Expressing concerns over the album title, leading national retail chain Walmart has refused to carry chart-topping rock band Stryper‘s upcoming 10th studio album, “God Damn Evil” — available April 20, 2018 from Frontiers Music SRL. Several Christian retail chains have also objected to the title and declined to carry God Damn Evil in their stores.
“We’re disappointed,” says Stryper frontman Michael Sweet. “Stryper has always been about making people think outside the box. Our new album title God Damn Evil is a statement that’s needed in our society. We’ve seen evil rise to new levels and this title is simply a prayer request asking God to damn or condemn all the evil around us. Many chains have joined us in making such a statement. Walmart unfortunately has not. The odd thing is of all the chains out there we assumed Walmart would be one to understand exactly what our point and purpose is. Unfortunately not. Although we respect their decision and what’s done is done, it’s frustrating to see something that’s meant for good get misinterpreted and misunderstood.”
Rocking since 1984, Stryper is responsible for such classic ’80s metal albums as “Soldiers Under Command,” “To Hell with the Devil” and “In God We Trust.” In fact, Stryper is the first band (and the only Christian band) to ever have two songs in MTV’s Top 10 simultaneously with their hits “Free” and “Honestly.” After a sabbatical for much of the 1990’s, Stryper returned strong in the early 21st century. To date, the Dove Award-winning and GRAMMY-nominated band has sold over 10 million records worldwide.
“God Damn Evil” is the follow-up to Strypers ninth studio album, “Fallen” (Frontiers Music SRL), which released in 2015 and debuted at the top of the Billboard rock charts. 2016’s 30th Anniversary “To Hell With The Devil” tour saw record crowds and featured the band’s largest sound and lighting production in nearly two decades.
The new Stryper album is the first release since the recent addition of bass player Perry Richardson, a founding member of the multi-platinum band Firehouse. He joins original members Michael Sweet (vocals and guitar), Robert Sweet (drums) and Oz Fox (guitar).
Tracklist:
01. Take It To The Cross
02. Sorry
03. Lost
04. God Damn Evil
05. You Don’t Even Know Me
06. The Valley
07. Sea Of Thieves
08. Beautiful
09. Can’t Live Without Your Love
10. Own Up
11. The Devil Doesn’t Live Here
“God Damn Evil” is available now for pre-order at all major retailers including Amazon and iTunes
The following limited edition pre-order offers are also available:
Stryper Webstore: Includes EXCLUSIVE yellow colored vinyl (limited to 100 copies worldwide), autographed vinyl test pressings, EXCLUSIVE t-shirt design (Stryper store ONLY), autographed CDs and more! Pre-order HERE
Frontiers USA Webstore: Includes EXCLUSIVE gold colored vinyl (limited to 100 copies worldwide), autographed vinyl test pressings, EXCLUSIVE t-shirt design (Frontiers store ONLY), autographed CDs and more! Pre-order HERE
Frontiers EU Webstore: Includes EXCLUSIVE silver colored vinyl (limited to 100 copies worldwide) and more! Pre-order HERE
Stryper will return to the road this year, kicking off the God Damn Evil World Tour at the Frontiers Rock Festival in Milan, Italy on April 28th.
UPCOMING SHOWS
APRIL 28 – FRONTIERS ROCK FESTIVAL – LIVE CLUB AT TREZZO, MILAN, ITALY
MAY 5 – M3 ROCK FESTIVAL, COLUMBIA, MD (NEW DATE!)
MAY 6 – AGORA THEATRE, CLEVELAND, OH (NEW DATE!)
MAY 8 – GRAMERCY THEATRE, NEW YORK, NY
MAY 9 – STONE PONY, ASBURY, NJ
MAY 10 – JERGLE’S RHYTHM GRILLE, WARRENDALE, PA
MAY 12 – MIXX 360, MALDEN, MA
MAY 13 – FISH HEAD CANTINA, HALETHORPE, MD
MAY 14 – SELLERSVILLE THEATER, SELLERSVILLE, PA
(Michael & Oz Live Acoustic Performance)
MAY 16 – DIESEL CONCERT LOUNGE, CHESTERFIELD, MI
MAY 18 – GREEN BAY DISTILLERY, GREEN BAY, WI
MAY 22 – THE SIDE ROOM IN RALSTON ARENA, RALSTON, NE (Full Band Acoustic Performance) (NEW DATE!)
MAY 23 – VAL AIR BALLROOM, WEST DES MOINES, IA
MAY 25 – STAR PAVILION @ AMERISTAR CASINO HOTEL, KANSAS CITY, MO
MAY 26 – BMI SPEEDWAY, VERSAILLES, OH (NEW DATE!)
MAY 27 – BRAT FEST, MADISON, WI (FREE CONCERT!)
MAY 30 – IDL BALLROOM, TULSA, OK
MAY 31 – PROOF BAR ROOFTOP LOUNGE, HOUSTON, TX
JUNE 1 – GAS MONKEY LIVE!, DALLAS, TX
JUNE 3 – PHARR EVENTS CENTER, PHARR, TX
JUNE 5 – SAM’S BURGER JOINT, SAN ANTONIO, TX
JUNE 7 – CENTER STAGE, ATLANTA, GA (NEW DATE!)
JUNE 8 – THE FOUNDATION PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, SPINDALE, NC
JUNE 9 – THE CANNERY BALLROOM, NASHVILLE, TN (NEW DATE!)
JULY 7 – BARCELONA ROCK FEST, BARCELONA, SPAIN
SEPT 7 – GRAND ROCK TEMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL, HINCKLEY, MN (NEW DATE!)
SEPT 8 – THE ARCADA THEATRE, ST. CHARLES, IL
SEPT 13 – HOUSE OF BLUES, ORLANDO, FL (NEW DATE!)
SEPT 15 – “ROCK IN VIVO FEST” @ VIVO BEACH CLUB, ISLA VERDE, PUERTO RICO (NEW DATE!)
OCTOBER 10 – LEATHERHEADS SPORTS BAR, DRAPER, UT (NEW DATE!)
OCT 19 – THE VENUE, DENVER, CO
OCT 20 – LEATHERHEADS SPORTS BAR, DRAPER, UT (NEW DATE!)
OCT 25 – THE MARQUEE, TEMPE, AZ
OCT 26 – RIALTO THEATRE, TUSCON, AZ (NEW DATE!)
OCT 31 – WHISKEY A GO GO, WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA
NOV 4 – ACE OF SPADES, SACRAMENTO, CA
Additional tour dates to be added.
Stryper‘s ninth and latest album, “Fallen”, has been released on October 16th. 2015 via Frontiers Records, the album entered The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 43 with first-week sales of just over 10,000 units — nearly all from pure album sales.
Our review of “Fallen” can be found here.
Weblinks: Website / Facebook / Twitter
Video (audio) for ‘Lost’
Video for ‘Sorry’
Lyric video for ‘Take It To The Cross’