When We Were Kings - A Royal Record Posted September 23, 2024 By RyanAdams_NRT, Staff Reviewer
What You Need To Know Stryper is an iconic and unmistakenly foundational Christian rock and metal band from the roaring '80s anthems to the modern career spanning nearly 20 years. Their latest studio album, When We Were Kings, marks the second record in a year, following the acoustic To Hell With The Amps.
What It Sounds Like
Stryper's immediately recognizable style and sound are as clear on this record as on the last ten. The high-pitched harmonization from the band's gang vocals and lead singer Michael Sweet's solo singing is as melodic as ever, with excellent guitar solos and biblical messages holding it all together. If you've heard anything from Stryper in recent years, you'll recognize what you hear here.
Spiritual Highlights
It wouldn't surprise anyone to say Stryper continues to write excellent, biblically themed songs in this album. They know what is most important: timeless truths and hope everyone needs. Stryper challenges us through music to love our enemies with "Unforgiveable" and reminds us to be grateful even in hard times with "Grateful." The powerhouse song, "Trinity," focuses solely on the glory of God, while "End of Days," as the name suggests, is an epic song that paints a vivid picture of the end times. There's no shortage of what makes Stryper themselves.
Best Song
Stryper's new record has excellent music, forming a cohesive listening experience—from exciting worship songs to rock and roll anthems. "End of Days" is one of the best opening songs on a Stryper album. This song is an excellent demonstration of the band's musical excellence and sets the expectations for the album. Conceptually, it presents an epic narration of the end of days.
Bottom Line When We Were Kings continues to cement Stryper's legacy in the Christian rock and metal worlds. Their lifetime expertise is masterfully utilized throughout the album to create infectious choruses, invigorating guitar solos and musicianship, and foundational lyrics that'll resonate with every listen. As great as the songs are, if I put Stryper on shuffle without knowing the albums too well, I'm not sure I'd place these songs all on the same record, as many of the recent material has a similar sound and style. Regardless, these great songs will continue to prove Stryper's musical prowess and encourage listeners.
