Like you said Joker,not a complete disaster but it is my least favorite Stryper album.It has a few good catchy songs but I miss the dual leads and the screams of old.Im glad they realized their mistake and corrected it on the next one.

Did someone say "bukkake tsunami"???

Probably one of the most awaited comeback albums for me, and I wasn't exactly eager to hear it! Is that even possible? Well, you see, Stryper holds that special place in my heart that only a handful of bands ever do. So as a huge fan of the band, I was thrilled that they were back touring again. And as a natural progression of this, I was hoping for a new album. Only problem was that the last 2 new tracks Stryper gave us were the ones on the 'Seven' compilation album, and none of them were actually all that great. In fact, they sounded more like something Michael Sweet would have recorded for one of his solo efforts. And when rumors started flouting on the net, and when the band themselves told us, that they were heading in a more modern direction, then I feared the worst. I actually thought that this would end up on the Biggest Disappointment place on my top 20 list this year, before I even heard a complete song off of this album. 'Reborn' is definitely a more modern version of the band, and I think most of this material also could have fit on any of Michael's solo albums. But, I also get a Stryper vibe while listening to this album. The harmony vocals are still intact, and so is Michael's excellent voice. And no one can take away the fact that he is still an excellent songwriter, delivering these melodic tunes we, the fans, can't get enough of. So despite the non-existent guitar-solos, the fact that they are no longer a band one can even remotely label metal, Stryper are still a band that do what they do very well. I also like the fact that they are still pretty bold lyrically!

"Rain" originally appeared on the independent version of Michael Sweet's "Truth" album. The re-recorded version of "In God We Trust", here entitled "I.G.W.T." was totally unnecessary though.

Sadly I got the MTM version of this album, with the most boring of the 3 cover arts available.

Killer tracks: Open your Eyes, Reborn, Passion, Rain

I was seriously excited for this album, despite the fact that it was pretty much going to be a Michael solo album in all but name (not that i dislike his solo stuff at all, but it's a different beast to Stryper). Whilst the sound was modern, the look was modern, and I enjoyed the music, it just didn't feel like Stryper to me. Despite the strength of the songwriting, it lacked the identity that the band had, with only the vocal harmonies on When Did I See You Cry having that trademark Stryper sound. In terms of a return, it was a disappointment, and not an album I play much at all.

Stryper - The Roxx Regime Demos
Released July 10, 2007
Big 3 Records

Track List:
1. "From Wrong To Right" (4:00)
2. "My Love I'll Always Show" (3:28)
3. "Loud N Clear" (3:42)
4. "You Know What To Do" (5:04)
5. "You Won't Be Lonely" (3:55)
6. "Co'mon Rock" (3:42)
7. "Tank" [instrumental] (:43)
8. "Honestly" (4:05)

What is a band that has been around for a while to do with rare material that has been circulating in bootleg form for years? Well, clean it up and release it! And that is exactly Michael Sweet, I mean Stryper did.

The Roxx Regime Demos have been circulating for years, since before Stryper hit the big time. I still have a copy (of a copy of a copy, etc) on cassette of this from the 80's. Obviously it has that well known cassette tape hiss (and a tape of tape of tape always seems to have). In that respect, it is nice to have a cleaner version that eliminates the hiss.

The demos are basically the earliest versions of The Yellow And Black Attack (minus Loving You) and they are very, very close to the versions we have come to know. While TYABA sounds raw compared to how Stryper would sound with a more of a recording budget, the demos are very raw and have more energy than is present on TYABA. Granted, there are a few musical mistakes on the tracks but that adds to the character of the demo.

Also include on the demo is the original version of "My Love I'll Always Show". I remember the first time I heard this version and wondered why in the world Michael Sweet decided to "wimp out" the song on the re-release of "The Yellow And Black Attack". The track has a cool main riff that would have fit well on the original TYABA. Fortunately the band would re-record the original version for their next album.

A Robert Sweet drum solo is also included, but it seems to be a shorter version than appeared on the original demo.

For some reason (I guess to make the release longer), the demo version of Stryper's biggest hit, Honestly, is included. It was completely unnecessary to include Michael Sweet's TASCAM 4 track Portastudio home demo of this track.

All in all a cool glimpse into the early history of Stryper. Not a must have for everybody but a must have for collectors that want a complete Stryper collection.

