Whoops! Looks like we skipped over this Stryper album in the review queue. No worries, we’ve got you covered! Over seven years in the making, this acoustic setting of some of the new and old classic Stryper tunes is a rather special collection that should be included in all fans’ collections.
Unplugged performances are common enough events for hard rock and heavy metal bands, but tend to be one-off performances or for a limited tour. “To Hell With The Amps,” which apparently is about condemning amplifiers and not amperes, is actually a fully recorded, mixed, and mastered studio album where the only instruments used were acoustic or semi-acoustic. Given the studio environment, it isn’t technically sans amplification, but it is remarkably clean, soothing, yet characteristically Stryper.
The production on this album is one of the first things I noticed. It is “Loud ‘N Clear” for an acoustic album, with clear sonic space for voice, guitars, bass, and drums. The crystal clear production makes it punchy and loud so you can hear every little note of the songs. The vocals are the focal point and are perfectly executed, front and center in the mix showing off Michael’s characteristic lead vocals and the band’s sweet layered harmonies. At times the songs give a 60s or 70s folk rock feel, while others are a clear nod to metal.
This is a compilation album of sorts, but gives particular attention to songs in the band’s early career with 8 from albums released in 1991 and earlier. The energy from the early albums yielded some of the best cuts for me such as “Soldiers Under Command,” “Loud ‘N Clear,” and “Calling on You.” In particular, I want to call out “Loud ‘N Clear” as my clear favorite with the highly entertaining lead guitar work. Each of these has energy like the original versions with great precision and forward momentum, keeping the guitar riffs engaging and the solos flying. “No More Hell To Pay” from the 2013 album of the same name has a decidedly heavy metal character to it showing how they render the songs in an acoustic format rather than reducing these songs to a coffee shop mix.
But one does not listen to an acoustic album for the high energy but rather for the more mellow moments. “Make You Mine” is a solid gentle love song from the 2005 album “Reborn.” I particularly like the melody and the rather tender lead guitar work. “Lady” is a classic ballad that has a little bit of a southern rock flavor to it. “Always There For You” starts off with a campfire sing-a-long style before sliding into an optimistic and bubbly song. “Amazing Grace” took a more bluesy approach which was cool with the use of some slightly out of the ordinary chord picks for this traditional hymn.
I really can’t say there is a bad song in the bunch, but some didn’t fully grab my attention, which isn’t to say that they wouldn’t speak to you. For an acoustic-only album, this lands in a place that makes use of the acoustic timbre while not abandoning the hard rock bones of the original songs. I can tell that the band was choosy about what went on here rather than doing an acoustic rendition of their greatest hits (hence, no “To Hell With The Devil” on here). Not being a diehard Stryper fan, I found these songs to be fun and engaging, but also a little more chill than the originals, making for a rather unique addition to anyone’s collection, even for those that might not be proper Stryper fans.
I could only find live performances for the acoustic songs below. The sound quality for the videos is nothing like the album, so if you find the videos entertaining, the album will definitely be a hit.
Rating: 9.0/10
Written by Sean Bailey
Tracklist
1 – You Know What To Do
2 – Soldiers Under Command
3 – No More Hell To Pay
4 – Make You Mine
5 – Loud ‘N Clear
6 – Lady
7 – Honestly
8 – Calling On You
9 – Amazing Grace
10 – Always There For You
11 – All For One
Stryper is:
Michael Sweet – lead vocals, guitars
Robert Sweet – drums and vocals
Oz Fox – guitars and vocals
Perry Richardson – bass and vocals
Release Date: May 10, 2024
Record Label: Flatiron Recordings
Discography:
1984: “The Yellow and Black Attack”
1985: “Soldiers Under Command”
1986: “To Hell with the Devil”
1988: “In God We Trust”
1990: “Against the Law”
1991: “Can’t Stop the Rock” [Compilation]
2003: “7 Seven the Best of Stryper” [Compilation]
2004: “7 Weeks : Live in America 2003” [Live]
2005: “Reborn”
2006: “Extended Versions” [Live]
2007: “Greatest Hits – Live in Puerto Rico” [Live]
2007: “The Roxx Regime Demos” [Compilation]
2009: “Murder by Pride”
2011: “The Covering”
2013: “Second Coming” [Compilation] (review)
2013: “No More Hell to Pay” (review)
2015: “Fallen” (review)
2018: “God Damn Evil” [review]
2020: “Even The Devil Believes” [review]
2022: “The Final Battle” (review)
2024: “To Hell With the Amps” [acoustic]
2024: “When We Were Kings” (review)
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Video for Loud & Clear (Live Acoustic Performance)
Video for Soldiers Under Command (Live Acoustic Performance)