Fox plays some killer guitar riffs on this track!
Stryper covers the Boston classic, “Peace of Mind” with guitarist Tom Scholz. This is an awesome rendition of this tune. This could easily be the best cover song of 2009.
The title track “Murder By Pride” sounds like it could have come off of the “To Hell With the Devil” album. This song will become a new Stryper hit before long.
“I Believe” has a cool modern rock vibe to it, that should help it get some radio play. This is a cool tune.
For the U.S. release, this album ends with a couple of great rockers “Everything” and “My Love”. Both of these are easily my favorites from this record. Much to my surprise, is the sound of the rocker “My Love”. The opening riffs had me headbanging immediately. This song has big guitars, and drums and that wouldn’t be out of place on a Thin Lizzy record.
The European version of this album includes the song, “My Love, My Life, My Flame”. This is a piano based ballad that was originally on the now hard to find, Michael Sweet solo disc, Touched. This is a good song, and a nice bonus to those who grab the import CD.
Murder By Pride is another solid effort by Stryper. Long time fans of the band need to get this. Recommended!
For more information on Stryper, check out their myspace page at this link. You can purchase Murder by Pride here.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Eclipse of the Son
2. 4 Leaf Clover
3. Peace of Mind
4. Alive
5. The Plan
6. Murder by Pride
7. I Believe
8. Run In You
9. Love Is Why
10. Mercy Over Blame
11. Everything
12. My Love
13. My Love My Life My Flame
Stryper is:
Michael Sweet – vocals
Robert Sweet – drums
Oz Fox – Guitar, background vocals
Tracy Ferrie – bass
0 Listen to New Audio Clips From Stryper, Cain’s Offering and Outloud!
A bunch of new audio clips have been added in the HRH Sidebar today.
Check out the new samples from Stryper’s “Murder By Pride”, Outloud!, and Cain’s Offering, “Gather The Faithful” in the Frontier Records Sound Corner in the sidebar to the right –>.
Hard Rock Hideout 