I am glad they released this. The original version of "My Love I'll Always Show" is so far superior to the album version.

Before there was Stryper, there was Roxx Regime. That was the name they used when they signed to Enigma Records back in 1984. And that was the name on the demo tape that got the interest of the label boss way back when. For years fans have been searching for the rarest of the rare; the bands first demo. Finally we have them available in CD format. Back in 1983 Roxx Regime was a part of the growing LA glam scene. The bands were hungry, raw and very unpolished. In fact, this is very far from the overproduced stuff most bands like Ratt, Poison and Mötley Crüe got famous for. This is gritty and gravelling heavy metal, played with flash, and dare I say balls! Save for the drum solo, named "Tank", every song presented here got used on subsequent Stryper releases. But the versions on this CD are quite different from how they sounded on the albums. Especially "My Love I'll Always Show" got a huge overhaul when they recorded it again for 'The Yellow And Black Attack'. Here it is a rockin' tune, and not the ballad we all know it to be. If you've heard the first, original mix of Stryper's debut album, you have a good idea of what these demo songs sound like. "Honestly" is the only ballad here.

What took me by surprise was the lyrics. I was under the impression that Roxx Regime was a secular band, and that they changed their name, and the lyrics, after they got a record deal, thus making the original demo versions songs with non-Christian lyrics. Guess I was wrong. Or perhaps even earlier demos exist?

I also think they could have done a better job with the packaging. Only 1 small picture on the inside of the booklet is an actual Roxx Regime picture. The rest are all from the Stryper days. Still, it is cool to finally have these old songs. It's a real gem for us long time Stryper fans.

I thought "it's about time" when this was released.

Stryper - Murder By Pride
Released July 21, 2009

Track List:
1. "Eclipse Of The Son" (4:04)
2. "4 Leaf Clover" (3:42 )
3. "Peace Of Mind" (3:58)
4. "Alive" (3:36 )
5. "The Plan" (3:10)
6. "Murder By Pride" (3:18)
7. "Mercy Over Blame" (4:07)
8. "I Believe" (3:43)
9. "Run In You" (4:15)
10. "Love Is Why" (4:07)
11. "Everything" (4:26)
12. "My Love (I’ll Always Show)" (3:14)

After the extensive touring of Stryper since the reunion, Michael Sweet decided it was time for another Stryper album. This time, he heard the criticism of the last album, Reborn, which is widely considered Stryper's worst album. Honestly (pun intended), Reborn was a Micheal Sweet solo album with Stryper's name on it. This time around, Michael decided to make a more Stryper - sounding album and add the dueling solos back into the songs.

Fortunately Michael remembered how to write great Hard Rock/Metal tracks. The first track 'Eclipse Of The Son" is a more modern track, but rocks hard and is a great way to start the album. Then "4 Leaf Clover" kicks in all it's Stryper sound glory and is one of the best tracks Stryper has written in years!!!

The band had previously released "Peace Of Mind" as a single very early on. This grew out of Michael's playing with Boston and even includes Tom Schloz on guitar. It is a fantastic cover song and would lead to Stryper's next release of cover songs.

Other standout tracks include "The Plan", "Murder By Pride" and "Mercy Over Blame". Stryper also finally recorded the real version of "My Love I'll Always Show" which make up for what Michael did to that track for TYABA re-release.....

The album only suffers during the ballads, of which there are too many and they are forgettable. I tend to skip those tracks on the album.

Once again, this is a Michael Sweet solo album with special guest Oz Fox on Guitar and BGV's. Tim Gains had once again left the band, but that was pretty standard. He hasn't played on a Stryper album since Soldiers. The big shock was that Robert Sweet doesn't play drums on the release. Supposedly, Michael didn't feel Robert was up to par to play on a studio album. So, he replaced his own brother on the album with Kenny Aronoff who has played with an extensive and impressive list of studio albums and tours as a hired gun. Kenny is currently taking Chad Smith's place in Chickenfoot while Chad tours with his other band. The other hired gun is Tracy Ferrie on bass. He was hired to tour with Stryper and has played on the last two albums.

Overall, this is a good album and a solid follow up to Against The Law. Compared to Reborn, it's a classic and is a great listen.

