Description

Yellow vinyl with pop-up gatefold cover. Limited 777 numbered copies

Much has changed since the yellow and black attacked TV screens via Dial-MTV during hair metal’s golden era. Grunge, punk-pop, electronica, rap-metal, and countless other styles have had their seasons in the sun, and a new Stryper video on TRL would be as laughable as another Ross Perot run for president. Bound and determined to shatter the notion that they were merely another hair metal band whose members decided to dress like bees and use The Lord merely as a marketing gimmick (and a reason to pelt their audience with Bibles), Stryper reassembled in 2003 for a brief tour, no doubt inspired by the slew of hip young bands with Christian messages, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. This gave bandleader Michael Sweet the confidence to round up the rest of the Strypers (minus original bassist Tim Gaines) and return to the studio. Reborn isn’t so much a return to form as it is an introduction to Stryper for a generation whose members may have been too young to experience the band the first time around. Sweet’s voice hasn’t suffered one bit in the years out of the spotlight — he doesn’t go for the high notes the way he used to, but such theatrics would only further reinforce the notion that they’re a novelty act reuniting for a quick influx of cash. This is hardly the case here, but the messages that were once subtle (or at least subtle enough to top the charts of MTV back in the day) are now full-on and unapologetic in their spiritual message. And this reborn band really deliver an outstanding, impressing and even surpising great heavy metal album. If you thought this band was a big joke in the past then check this out as this is much more uproachable, accessibly great rock/metal similar to many of the best acts such as Iron Maiden, Def Leppard and so on.

Track list:
1. Open Your Eyes
2. Reborn
3. When Did I See You Cry
4. Make You Mine
5. Passion
6. Live Again
7. If I Die
8. Wait For You
9. Rain
10. 10.000 Years
11. I.G.W.T.