Jorge Fretes of Spain’s GoetiaMedia.com recently conducted an interview with guitarist/vocalist Michael Sweet of legendary hard rockers Stryper. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below.
“No More Hell To Pay”, the new Stryper album, sold around 9,600 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 35 on The Billboard 200 chart.
“Second Coming”, a collection of re-recorded versions of Stryper‘s classic songs, opened with around 4,400 units back in April to land at No. 117. Stryper‘s covers album, 2011’s “The Covering”, registered a first-week tally of around 4,600 copies to enter the chart at No. 175.
The band’s previous collection of new material, 2009’s “Murder By Pride”, premiered with 5,900 copies to debut at No. 73.
“No More Hell To Pay” was released on November 1st in Europe and November 5th in North America via Frontiers Records. The effort was made available in two formats — standard CD and deluxe digipak featuring exclusive video content. Produced by Stryper guitarist/vocalist Michael Sweet himself, the set features some of Stryper’s strongest and heaviest material ever.
Sweet also commented, “No More Hell To Pay” marks our 30 year anniversary and what a journey it has been! It’s our eleventh studio release since our first album in 1984 [“The Yellow & Black Attack”] and it’s quite possibly our best record to date. Why? It’s everything you might expect from a Stryper record – high octane vocals, layered vocal harmonies, guitar solos galore, driving drums and bass and an energy that hasn’t been achieved since our glory days.
The message is equally as powerful as it offers hope and inspiration to anyone listening. If you’re a Stryper fan, it’ll make you proud to be one. If you’re not, listen with caution as you may actually become one. We’ve been waving the striped flag for 30 years and we’re proud to say that it’s an honor to still be making music with you and for you. The best is yet to come and it’s coming November 5th!”
“No More Hell To Pay” will include Stryper‘s cover version of “Jesus Is Just Alright”, a gospel song written by Arthur Reid Reynolds. Mainman Michael Sweet said, “It rivals our cover of Earth Wind & Fire‘s ‘Shining Star’ — riffs!”
“Jesus Is Just Alright” was first recorded by Reynolds‘ own group, The Art Reynolds Singers, on their 1966 album, “Tellin’ It Like It Is”. It was later covered by The Byrds, Dc Talk and The Doobie Brothers.
Regarding the musical direction of Stryper‘s new material, the band’s guitarist/vocalist Michael Sweet told Screamer Magazine: “The song ‘God’, which is on ‘The Covering’; if you took that song along with ‘Bleeding From Inside Out’ and ‘Blackened’ [from ‘Second Coming’],and you put it on the same album, that’s a pretty good indication of where we are going and where we are at right now. But at the same time this album is all its own.”
He added: “Every song has a hooky guitar riff. Everything is in minor keys, so it’s a little darker sounding and a little tougher. It’s definitely our heaviest record and I think people will be pleasantly surprised.
“The people who do like the poppier side of Stryper, like ‘Calling On You’ and ‘Holding On’, this record isn’t going to really give them that. There are a lot of vocal hooks and melodies going on, but it’s a little darker, and a little edgier. To reference, there is less songs like ‘Calling On You’ and more songs like ‘To Hell With The Devil’. It’s more in that vein than the poppier vein.”
To read our review for “No More Hell To Pay” click here.
Tracklist:
1. Revelation
2. No More Hell To Pay
3. Saved By Love
4. Jesus Is Alright
5. The One
6. Legacy
7. Marching Into Battle
8. Te Amo
9. Sticks & Stones
10. Water Into Wine
11. Sympathy
12. Renewed
Stryper 2013/2014 Tour Dates
11/23/13 Peoria, IL Bradley University Renaissance Coliseum**
01/03/14 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Casino FREE SHOW!
01/04/14 New York, NY Stage 48**
04/24/14 Etobicoke, ON The RockPile West
04/25/14 Toronto, ON The RockPile East
04/26/14 Akron, NY Braun’s Concert Cove**
Michael Sweet and Oz Fox [special acoustic set]
11/24/13 Richmond, IN The Firehouse**
** On Sale Now!
Weblinks: Website / Facebook / Twitter
Video below ‘Sympathy
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‘Michael Sweet’ Says “I’m Almost 50 Yet I Feel Like I’ve Lived The Life Of A Man Who Is Almost 90″ [Feb. 2013]
‘Dave Mustaine’ Says ‘Michael Sweet’ And I ‘Believe In The Same Jesus’ [Feb. 2013]
Stryper – Second Coming [Album review]
‘Michael Sweet’ On Re-Recording Classic Songs: ‘We Have, In Many Ways, Outdone The Originals’ [April 2013]
‘Michael Sweet’ Comments On ‘Kanye West’s’ ‘I Am A God’ [June 2013]
‘Stryper’ To Film Two New Videos In August, The First Ones Since 1991 [July 2013]
Brand New ‘Stryper’ Song Available ‘Marching Into Battle’ Live In ‘New Hampshire’ [July 2013]
‘Stryper’ Covering Another ‘Van Halen’ Song, Video Available [July 2013]
‘Stryper’ ‘No More Hell To Pay’ Cover Art Revealed, Release Date Nov. 5th [Aug. 2013]
‘Stryper’ Audio Samples Of Three ‘No More Hell To Pay’ Songs Available For Streaming [Aug. 2013]
New Audio Interview With ‘Stryper’s’ Mainman ‘Michael Sweet’ [Sept. 2013]
‘Michael Sweet’ Interviewed By His Mother [Video] [Sept. 2013]
‘Stryper’s’ New Single Available On iTunes, Pre-Order “No More Hell To Pay” Now [Sept. 2013]
‘Stryper’ New Track Available For Streaming ‘Legacy, Pre-Order “No More Hell To Pay” Now [Oct. 2013]
‘Stryper’ Music Video Released For ‘No More Hell To Pay’, Pre-Order Your Copy Now [Oct. 2013]
Stryper – “No More Hell to Pay” [Album Review]
‘Stryper’ Drummer ‘Robert Sweet’ Announce Plans To Work With ‘Confirmed’ [Oct. 2013]
New Audio Interview With ‘Stryper’ Mainman ‘Michael Sweet’ [Oct. 2013]
‘Stryper’ Music Video Released For ‘Sympathy’ [Nov. 2013]
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