25 years later, and Stryper are still at it! That's gotta count for something, be it talent, staying power or something else. Personally I think it's a mix of everything mentioned. Sure, I haven't been overtly thrilled by anything released with the Stryper name since 'Against The Law'. But I still count myself as a huge fan of the band, and look forward to learn what the band has in store for us next.

'Murder By Pride' is the bands 7th studio effort. As usual it was proceeded with rumors and controversy, mostly raised by the fact that Robert was not playing drums on the CD this time around. I never really found out what the reason behind this was. But it's not the first time a Stryper studio session is a different thing than the band on stage. So I chose to concentrate on the finished product instead. I was hoping for yet another quality product from my "heroes". But when the first sound clips were posted all over the net, I dared to hope for another classic album!

This time I am so thrilled to report that the band outdid themselves! 'Murder By Pride', whilst having a modern sheen both production wise and musically, reeks of classic Stryper! It's a mix of everything this band has done up 'til now. But it leans more toward the 3 or 4 first records than anything else. "4 Leaf Clover" & "Mercy Over Blame" are total throwbacks to the 80's, whilst "I Believe" sounds more like something from 'Reborn'. Even though this is an up-tempo ballad (if such a thing exists), it is still much heavier than most of the songs from the mentioned album. I am totally in love with all of the songs from 'Murder By Pride', and find myself constantly changing favorites, and discovering new stuff.

The band is also shining as individual players. The guitar solos are back, and Tracy's bass is adding a touch that was missing from most other Stryper albums. I'm not saying that he is a better player than Tim was, but Tracy is vividly heard in the mix, and the clear production makes him shine. Another member who shines here is Michael. His voice is just as clear and strong as it was 25 years ago. This time he has composed a full-on Stryper album. The songs sounds like Stryper, and not Michael Sweet solo. Some might complain that there are too many ballads here. But show me a Stryper album without a ballad or two? The Boston cover, with Tom Schultz on guitar, fits perfectly with the other songs. And the new version of "My Love (I'll Always Show", inspired by the original Roxx Regime version, is also cool.

To me, this is the best album Stryper could have given me at this point in time. It's a bonafide classic in my ears, and I could not have been happier with it.

Killer tracks: All of them

I bought this, opened it, got sidetracked, and then loaned it to my nephew. Moved to Montana and never got it back

Still haven't heard this one for whatever reason. If memory serves, I'd caught a few sneak peek clips on YouTube prior to the release and wasn't terribly impressed so I never went out & bought the album. Maybe one of these days I'll get around to it.

Stryper - The Covering
Released Feb 15, 2011
Big 3 Records

Track List:
1. Set Me Free (Sweet) (3:44)
2. Blackout (Scorpions) (3:56)
3. Heaven And Hell (Black Sabbath) (6:06)
4. Lights Out (UFO) (3:44)
5. Carry On Wayward Son (Kansas) (5:16)
6. Highway Star (Deep Purple) (5:44)
7. Shout It Out Loud (Kiss) (3:15)
8. Over The Mountain (Ozzy Osbourne) (4:20)
9. The Trooper (Iron Maiden) (3:53)
10. Breaking The Law (Judas Priest) (3:01)
11. On Fire (Van Halen) (3:08)
12. Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin) (2:16)
13. God (4:20)

During the Murder By Pride tour, Stryper performed their cover of "Peace Of Mind" by Boston. They also added another cover, the Priest classic "Breaking The Law", and this led to the idea for the next Stryper album. The album would be a cover album and they would cover songs by bands that influenced the members of Stryper as well as songs they had performed live back in their Roxx Regime days. The album would be called "The Covering", a nod to their faith as well as the fact that it is a cover album.

Releasing cover albums has been a trend for older bands these days with some good and some disasters. Fortunately Stryper's is an excellent platter. The band pulls it off by doing faithful covers of the songs playing them their way and not trying to be clones of the original performers. The songs sound like Stryper playing the tracks as originally written. Each member's style of playing (and Michael's singing) shine through. They didn't pull any of the "let's modernize these classics" crap that others have done nor did they try to make the songs sound different (see Queensryche's cover album).

Something else happened on this album that hasn't happened sing Soldiers Under Command - Michael, Robert, Tim and Oz all play on this album. The only outside performer played keys on this album. Tim and Robert were not replaced by studio musicians - (Tim did play on Against The Law (aside from Shining Star), but some of Robert's tracks were replaced by a studio drummer) Finally Stryper released a STRYPER album as opposed to a Michael Sweet solo album. The albums sounds like Stryper and does a great job of capturing how Stryper sounds live.

