STRYPER [Murder By Pride]
Posted July 21, 2009
By christianmusicreview,
[MAIN REVIEW]
In 1984, Stryper broke on to the scene with their debut EP Yellow and Black Attack, and have since gone on to sell 8 million albums and tour the world spreading an inspirational message through their branded sound of rock songs, heavy guitars, and pristine harmony vocals. The group’s unprecedented 1986 album To Hell with the Devil went platinum and was named one of the “100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music” by CCM Magazine.
For me “Murder By Pride” is a great listen, definitely the best album I've heard by STRYPER since "To Hell With The Devil". In fact, having listened to both albums consistently recently, I have to give “Murder By Pride” the top billing as the best overall album by STRYPER. Opening track “Eclipse Of The Son” sets the tone nicely for this very solid album. If you liked 80’s metal bands Poison, Guns N Roses and Whitesnake, then you’ll be hooked right away by the great dual guitar solos and pulsing and catchy melodies of this entire album. Since those 80’s metal bands have all recently attempted comeback albums, I’ll also suggest that STRYPER has outdone all of them with “Murder By Pride”.
“4 Leaf Clover” might be the signature song from this album. I am very impressed musically by the entire album, and especially by this song. It has a great driving rock beat and Michael Sweet’s vocals have never sounded better. In 2008, Michael Sweet joined legendary band BOSTON on vocals and guitar Murder by Pride includes a great cover of the BOSTON song "Peace of Mind" that features BOSTON guitarist Tom Scholz on the recording.
“Alive” is a great ballad in the style of all-time STRYPER great song “Honestly”. What’s refreshing is that lyrically there is no doubt that the band is Christian as just about every song features a crying out to God, and at the end of “Alive” the painfully honest acknowledgment that God loves us unconditionally regardless of our doubts and loneliness. Michael recently lost his wife to cancer and this song brings out the emotional side of that painful experience. “After recently learning about how precious life is and how often we take for granted the time that we have here on earth, I realized that this tour may very well be the most important tour in the history of Stryper," says Michael Sweet. "Tim, Robert, Tracy, Oz and myself are all stepping out together to show the importance of unity and forgiveness and the only way to show this is to live it. We've been faced with challenges over the past 25 years but two things have remained certain within our hearts and within our lives - the power of God's love and the beauty of God's grace."
“The Plan” and title song “Murder By Pride” are thematically linked based on the concept of dying to the great sin of pride and living in God’s will. “Murder By Pride” has a very convicting chorus: “Gotta fight, gotta stop living a lie, Gotta fall, gotta lay down and die, Gotta stand and run to the other side, Gotta live or it’s Murder By Pride”. The tempo slows down a bit with “I Believe”, “Run In You” and “Love Is Why”, however the flow is natural and allows you to really reflect on the answer to the questions of self-doubt raised earlier in the album, particularly in “Love Is Why”, which includes a bridge based on the words of 1st Corinthians 13:4: “Love is patient, Love is kind”. Also, the band’s name STRYPER is based Isaiah 53:5 (KJV), “With His Stripes We Are Healed.”
Closing songs “Everything” and the re-recording of “My Love (I’ll Always Show)” from 1984’s Yellow and Black Attack bring back the rock and ends like the album begins with Stryper's trademark blend of melodic vocals, heavy guitar licks and pounding drums.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
For me, the standout songs are “4 Leaf Clover”, “Peace of Mind”, “Alive”, “Murder By Pride”, “I Believe”, “Love Is Why” and “Everything” and I truly believe this is the best overall album by this legendary band.
Rating: 9.2 out of 10 (92%, A)
Review written by: Kevin Davis | Review can also be found here.
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