I can remember hearing Stryper referred to as the “bible thumping bumblebees” back in the 80s. The whole Christian rock label back then seem to be a double edged sword for the guys, as it both helped them and held them back to a certain degree. I think quite a few critics , as well as music lovers, never truly gave them the opportunity they deserved because of that stereoteyped label. Well, here we are 30 years later and lead singer Michael Sweet is talking a big game about their upcoming album No More Hell To Pay. He’s calling it their best album to date, and although he is talking the talk, I do believe the band is walking the walk as well.
I was excited when I first heard about the band recording a brand new album because they had a lot of momentum in their favor coming off of 2011’s The Covering, an album of cover songs, and 2013’s Second Coming, which saw the band re-record some of their early material. There was something about those two albums, especially with the latter, that made you sense a change in the band. There seemed to be a new passion burning, a hunger that hadn’t been heard in them in quite a few years. The question was, how would that translate on the new album? Well, fans around the world are about to have that question answered, so let me warn you to prepare to be blown away.
I guess you could say that the opening track “Revelation” sets the tone for the album. As the guitars begin to ring in, you get a sense that this is going to be a very interesting album. The heaviness is there, the hooks are there, a tasty solo is also present, the harmonizing is there and the vocal delivery of Michael Sweet seems stronger than ever. Although there are other songs whose tempo is faster, this track definitely lets you know that the yellow and black attack is back! That takes us into track number two, which is also the title track and first single and it’s textbook Stryper at its finest.
“Saved By Love” is the first track where the band begins to press the metal down a little bit more and the tempo picks up just a bit, 
which is a common thing on the album. A cover song is up next and the boys are no stranger to those. All one has to do if reference their cover of Earth, Wind and Fire’s “Shining Star” as well as their 2011 cover CD entitled, cleverly enough, The Covering. The song is “Jesus Is Just Alright” and it’s been covered by everyone (from The Doobie Brothers to DC Talk). Although the song originally came out in 1966 by The Art Reynold Singers, it sounds contemporary, as if it could be something that Stryper had written themselves.
If you were a fan of the band in the 80s, then you know they definitely had a knack for those sometimes sappy power-ballads. Well, never fear; there is one on here, but the bar on the power-ballad game plan has been raised quite a bit. “The One” is a very strong song that’s catchy and memorable after the first listen, but free of all the saccharine found in a lot of those 80s power infused love-fests. My two stand-out tracks would be “Marching Into Battle” and “Sticks and Stones,” both of which rock, but have different tempos that really set them apart.
Overall, this album should have been released in 1988 as the follow-up to their huge album To Hell With The Devil, instead of the over sanitized In God We Trust. Don’t get me wrong. It was a good album, although it was severely overpolished and produced. This album is a little bit darker and a little bit heavier, but it also doesn’t stray too far from all the elements that made us love Stryper in the first place. The riffs laid down by Michael and Oz Fox are some of their best work ever, while Robert Sweet’s still a beast on those drums. Bassist Tim Gaines’ presence seems to be heard louder and stronger than on any other Stryper release that I can remember. As for Michael Sweet, how in the heck has he managed to preserve that amazing voice along with his ear piercing screams?
Watch the Stryper – No More Hell to Pay (Official Video / New Album 2013)
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After 30 years, will the band ever get over that stereotyping that comes with the label “Christian rock”? Well, probably not, but that won’t stop them from wearing their bibles on their sleeves. Their message has never been louder and clearer in their entire 30 year career. I usually cringe when a band says their new album is their best album ever, or start talking about their new album sounding like (insert band’s most popular album) because it usually is a letdown. Well, Michael Sweet, I tip my hat to you sir, because I agree with you 100%. This is the best that the band has ever delivered. Maybe, just maybe, this new album will help the band get the recognition they have long deserved.
By: Johnny Price, Senior Journalist
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