It's hard to pick out a stand out track, but Heaven and Hell might just be that track. The band just nails this one! It was also a highlight of the show I caught during this tour.

Black Out, Lights Out, Highway Star, On Fire, Set Me Free, Immigrant Song and Over The Mountain are all GREAT covers! Michael Sweet just nails the vocals on The Trooper - and nailing studio album Bruce Bruce is not an easy thing to do!

The band does great versions of "Shout It Out Loud" and "Breaking The Law", but they are the weakest tracks and I wish they had picked other KISS/Priest tracks. Stryper singing Hotter Than Hell or Love Gun would be classic!!!!! Of course, the lyrical content probably doesn't fit the Stryper image and I am sure that went into the decision process. Would have loved to hear a cover of Sinner, The Ripper, Victims of Change, Electric Eye, etc as opposed to "Breaking The Law", but that is one of the two tracks that gave them the idea for this album.

The album closes with the only Stryper original track, God. This is absolutely the best song they have written/recorded since the 80's! Hopefully this is a indication of the direction that Stryper will go when they finally record a new studio album of new tracks. According to Michael Sweet's facebook posts, the band already have the next album 90% finished (just needs some additional vocals) and the new album is a re-record of Stryper classic....... How about a new, METAL album in the classic Styper sound Michael? I will even forgive you if you include ONE ballad!!!!!!

The album is a great listen and worth picking up!

Thus ends the Stryper discography that will updated when Stryper releases the "re-record" album.......

I wasn't all that enthused by REBORN, skipped MURDER BY PRIDE, but was optimistic about THE COVERING - I mean, how hard could it be for the Stryped Ones to whip up a decent set o' cover tunes?

Thankfully they didn't disappoint. This thing ruled my CD player for quite a few weeks after I acquired it. Not every track is a home run (I felt the Ozzy, Maiden and Priest covers were kinda weak, due mainly to Michael's vocals being too...well..."sweet" to pull them off) but "Lights Out," "Set Me Free," etc. were quite tasty.

This disc renewed my faith in Stryper and I'm lookin' forward to where they go from here.

My favorite covers disc this side of Tesla's Real to Reel discs.

The tour for 'Murder By Pride' saw Stryper celebrating their 25th Anniversary. This tour started out with both Tracy and Tim alternating on bass. But as the tour traveled on, Tim once again became Stryper's only bass-player. The tour seemed to rejuvenate the foursome, and they decided to go back in time to celebrate not only themselves, but also the bands that influenced them in the beginning. Thus the aptly entitled 'The Covering' sees the light of day.

Yes, this is Stryper recording 12 of their favorite songs, done Stryper style! I've always been a sucker for a good covers album, and this one is just phenomenal! The clue to a successful tribute album is to do the original songs justice, but at the same time make them fit your own style. Stryper have done just that. I must admit that reading the track list, before hearing a note from 'The Covering', made me more than anxious. How on earth could Stryper do Iron Maiden's 'The Trooper', or Black Sabbath's 'Heaven And Hell' any justice? It just seemed so far fetched. Obviously the boys blew me away, as they nailed every song here. Sure, some to a lesser degree than others, but I think that has more to do with my own preference when it comes to the songs they chose to use. All in all I find that they have done a splendid job in not changing too much from the originals, yet enough to make it sound like this is the way these songs would have sounded if the Stryper guys were the writers of these songs. A solo is played differently, a drum patter is altered, and most noticeable; Michael brings his own charismatic voice to the table. I'd be hard pressed to single out any favorites on 'The Covering', as they are all very strong. The span of bands vary from '70's hard rock, through glam to the '80s metal. All bands and styles instrumental in Stryper's musical upbringing.

The CD ends with a brand new Stryper original, called 'God'. This is a scorching metal number that reflects back to the heavy metal roots of the band. I know they have tried to convince the world that they were never a heavy metal band, but here they are totally embracing the sound of their earlier albums, like 'Soldiers Under Command' and 'The Yellow And Black Attack'. My jaw drops to the floor every time I hear this songs, then a smile is plastered all over my face, and I am über anxious to hear a new album from Stryper again, given that they fill an albums worth of material as strong as 'God'. Welcome back, boys!