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"And the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were: they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." (Revelation 20:10)
On the cover, besides (Isaiah 53:5), this passage also appears this time.
After 'The Yellow And Black Attack' (84) and 'Soldiers Under Command' (85), this is the third studio effort for the Mainframe band from the stars and stripes country.
It was October 86 when this album was released, initially gold and subsequently platinum, with which a war was declared: (Stryper vs Devil). Still, it remains the most successful album in the history of this genre, selling millions and millions of copies. The bees are always them: Michael Sweet with his voice that shatters glass and gives singing lessons to anyone, his brother Robert with his giant drum kit (almost 360°), now famous, rhythm very well together with Tim Gaines' bass the guitar virtuosos of Guitar Heroes Oz Fox.
I will try not to exalt the album because I want to be impartial, not biased.
Here's a tip: while you read the description of each track, listen to it (it gives a better idea). The album opens with an introductory track: "Abyss" which, with its 1.21 minutes full of keyboard sounds, creates the exact situation where they descend down into the underworld to settle accounts with him. The next one is the title track and just listening to it will suffice to understand how pissed off they are with him. The third is "Calling On You", very catchy and commercial (in the most noble sense of the word), for which they created a great music video. The fourth is "Free" whose simple but incisive melody will immediately stick in your mind. Now we have reached the first ballad of the album: "Honestly" one of the most beautiful songs ever heard that would touch the heart of the most insensitive being. This is followed by "The Way" the only track from Fox characterized by a powerful riff and ending with Michael's usual high note audible even by the deaf. The seventh is "Sing Along Song" nothing special but it sounds really good live!
"Holding On" and "Rockin' The World" are two nice quite rocking pieces that give a good impression always traveling on the same path. "All Of Me" is the second ballad of the album played only with a keyboard on which Sweet's voice rests, capable not only of dazing but also of sweetening in a sugary way. The concluding one is "More Than A Man" dedicated to Christ who, for them, as the song says, is "More Than A Man".
The artistic maturity of the band reached a peak capable of making itself heard even across the ocean and even the skeptics could no longer pretend to ignore them due to their indisputable power. I know most of you will call me a bigot but I don't give a damn because as one of their songs says (Soldiers under command): "we are not ashamed to stand up for what is right". In this world full of immoral music, at least there are them who go against the current!
I never believed such a group could exist because it seems tailor-made for me.
Goodness has balls!
(Stryper vs Devil)
…and the war continues…
PS: (Stryper and me vs Devil)
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 To Hell With the Devil (04:08)
Speak of the devil
He's no friend of mine
To turn from him is what we've got in mind
Just a liar and a thief
The word tells us so
We like to let him know
Where he can go
To hell with the devil
To hell with the devil
When things are going wrong
You know who to blame
He will always live
Up to his name
He's never been the answer
There's a better way
We are here to rock you
And to say...
03 Calling on You (03:59)
Inside of me there is a lonely place
Sometimes I just don't know it's there
But when I'm all alone
That's when I have to face...
The part of me that needs someone
To be by my side that's when I call on...
You, You make my life complete
You give me all I need
You help me through and through
I'm calling on you
I can't explain just what You do to me
My love grows stronger everyday
You give me love, You give me company
And when I have to face the rain
You bring sunshine into my life
04 Free (03:44)
Free to turn away - say goodbye
Free to walk away - and deny
The gift waiting for you
Whispers a still small voice
It's your choice - you're..
Free - Free to do what you want to
Choose your own destiny
Free to do what you want to
Free to open up - and believe
Free to simply ask - and receive
There's no better time than now
You've got the right to choose
You can't lose - you're...
05 Honestly (04:10)
Honestly, I believe in you
Do you trust in me
Patiently, I will stand by you
I will stand beside you faithfully
And through the years
I will be a friend
For always and forever
Call on me and I'll be there for you
I'm a friend who always will be true
And I love you can't you see
That I can say I love you honestly
Call on me and I'll be there for you
I'm a friend who always will be true
And I love you can't you see
That I love you honestly
And will never betray your trust in me
And I love you can't you see
That I can say I love you honestly
08 Holding On (04:16)
Everyone has been hurt before - love will come and go
When you put your faith in something so unsure
Never happy and wanting more - love will never grow
Till you put your faith in something that's secure
I'm holding on to the One from above
The One that's secure the one that has cured
My broken heart with perfect love
I never thought it would be this good
I never even dreamed that someone could make my
Life so complete
So if you're hurting and wanting more
No matter how it seems you can have it all
If you will just believe
That someone is there for you
To catch you when you fall
To make your life brand new
To give you all
09 Rockin' the World (03:30)
Singing out what I believe
Singing out for you
Never want to push you can't you see
We just want to spread the news
In a different way
Rock the world but rock it with the truth
You want it
We got it
Rock that lifts you up it doesn't bring you down
Stand for it
Fight for it
We are...
Rockin' the world for You, Holy one
Rockin' the world for You, and Your Son
If you want to rock the world
Come along with me
Spread the news to every boy and girl
Singing out what we believe
Singing out for truth
Opening our eyes so we can see
Rockin' the world for You, Holy one
Rockin' the world for You, and Your Son
Rockin' the world for You, Holy one
Rockin' the world for You, and Your Son
11 More Than a Man (04:34)
Verse 1
Long ago, there was a man who came
Came and died for you
You, you say you don't want to know
But I've got to tell you the truth
Chorus
God, I will follow you because you died for me
Gave to me your life to set me free
Anyone who asks shall receive
Jesus in your heart
It's time for you to start
Giving God all the glory
Verse 2
More than a man, God almighty
He created you
He's the One, the One who rules the land
He is the One I choose
Repeat Chorus
Bridge
All of the glory today
No matter what some people say
All of your faith
And your life will start to change
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