The official lyric video for Stryper‘s new song “Lost” can be seen below. The track is taken from the band’s latest album, “God Damn Evil”, which was released on April 20 via Frontiers Music Srl. Produced by frontman Michael Sweet, it is Stryper‘s most powerful album to date, doubling down on the hard rock/heavy metal sound that earned the group a worldwide fan base.
“God Damn Evil” debuts at #1 on Billboard’s Christian Album Sales, #2 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums, #3 on Billboard’s Top Current Hard Music Albums, #5 on Billboard’s Top Independent Current Albums, #7 on Billboard’s Top Current Rock Albums, #12 on Billboard’s Top Current Physical Albums, #14 on Billboard’s Top Current Albums, #21 on Billboard’s Top Current Digital Albums and #77 on Billboard Top 200. In addition, “God Damn Evil” soared to #1 on the iTunes and Amazon Hard Rock charts immediately upon release.
“In today’s music world it’s miraculous for a band like Stryper to even chart at all,” says frontman Michael Sweet. “We’re absolutely thrilled that we’re still making our best music to date and climbing the charts 34 years later. We love what we do and we’re so blessed to do it. We’re grateful for so much support!”
Asked by All That Shreds what made Stryper choose such a seemingly provocative title for its follow-up to 2015’s “Fallen”, Sweet said: “We didn’t do it just to shake things up. We have a point to prove in a statement. A few years back we thought about using this title. We didn’t go with it because we felt it was a little too much at that time. Now in 2018, with everything that we’ve seen on the news, the evil we’re faced with on a daily basis to new levels and new degrees, it made perfect sense for us to have an album called ‘God Damn Evil’. It’s a prayer request. It is what it is. It’s not a swear, it’s not just the shock statement, it’s a prayer request, and we’re asking God to damn the evil that we see. It should be a prayer for everybody. Some people are freaking out thinking you’re taking the Lord’s name in vain, and it’s not that at all.”
In a press release announcing the release of “God Damn Evil”, Sweet explained that he and his bandmates “thought long and hard about this title. It was actually considered quite a few years ago and it just didn’t feel like the right time. Now, with all the evil in the world that we see around us on a daily basis, it made perfect sense. It’s a very bold statement yet a prayer asking God to damn/condemn evil. Nothing more, nothing less.
“We all see and hear the darkness that surrounds us in our society, but with faith and love, we’ll always have hope,” he continued. “That’s what Stryper is all about: powerful music and a message that builds foundations, not walls. We couldn’t be more excited about ‘God Damn Evil’, as it showcases our undying love for what we do and why we do it.”
The follow-up to 2015’s “Fallen” marks Stryper‘s first effort since the addition of former Firehouse bassist Perry Richardson. Perry joined the band as the replacement for Stryper‘s longtime bassist Tim Gaines, who was fired from the group last year.
Perry did not play bass on Stryper‘s new album due to scheduling constraints. The bass tracks on “God Damn Evil”were laid down by John O’Boyle, who played bass on Sweet‘s last two solo albums.
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
UPCOMING SHOWS
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.
For more information, visit www.Stryper.com.
Weblinks: Website / Facebook / Twitter
Lyric video for ‘Lost’
Video for ‘The Valley’
Video for ‘Sorry’